CARDINALS FOOTBALL Jackson Eskierka Defensive Coordinator/ Inside Linebackers
Jackson Eskierka joined the Lamar University coaching staff in January 2020 and is one of two coaches who came with head coach Blane Morgan from San Diego State. Eskierka is in his second season working with the LU quarterbacks. During his first season with the Cardinals, Eskierka was in the unenviable task of working with a position group which had no returning players from the year before. Eskierka was giving the challenge of producing a depth chart consisting of players who had never taken a snap at LU – no matter who won the battle. All Eskierka did was produce one of the top newcomers in the league last season in the form junior Jalen Dummett. Taking over the starting role, and battling through mid-season injuries, the Cardinals’ offense improved each week under Dummett. A dual-threat weapon, Dummett became one of the league’s
Austen Jacobs Tight Ends
Austen Jacobs is one of two coaches who came over from San Diego State with head coach Blane Morgan. He officially joined the LU coaching staff in January 2020 and is in his second season working with the Cardinal tight ends. He comes to Beaumont after spending two years working with the SDSU offensive line. Jacobs’ stable of tight ends entered the COVID-shortened 20202 season expecting to be led by one of the top newcomers in the league in transfer Jeremy Davis, but due to early-season injuries, Jacobs was forced to move players around. While Davis overcame injuries to play in three games hauling in seven passes for 41 yards and one score, the injuries allowed Jacobs to get in-game looks at several other young players including
Cameron Davis Defensive Line
Cameron Davis is in his second season on staff as Lamar University’s defensive line coach. He came to Beaumont after serving the previous season as a graduate assistant coach at Kentucky. Davis took over a Cardinal defensive line last year that did not return a starter from the previous season. He completely rebuilt the line which by season’s end was starting three newcomers – two transfers and a freshman. Despite and overall lack of Division I experience, the Cardinals’ continued to improve and produced a thirdteam all-conference selection in Tylo Phillips. Davis helped coach the Wildcat defensive linemen in 2019. Kentucky
more accurate passers (finishing second overall among all Southland quarterbacks who played an actual league schedule during the COVID-shortened 2020 season). Dummett completed nearly 64 percent of his passes for 478 yards and four touchdowns. Despite his accuracy, Dummett may have been a bigger weapon with his feet. The 6-2, 220-pound Dummett finished the season as the team’s third leading rusher carrying the ball 76 times for 200 yards and two touchdowns. Eskierka comes to Beaumont after spending the past seven years at San Diego State, including his last three as a graduate assistant coach. During his time with the Aztecs, Eskierka served a vital role with three teams that advanced to Bowl games. During that time, Eskierka helped coach the Aztecs to 27 wins and three Bowl game appearances. That stretch also included two 10-win seasons and a Mountain West Conference division title for the Aztecs. Eskierka began his career at SDSU serving a dual role for the Aztecs. Beginning in 2013, he served as the equipment manager in addition to working as a coach’s assistant. During that time, he was responsible for charting plays in game for the offensive staff. Eskierka received his bachelor’s degree from San Deigo State in December 2016. He was named to the Dean’s List three times during his collegiate career. He has completed course work toward a master’s degree in liberal arts and interdisciplinary studies. rookie Connor Venetis and junior Nathan Gaskamp. Together, the LU tight ends combined to haul in 14 passes for 97 yards and three touchdowns. During his time in San Diego, Jacobs worked with an offensive front that helped produce nearly 350 yards of offense per game. During that stretch the Aztecs advanced to two bowl game appearances including a 10-win season and a victory in the New Mexico Bowl in 2019. Prior to his time in San Diego, Jacobs served as a graduate assistant at Northwestern State working with the Demons’ tight ends. Before his stint in Natchitoches, La., Jacobs spent 2016 at Humboldt State and was key in the development of running back Ja’Quan Gardner. Under Jacobs guidance, Gardner earned Division II All-America accolades. During his time with the Lumberjacks, Jacobs recruited the San Francisco and San Jose areas. Jacobs began his professional career as an offensive quality control coach at Colorado State. He spent two seasons with the Rams serving under head coach Jim McElwain. Jacobs received his bachelor’s degree in biomedical science from Texas A&M in 2014. He has completed work toward a master’s degree in homeland security. boasted an 8-5 (.615) record that season, and made a trip to the Belk Bowl where they defeated Virginia Tech. Two of Davis’ players ranked among the SEC leaders in sacks and tackles for losses. The two combined for 12 sacks and 19 tackles for losses. Davis began his coaching career in California before being hired by John Chavis at Texas A&M as a graduate assistant in 2016. After his time with one of the most respected defensive minds in the game, Davis made the move to Houston to take on a similar role with the Rice Owls. He served on the Owls’ staff for two seasons. Davis graduated from Cal State East Bay in 2012 with a degree in sociology. He interned in the Oakland Raiders Public Relations Department in 2012-13 and began his pursuit of a coaching career at Diablo Valley College (2013-14) as an assistant defensive line coach. He entered graduate school at the University of La Vern in La Vern, Calif., and coached the defensive line and defensive backs for one season each and also served as the equipment manager from 2014-15. He earned his Masters in Leadership and Management from La Vern in 2016. He is married to BriAnna Davis.
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