2013 Louisiana Spring Football Analysis Scout.com
Louisiana-Lafayette
Ragin' Cajuns
2013 Schedule
8/31 at Arkansas
9/7 at Kansas State
9/14 Nicholls State
9/21 at Akron
9/28 OPEN DATE
10/5 Texas State
10/12 OPEN DATE
10/16 at WKU
10/22 at Arkansas State
11/2 New Mexico State
11/7 Troy
11/16 at Georgia State
11/23 OPEN DATE
11/30 ULM
12/7 at South Alabama
Why To Be Excited After all the success, somehow, Mark Hudspeth is still the head coach and hasn't been picked off by a bigger-name program. The Ragin' Cajuns are coming off a terrific season with a great finishing kick, winning five of their last six games with the lone loss coming in the late collapse at Florida. Seven starters are back to the league's No. 1 scoring offense with quarterback Terrance Broadway and running back Alonzo Harris a rising backfield tandem. The great pass rush of last season gets back defensive tackle Christian Ringo, one of the Sun Belt's best interior presences.
Why To Be Grouchy The offensive line that gave up a mere 13 sacks on the season has to replace tackles Leonardo Bates and Jaron Odom, and the team's two best receivers – Javone Lawson and Harry Peoples – are gone. The defense has to come up with outside pass rushers to replace Cordian Hagans and Emeka Onyenekwu, and that's a big problem with the secondary needing to find three new starters with corners Melvin White and Jermarlous Moten gone along with free safety Rodney Gillis.
What Needs Working On The pass defense. The pass rush was fine and the secondary was full of veterans, but it didn't matter as team after team routinely threw at will. It's one thing for Oklahoma State to crank up 412 yards and four scores, and Troy going for 528 yards isn't a stunner, but South Alabama and Florida Atlantic were able to throw like the New Orleans Saints. On the year there were just 13 picks to 21 touchdown passes; there were big plays, but they were followed up by giving up scores.
Non-Conference Games: at Arkansas, at Kansas State, Nicholls State, at Akron, New Mexico State
Realistic Best Case Record: 10-2
Worst Case Record: 5-7
Likely Finish: 9-3
Pre-Preseason Projected Wins: Nicholls State, at Akron, Texas State, at Arkansas State, New Mexico State, Troy, at Georgia State, ULM, at South Alabama
Pre-Preseason Projected Losses: at Arkansas, at Kansas State, at WKU
Schedule Analysis: The schedule isn't all that bad for a veteran team looking to come up with another big season. Starting out at Arkansas and at Kansas State might not make things fun, but there should be a nice run from there with a layup against Nicholls State and a winnable road game at Akron before diving into Sun Belt play against Texas State. There's only one game between September 21st and mid-October, but then it's the make-or-break stretch going to WKU and Arkansas State on the road. With ULM and Troy coming to Lafayette, the second half of the season should be a big success.
Team Concerns For 2013: The secondary that was occasionally disastrous, giving up a Sun Belt worst 283 yards per game, has to replace three starters including both corners. The pass rush was solid, but ends Cordian Hagans and Emeka Onyenekwu are gone. The kickoff return game has to be far more effective after averaging just 18.29 yards per try, while the punt returners weren't exactly explosive averaging a mere 6.35 yards per attempt. .
The 2013 Class Is Heavy On ... Defensive backs. This is a potentially excellent Sun Belt class if defensive end Courtney Miggins and linebackers James Clark and George Williams pan out, but right away, everything depends on the JUCO transfers. Corners Cedric Tillman and and Corey Trim were signed on to instantly fill major voids in the secondary, and offensive tackle Johnny Kight has to be penciled in right away at one spot. The kicking game got two excellent signings in punter Daniel Cadona from Australia and JUCO transfer kicker Stephen Brauchle.
2012 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 101. That Class Was Heavy On ... Receiver. The offensive line got a slew of prospects last year, but head coach Mark Hudspeth is still going after more options, especially for the inside. The receiving corps is fine for next season, but it needs more options to battle it out for starting jobs in 2013 and beyond. This haul won't have any one star target who's an obvious No. 1, but it'll be a strength in numbers class.
2011 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 95. That Class Was Heavy On ... Offensive linemen. New head man Mark Hudspeth loaded up with lots and lots of bodies. RB Montrel Carter is the team's best recruit, while Alonzo Harris is one of the nation's top fullback prospects. There aren't many stars for the offensive front, but JUCO transfer Brandon Bender should be part of the mix right away and guard prospect Jaylen Hunter and tackle Frederick Moore have decent potential. The secondary got plenty of help at corner, especially with speedster Dexter Aucoin.
2010 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 103. That Class Was Heavy On ... Bodies. Lots of bodies. A class of 24 players might might not seem like that much, but the coaching staff brought in a lot of key prospects for a lot of positions, most notably at running back where Aaron Spikes should be the new Ragin' Cajun rushing star. The secondary got the most attention with four decent safeties and two speedy corners, while the star of the class should be JUCO LB Bernard Smith, who could be the team's leading tackler this year.
2009 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 119. That Class Was Heavy On ... Defensive line. The receiving corps is also a strength, but the stars are on the defensive front with two JUCO transfers, Tyrell Gaddies for the middle and Jordan Topp for inside or out. Two of the team's best recruits are for the future with Brandon McCray a top tackle and Justin Anderson an interesting tweener who could end up at linebacker or in a hybrid role
Quote
