MTSU's defense has faced a wide variety of quarterbacks this season, but Saturday offers one of the more unique challenges.

The task of stopping Louisiana-La. means containing a signal caller who can run step-for-step with any ball carrier on the field, scramble for more yards than he throws and even hit his receiver in stride while passing with either throwing arm.

Sound like too much talent squeezed into one player?

Well, it is.

But that doesn't make the Blue Raiders' assignment any less daunting.

UL quarterbacks Jerry Babb and Michael Desormeaux carry similar, but slightly different, talents to the table for a Cajuns offense with an impressive track record against MTSU.

"We're different in a few areas, but we probably look even more different to defenses," said Desormeaux, a redshirt freshman. "But you know we're going to be pretty similar because they recruit quarterbacks here who can run."

Desormeaux, a left-handed speedster, certainly fills that criteria — as he rushed for 174 yards in the Cajuns' heartbreaking loss to Arkansas State last week.

"I thought we saw our fastest quarterback last week (in Florida Atlantic's Danny Embick), but then we saw Mike Desormeaux against Arkansas State ... and he ran for 174 yards," said MTSU coach Andy McCollum. "If (MTSU quarterback Clint Marks) ran for 174 yards, he would pass out."

But Desormeaux is still green and more one-dimensional than Babb. After all, the freshman has yet to pass for 120 yards in any of his three games under center since Babb suffered a shoulder injury Oct. 1.

But Babb returned to practice Sunday and should at least split snaps with Desormeaux Saturday, but for Blue Raiders' fans, that return should be a bit too timely.

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By ADAM SPARKS
sparks@dnj.com