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Yobes Walker took the handoff, just like he did 324 times last season at Brazoswood High in Texas, and accelerated straight ahead during UL's football practice on Friday.
Running untouched to the line of scrimmage, he skipped to his left. The move froze at least two would-be tacklers. It also drew praise from an injured teammate.
"Woo! He got some moves on him," said UL's Derik Keyes, a senior strong safety. "I see you, Yobes."
What he might see is the program's running back of the future, especially considering last year's back-up, junior Deon Wallace, left the team before camp. Walker, who held offers from Alabama and Texas A&M before joining the Cajuns, led the Houston area in rushing last year with 2,174 yards and 17 touchdowns and topped 200 yards in six games.
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080810/SPORTS/808100333/1006" target="_blank">The rest of the story</a>
Joshua Parrott •
jparrott@theadvertiser.com • August 10, 2008
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Walker has plenty of company looking for time in the backfield behind returning starter Tyrell Fenroy, who is third among active players with 3,271 career rushing yards. Redshirt freshman Julian Shankle is coming off surgery for a broken ankle, which limited his time in the spring. Junior Matt Dupre got a lot of reps in the spring with Wallace focusing on academics and Shankle out.
Junior Undre Sails from College of the Desert in California is on campus but waiting for his final course to be processed. He accounted for 11 touchdowns and rushed for 639 yards on 119 carries last season.
True freshmen Draylon Booker (Conroe, Texas) and Ian Roberts (Erath) are also fighting for action in camp.
"It's hard to say who is No. 2 because they're all competing," said Fenroy, who needs 65 yards to become UL's career rushing leader and 780 yards to set the Sun Belt's all-time mark. "All of them have a shot at the No. 2 spot. I'm looking forward to seeing who will get it."
Brian Jenkins, UL's running backs coach, said there is no front-runner for the back-up spot after one week of camp.
In Saturday's scrimmage, Walker rushed for a team-high 76 yards on 15 carries. Dupre added 64 yards on 12 carries, including a 25-yard dash in which he fell just short of the end zone. Fenroy played in only two series, gaining 14 yards on five carries.
"We have competition back there, which is good," Jenkins said. "Shankle has come back off an ankle injury like he never had it. Dupre put in his work in the summer, and you saw that today. The two young guys (Walker and Booker) showed some good qualities. And we still have another kid (Sails) that is going to come out and get an opportunity to win that spot."
At fullback, there are four players competing for the starter's job: senior Chancellor Roberson, juniors Geoffrey McCullough and Phillip Walker, and redshirt freshman Jonathan Thomas.
Of the four, Roberson got the most experience last year, rushing for 22 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries. McCullough played in six games a season ago as a reserve linebacker and on special teams. Walker did not play in any games in 2007. Thomas was UL's offensive scout team player of the week against Ohio last season.
Jenkins said the Cajuns are "solid" at fullback this season.
"We have a lot of work to do," Jenkins said. "Right now it's early. Those guys are competing. It's a daily, hourly competition. That's going to make each individual better and the team better."
The Cajuns hold their Media Day at 2 p.m. today, followed by Fan Day from 5-7 p.m. On Monday, the Cajuns practice in shoulder pads at 3:30 p.m.
First time out
In its first scrimmage of the fall, UL scored two touchdowns on Saturday with the on-field temperature hitting 106 degrees on the newly installed turf at Cajun Field.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Chris Masson accounted for both touchdowns in the scrimmage, scripted to limit each series to seven plays. The Miami native scored first on a 55-yard run after freezing the defense with a strong fake and racing up the right sideline untouched. His second TD came on a short pass that redshirt freshman Lance Kelley turned into a 54-yard score.
Despite the strong showing by Masson, who completed 7-of-16 passes for 100 yards, head coach Rickey Bustle said the No. 2 quarterback spot is still up for grabs. Masson is competing with redshirt freshman Brad McGuire and true freshmen Blaine Gautier and Keldric White for the back-up job behind starter Michael Desormeaux, who went 12-for-15 for 128 yards.
Kelley led all receivers with six catches for 95 yards.
The Cajun defense intercepted two passes - one apiece by defensive end Terrell Richardson and safety Gerren Blount. Richardson also recovered a fumble.
Injury update
Nasser Jamal, a sophomore offensive lineman, was carted off the field in the first half with an injury to his left knee.
Bustle did not know of Jamal's status after the scrimmage. Jamal is scheduled to undergo an MRI and will be re-evaluated at a later date.
Sophomore offensive lineman Brad Bustle, senior safety Derik Keyes, senior cornerback Justin Branden, senior wide receiver Derrick Smith and sophomore wide receiver Richie Falgout all sat out Saturday's scrimmage. Coach Bustle said the players should return to the field for Monday's practice.
Quote of the Day
"He was all over the place, like lightning."
-UL's Michael Desormeaux, a senior quarterback, after watching back-up Chris Masson run for a touchdown in Saturday's scrimmage.
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