Brad Bustle starting at guard?

[MiamiCajun32]

Surely, it worked out amazingly great the last time a Cajuns head coach's son walked on the team and became a freshman starter, but it surely does open some eyes.

As I understand it, Bustle had to walk on at SLU because he did not get a scholarship there either, then decided to play for his dad before his first SLU season started.

He is a redshirt freshman who had no scholarship offers from any D1 programs (or did he?).

I hope that he can handle the position. Cajuns are about to play LSU. Cox and Newman could likely get playing time on LSU offensive line, but really now, will Bustle be overmatched?

When Chance went down, was there no better option? Or is Bustle simply a greatly improved and overlooked out of high school young player.

Even star recruits, such as Wallace for example, don't usually start as redshirt freshmen. Just seems a bit much to the casual observer, as myself.

[RaginCajun77]

Not sure where you got the info that Bustle was going to start. However, if the coaching staff feels he has earned the starting role then so be it. Players develop differently. We have guys who have been on the team a couple of years on the O-line who can't cut it as a starter. You have to go with guys who can make plays and give you a chance to win, no matter what their classification is. As for Deon Wallace, I believe he had some sort of ankle injury last season and that was the reason he was red-shirted.

[MiamiCajun32]

Not sure where you got the info that Bustle was going to start. However, if the coaching staff feels he has earned the starting role then so be it. Players develop differently. We have guys who have been on the team a couple of years on the O-line who can't cut it as a starter. You have to go with guys who can make plays and give you a chance to win, no matter what their classification is. As for Deon Wallace, I believe he had some sort of ankle injury last season and that was the reason he was red-shirted.

http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pb...608270349/1006

The link above is the first I noticed, but I am not in Lafayette so assume it is common knowledge among fans by now.

Deon Wallace was just an example. He is a blue chip recruit and healthy this year, but not starting (due to Fenroy of course). But it is just an example that even the best recruits don't usually start as redshirt freshmen. It is rare. Brad Bustle apparently was not thought to be good enough to be offered a scholarship to even SLU, much less D1 programs. I don't doubt that he has played extremely well for being a freshman and probably has proven that he should have received scholarship offers coming out of high school, but I am quite surprised that he is starting for Cajuns at guard already. Seems that the odds were stacked against him to even start as a senior...

Look, things happen... There are many cases where walk ons become stars. But in reality, it is a bit of a scary proposition that Cajuns have a redshirt freshman who walked on last year starting at guard against LSU, especially when that player did not even get a scholarship from SLU (as I understand it). I also understand that OL is the easiest to recruit because it is based on size and agility combination and it is easier to hit and harder to miss for recruiters. If Bustle was not offered any scholarships, despite what I understand to have been a solid high school career, then I would guess that he was lacking size, strength and / or agility to scholarship at D1 or perhaps even D1AA level.

I am wondering if any one knows how Bustle has progressed so much. That is great news if he is starting because he has turned out to be a real diamond in the rough find. However, if he is starting because there are no other options after Chance went down with the freak injury, then that is trouble. I thought the Cajuns had pretty good depth after some ok recruiting classes.

So if anyone closer to the situation can explain further on Bustle's great progress from walk on to freshman starter, please reply. Thanks!

[CajunGuru]

Surely, it worked out amazingly great the last time a Cajuns head coach's son walked on the team and became a freshman starter, but it surely does open some eyes.

As I understand it, Bustle had to walk on at SLU because he did not get a scholarship there either, then decided to play for his dad before his first SLU season started.

He is a redshirt freshman who had no scholarship offers from any D1 programs (or did he?).

I hope that he can handle the position. Cajuns are about to play LSU. Cox and Newman could likely get playing time on LSU offensive line, but really now, will Bustle be overmatched?

When Chance went down, was there no better option? Or is Bustle simply a greatly improved and overlooked out of high school young player.

Even star recruits, such as Wallace for example, don't usually start as redshirt freshmen. Just seems a bit much to the casual observer, as myself.

Both Brad Bustle and Chris Fisher are kids that have really come on this year. Bustle has worked hard in the weight program and has out performed others filling in at the backup role. Fisher is a kid that would have had more offers as a highschool senior if it would not have been for injuries.JC signee Damian Jones will get some work on the inside as well, he is physcially a better prospect then both young kids. But he has struggled at times trying to learn the schemes. You have to attend some pratices to understand what is exactly going on, the internet is not exactly the best source in such matters.

[MiamiCajun32]

You have to attend some pratices to understand what is exactly going on, the internet is not exactly the best source in such matters.

That was my point. I obviously can't attend practices if I live in Miami. I appreciate the inside info. Still a bit concerned that we have such a young player who was originally a walk on starting on OL. Hopefully it will all work out...

[CajunConnection]

That was my point. I obviously can't attend practices if I live in Miami. I appreciate the inside info. Still a bit concerned that we have such a young player who was originally a walk on starting on OL. Hopefully it will all work out...

I thought Lanier Coleman was taking Chances place??????
CC

[ATXCajun]

I thought Lanier Coleman was taking Chances place??????
CC

Reading the article a bit more carefully, it says Brad Bustle worked with the 1st team in practice, not that he was going to start vs LSU. It may be that Coleman and others are resting injuries from fall camp. There are a number of people banged up.

[Clutch0364]

Reading the article a bit more carefully, it says Brad Bustle worked with the 1st team in practice, not that he was going to start vs LSU. It may be that Coleman and others are resting injuries from fall camp. There are a number of people banged up.

I believe Coleman had a small knee injury that could be why.

[RaisingCajun08]

From what I hear, Brad Bustle has been working very hard and setting records in the weight room.

[DaddyCajun]

That was my point. I obviously can't attend practices if I live in Miami. I appreciate the inside info. Still a bit concerned that we have such a young player who was originally a walk on starting on OL. Hopefully it will all work out...

I know strength is not everything, but Coach Bustle said his son was squatting something like 685#'s.

If he knows his assignments and executes them he will be ok!

DaddyCajun

[Kernel]

The depth chart (updated 8/25/06) has Coleman starting and Bustle as the backup.

[NewCajunDad]

Where can we find the complete two deep revised depth chart. The only one I see is the 4/17 version on the football site. Other than Will, do we have any serious injuries going into this week?


Any Help with the depth chart is welcome?