2006 Football Previews

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While pure emotion was the fuel during the five-game winning streak that ended the 2005 season, Tyrell Fenroy (5-10, 195) was the engine. Fenroy broke out as a freshman last year, becoming the first running back in school history to rush for more than 1,000 yards. He did much of his damage over the final four games, gaining 569 yards on 96 carries with 10 touchdowns. Fenroy finished the year with 1,053 yards and 12 touchdowns on 179 carries. The sophomore now hopes to build on those numbers, but he will have company in the backfield. Five other backs combined for 179 carries in 2005, matching Fenroy's number of carries. The group combined for 787 yards and 12 touchdowns, and three of the five will be back to provide depth in the backfield. Senior Josh Harrison (5-7, 175), junior Abdule Levier (5-11, 200) and sophomore Caleb Rubin (5-7, 175) should all be ready when called upon. Depth and experience are not a luxury at fullback, however. It appears sophomore Chancellor Roberson (6-1, 240) holds the upper hand over signee Matt Desormeaux (6-1, 210) heading into the fall. Roberson rarely saw the field during his freshman campaign. Desormeaux is the younger brother of Michael, the backup quarterback, and will have a good chance to play immediately. Given the lack of experience at fullback, don't be surprised if Bustle opts to go with two running backs while Roberson and Desormeaux learn the system. The rest of the story

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Let's see here ... there's plenty of experience and depth at quarterback, ditto at running back, so where is the weakness on offense? It could be the wide-out position. Bill Sampy is on his way to Philadelphia after signing a free-agent contract with the Eagles and Kevin Robbins will likely miss the 2006 season because of academics, leaving the Ragin' Cajuns without their top two receivers from a year ago. What remains is a talented but inexperienced group. The athleticism is there, but the players will have to prove they can make big plays. Derrick Smith (6-1, 180) and Corey Fredrick (6-0, 195) are the only two returning receivers who had double-digits receptions a year ago. Smith, a sophomore, made 22 catches for 250 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman. While he was a reliable target last year, it remains to be seen how he adjusts to being the feature receiver. Like Robbins, Fredrick sat out of spring drills to focus on his academics. The odds are good that the senior will join the team in the fall, adding more stability to the position. Fredrick hauled in 21 receptions for 293 yards last year and would help take some of the heat off of Smith. Jason Chery (5-11, 180) had a solid spring in Fredrick's absence. The sophomore had only seven catches as a freshman, but he showed the ability to make big plays during spring practice. Chery led all receivers with three receptions in the spring game, one of which was a 34-yard touchdown. Junior Jordan Jackson (6-6, 220) will provide some depth at the position. Jackson's size makes him a large target, but that has yet to translate into receptions. Jackson made only one catch while appearing in eight games last year, but the departures at the position may give him a shot at more playing time. The tight end position didn't figure prominently in the Ragin' Cajuns' passing game in 2005. Kevin Belton (6-4, 230) appeared in all 11 games and managed just two receptions. Belton, a senior, seems to have quite a battle on his hands with Erik Jones (6-4, 235). Jones, a sophomore, had a solid spring. Redshirt freshman Matt Ulm (6-4, 245) will provide depth at the position. The rest of the story

[ISUCajunfan]

I can't even open the link for the rest of the story. Last week I was reading those blue ribbon articles just fine. Anybody know anything to ward off curses?

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Fenroy may have gotten the ink for becoming the first back in school history to surpass the 1,000-yard mark, but it was the O-line that opened the holes. The big guys up front also provided plenty of protection for Babb and Desormeaux. The unit surrendered only nine sacks all of last year, fourth in the nation. While having fleet-footed quarterbacks also had a lot to do with the low sack total, there is no question the line was a big reason the Ragin' Cajuns were able to lead the conference in total offense in 2005. The unit returns three starters from last season, anchored by senior Brandon Cox (6-7, 330). Cox was a first-team all-conference selection in 2005 and is expected to maintain his high level of play in 2006. He will once again start at right tackle, where his combination of size and speed will make him a tough assignment for opposing defenses. Jesse Newman (6-4, 305) will be the starter at left tackle once again. Newman, a junior, also found his way onto the all-conference team last season and figures to anchor the left side of the line. The guard positions will be filled by a pair of guys who split time last year. Tim Falter (6-4, 310) and Will Chance (6-3, 295) did a solid job in 2005, but both will need to show the ability to play every game this year. Falter, a sophomore, will start on the left side while Chance, a junior, will line up on the right side. The man in the middle will be junior college transfer Junior Ramos (6-3, 295). Ramos is making the move to center to fill the void left by Greg Hodges, an unquestioned leader on the team. While the starting unit looks just as solid as last year's group, everyone up front needs to stay healthy; there is little experience backing them up. Of the 15 reserves on the roster, only Zach Leger (6-4, 290), Lanier Coleman (6-3, 315), Ryan Gilles (6-4, 290) and Tremaine Lewis (6-0, 285) have seen any playing time, and it doesn't amount to much. The quartet has been on the field a combined 142 snaps, leaving a huge question mark if any of the starters are out for an extended period of time. The rest of the story

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This year marks the first time in Bustle's tenure at Louisiana-Lafayette that he has to replace a starting kicker. Sean Comiskey started out as a walk-on when he arrived, but he finished his career in 2005 as the school's all-time leading scorer among kickers. Comiskey was the only player to attempt a field goal or and extra point since Bustle's arrival. Looking to replace him will be Drew Edmiston (6-4, 195) and Tyler Albrecht (6-0, 170). Edminston, a sophomore, has the edge over Albrecht, a freshman, going into the fall, but with neither player having any game experience at the college level, the job seems wide open. The rest of the story

[ISUCajunfan]

Thanks Newscopy!!!

