Former Westgate standout Diontae Spencer (4) was named to the 75th Anniversary Team for McNeese football.

LAKE CHARLES — In honor of its 75th year of playing football, McNeese State University has been announcing its All-Anniversary Teams for each position on the field.

The Cowboys released the wide receiver position last week and one of the players on the team was former Westgate High standout Diontae Spencer, who played for McNeese from 2010-13.

Spencer, who currently plays professionally with the Ottawa RedBlacks of the Canadian Football League, was a wide receiver and a return specialist for the Cowboys. 

During his four seasons, he became one of just 10 receivers to top the century mark in career receptions with his 101 catches at No. 10 on the list and his 1,496 career receiving yards which ranks 12th all-time.

Three times he reeled in 100 yards or more receiving in his career with his best performance 152 yards at Stephen F. Austin on Nov. 9, 2013.

That game also went down in history as Spencer set a new school-record with 365 all-purpose yards; set a new school record while tying a conference mark with two kickoffs returned for TD and tied a Football Championship Subdivision national record with three combined return TDs when he returned a punt for a score in the same game.

He led the Cowboys in receiving in 2013 with 50 catches for 835 yards and nine TDs and the receptions over the season has him tied for seventh in the record book for a single-season and the yards ranks him fifth in the single-season record book.

The nine TDs scored that year is tied as the second-most in a season

Spencer earned All-American honors in 2013 by Beyond Sports Network and was named the 2013 CFPA National All-Purpose Performer of the Year. In 2013 Spencer was McNeese’s team and special teams MVP.

A total of 15 former McNeese standout wide receivers are the latest batch to be named to the All-75th Anniversary Team, 

Four current McNeese Sports Hall of Famers as well as four all-Americans and numerous multiple all-conference selections make up the squad.

In addition, the group includes players that combined to win 22 conference championships as well as five others who are a member of the Southland Conference All-Decade Team.

McNeese Football’s All-75th Anniversary Team at wide receiver also includes:

Donnie Ashley (1995-97) — Played three seasons for the Cowboys after transferring from JUCO following his freshman season and helped guide McNeese to the 1995 and 1997 SLC championships as well as the 1997 FCS National Championship game

Terence Davis (1992-95) — A two-time All-Southland Conference player, Davis was quarter Kerry Joseph’s top target in 1994 and 1995 where he hauled in 106 passes in just those two seasons

William Davis (1995-98) — One of the most versatile players in McNeese history, Davis excelled at both wide receiver and running back for the Cowboys during his career

Richard Ellender (1976-79) — A top wide receiver and kick returner for the Cowboys, Ellender led the team in pass receptions in 1978 and three times led in punt returns, returning three for touchdowns in 1978 to set a single-season school record that was later tied in 1989 (Troy Jones) and 1997 (Donnie Ashley.

Carlese Franklin (2004-07) — Helped lead McNeese to back-to-back Southland Conference championships in 2006 and 2007

Adam Henry (1990-93) — A standout wide receiver for the Cowboys and a member of the 1992 team that won the program’s first-ever playoff game

Flip Johnson (1983-86) — An exciting player to watch, Johnson was magical when catching and running as well as returning punts and kicks

Quinten Lawrence (2005-08) — In his four seasons with the Cowboys, Lawrence played a big part in McNeese winning the 2006 and 2007 Southland Conference championships

Jermaine Martin (1999-02) — “Flea” was the nickname for the little speedster that created havoc for defensive backfields

Damien Morris (1994-97) — Ranks as one of the top wide receivers in school history despite lining up with hot targets such as Terence Davis, William Davis and Donnie Ashley

Keith Ortego (1981-84) — Ortego was an All-Southland Conference and All-Louisiana wide receiver for the Cowboys from 1981-84 and led the team in receptions in both 1983 (21 catches for 340 yards) and in 1984 (32 catches for 602 yards)

B.J. Sams (2000-03) — Posted a superb four-year career at McNeese as a wide receiver.

Steven Whitehead (2004-08) — Caught 136 passes for 1,696 yards in his career, ranking third and eighth respectively on the school’s all-time record list

Robert Young (1962-63) — Led McNeese in 1963 with 26 catches for 393 yards and seven touchdowns as the Cowboys posted their first-ever undefeated season.