On the first Monday of the new year, the Cowboys are expected to add three major pieces to their roster puzzle officially.

Two are making returns to Louisiana, while the other they hope is the cure to their quarterback issues.

Jake Strong, Keenan Landry, and Ryan Robinson, all with at least two years of FBS experience, have committed to playing for head coach Matt Viator at McNeese State next season. 

Cowboy officials expect the trio to sign on Monday after making their commitments public over the weekend through social media.

Strong was once a highly sought-after high school quarterback in Texas. He played two seasons at Texas Tech. Landry, a defensive tackle, was a prep star down the road at Jennings High School, and Robinson, a defensive back originally from New Orleans, will be returning to their home state.

The 6-foot-2, 315-pound Landry was at Florida and Kent State, while Robinson (6-1, 185) spent two seasons at LSU and last year with Iowa State.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Strong was rated the No. 37 quarterback in the nation and the No. 106 overall prospect in Texas in the recruiting class of 2023, according to 247Sports. As a true freshman, he appeared in three games before redshirting. 

Strong started one game for Tech at BYU. Over those three games, he hit 35 of 65 passes for 409 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions.

Strong also rushed for 61 yards, including a long of 54. 

Last fall, Strong slipped down the depth chart and didn’t play, leaving him with likely four seasons of eligibility. 

Strong is expected to battle Alex Flores for the starting job next fall. Flores came to McNeese from Mt. San Antonio Junior College in CA. 

He played in four games last season for the Cowboys, starting one game. He finished the year 34 of 51 for 337 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Flores was the third Cowboy to start at quarterback last season after transfer Clifton McDowell and Kamden Sixkiller were injured. Both elected to enter the portal after Gary Goff was fired as head coach at the end of a 6-6 season. 

Sixkiller has signed to play at Campbell University, while McDowell has announced he is entering the NFL draft.

Landry helped Jennings advance to the state championship game during his junior season in high school. He returned to Southwest Louisiana after a year in junior college, one at Florida in 2023, when he played against McNeese, and last season at Kent State.

Landry played nine games for the Flashes with 15 tackles, forcing and recovering a fumble. Roberts has seen limited action but has at least two years of eligibility remaining.

McNeese is still waiting to hear Micah Davey’s decision. The All-American linebacker entered the portal at the end of last year and may still return for his senior season. 

Wide receiver Johnathan Harris will likely be given another year of eligibility and is looking to be back with McNeese next season. Harris was second on the team in catches last year, with 21 for 325 yards and a touchdown. 

Despite the Cowboys’ quarterback problems, Harris averaged 15.5 yards a catch while playing in all 12 games. In his two years at McNeese, he played in 22 of 23 contests, pulling in 36 catches for 516 yards and a pair of scores.