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During the first six games of the season, it seemed like the Ragin' Cajuns couldn't stop anybody. Louisiana-Lafayette allowed 35 points per game during the 1-5 start. But while the offense got much of the credit when the Ragin' Cajuns ran the table and won the last five games of the year, it was the defense that sparked the turnaround. When the front four started getting to the quarterback, the wins started rolling in. "We finally opened up the playbook and got after the quarterback," Bustle said. "I thought we played better defensively after that." It started at Middle Tennessee, where the defense collected nine sacks, propelling the Ragin' Cajuns to a 13-10 win. The nine sacks matched the total Louisiana-Lafayette had in the entire 2004 season, and the defense didn't stop there. The Ragin' Cajuns allowed an average of only 18.8 points over the final five games, all victories. The front four will need to keep the heat on opposing quarterbacks again this year, and the unit will need to improve against the run. Luckily, there is plenty of experience coming back. Anthony Hills (6-4, 240) and Rodney Hardeway (6-3, 230) will start at the ends. Hills was an all-conference selection in 2005 thanks to his 19 tackles and four sacks. The senior was able to get into the backfield and make plays on a regular basis last year, and he'll need to do the same this season after the departure of Eugene Kwarteng. Kwarteng had 43 tackles from his end position in 2005, leaving some slack for Hills to pick up. Hardeway will take Kwarteng's place in the starting lineup. The junior had 18 tackles and three sacks as a backup in 2005 and figures to improve on those numbers as a starter. A trio of seniors, Marshall Delesdernier (6-0, 276), Travis Ferguson (6-2, 295) and Joe Bradley (6-3, 265), have plenty of experience between them at the tackle positions. Marshall Delesdernier Delesdernier seems to have the inside track on one of the starting jobs while junior college transfer Korey Raymond (6-4, 290) has the advantage over Ferguson for the other starting position going into the fall. Marshall Delesdernier Raymond is one of two JUCO transfers -- defensive end Greg Hathorn (6-3, 245) is the other -- brought in to provide depth up front. The rest of the story

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While the defensive line came on in a big way at the end of last season, the linebackers were solid from start to finish, and that trend should continue this year. Mark Risher (6-1, 230) and Brent Burkhalter (6-0, 230) were the team's second- and third-leading tacklers respectively, in 2005, and both are back in the starting lineup this year. Risher ended the year with a team-best 59 tackles, five of them for loss. The junior also forced a pair of fumbles and recovered another, and he proved his durability by starting every game last year. Burkhalter made a splash as a redshirt freshman, collecting 53 tackles and four sacks. He became the first freshman at Louisiana-Lafayette to make more than 50 tackles since Charles Tillman had 82 in 1999. Although he left the final game of the year with a wrist injury, Buckhalter figures to be a force to be reckoned with again this season. Tre' Green (5-11, 215) will start at the third linebacker slot. Green started all 11 games in 2004 but only started two all of last year. The senior will replace Tyler Norman, last year's leading tackler, in the starting lineup, but he will have his share of competition. Wes Simon (6-1, 200), a senior, was the opening day starter last year, but a concussion sidelined him after three games. Mack Fair (5-11, 225) and Derek Morel (5-10, 210), both seniors, will also compete for the job. No matter who wins the starting job, there is sure to be plenty of talented, experienced depth at the position. The rest of the story

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Six Ragin' Cajun defensive backs have found their way into the NFL the last five years, but Bustle and his staff just keep on reloading. The list of alumni in recent years is impressive. Ike Turner won a Super Bowl with Pittsburgh in January, Charles Tillman went to the playoffs with Chicago, Antwain Spann did the same in New England and C.C. Brown plays in Houston. Perhaps other Ragin' Cajuns are destined to join them in the pros. Louisiana-Lafayette returns all but one starter in the defensive backfield, along with plenty of players who have seen significant action. "It is definitely a strength for us," Bustle said. "We have a lot of guys back who have been in the battle, guys who were starters last year." Michael Adams (5-8, 170) and Kyle Ward (6-2, 188) are the returning starters at the corners. Adams' main claim to fame last season came when he picked off Vince Young in the first game of the season, but he was solid all year long. The senior added another interception and recovered a fumble in 2005. Adams also makes an impact on special teams. He blocked a pair of kicks last season to increase his career total to five. Ward, a junior, appeared in 10 games last season and started five of the final six. He moonlights on the track team in the off-season, and he put his speed on display during the final game of the season. Ward grabbed an interception and returned it 53 yards to record the Ragin' Cajuns' only defensive score of the season. Senior Jarrett Jones (5-10, 190) and juniors Torres Kingsby (5-11, 190) and Jemarcus Smith (5-10, 180) have all seen action. Jones will take the field in nickel situations, while Smith and Kingby figure to provide depth. Johnny Felders (5-11, 190) split time at strong safety last year, but the job is his this year. The senior has been an iron man for Louisiana-Lafayette, never missing a game in his career. Felders recorded 51 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery in 2005. Lamar Morgan (6-2, 210), who split time with Felders at strong safety last year, moves over to replace the departed Terryl Fenton at free safety. Morgan started five times and did a solid job last year, and the junior expects to improve his numbers now that he's the everyday starter. Derik Keyes (5-9, 190) was a letterman in the secondary last year and will provide some experienced depth. The rest of the story

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Punting has not been a strong suit for the Ragin' Cajuns in recent years, but Bustle said he feels OK about senior Brit Framel (6-1, 185) and junior David Schexnayder (6-3, 235) going into the fall. It's the battle of the former starters, as Framel handled the punting duties last season and Schexnayder was the starter in 2004. Bustle hopes the competition will lead to improvement at a position where the Ragin' Cajuns ranked 111th nationally with a 31.7 yards-per-punt average in 2005. The rest of the story