Texas High Quarterback Cade Pearson Offered By Incarnate Word

The Incarnate Word football program is still in its infancy, but the Cardinals are beginning to ramp up their presence in the fertile recruiting hotbed that is East Texas.

The San Antonio-based Division I FCS school dished out four offers to East Texans in the 2017 class on Wednesday, including Texas High QB Cade Pearson, who added the Cardinals to a list that also includes other FCS outfits Stephen F. Austin and McNeese State.

Pearson announced news of his UIW offer through his personal Twitter account.

Incarnate Word also offered John Tyler teammates -- QB/ATH Bryson Smith and CB Javontavius Mosley -- and Gilmer WR LaMarcus Morton on Wednesday.

Incarnate Word introduced its football program in 2009 and competed at the Division II level through 2012. In 2013, the Cardinals made the jump to Division I FCS and competed as an independent. IWU started its membership in the Southland Conference in 2014.

The Cardinals are coached by Larry Keenan and coming off a 6-5 finish in 2015, just their second winning season in their existence and first in the Southland.

Pearson is preparing for his third and final season as Texas High's starter under center. He has guided the school to a 15-7 overall record, including two Class 5A Division I bi-district round playoff appearances and a shared District 15-5A title with Longview and Marshall last year.

Pearson produced nearly identical numbers as a sophomore and as a junior. He posted a two-to-one touchdowns to interceptions ratio and threw for a little more than 1,600 yards in both seasons.

The Tigers QB's senior season will feature a district shift mostly in name only. Longview — which won at least a share of the District 15-5A title the past two seasons — jumped to Class 6A while Greenville, Hallsville, Marshall, Mount Pleasant, Pine Tree and Sulphur Springs remained alongside Texas High to make up the new District 16-5A.

Pearson, like all players currently in their junior year of high school, will become eligible to sign with any program that offers him in February.