WEBVTT 1 00:00:04.440 --> 00:00:07.919 The twenty twenty six college football season is fastly approaching, 2 00:00:07.960 --> 00:00:11.240 and we're talking all things Raging Caguns. Let's get into 3 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:29.519 it here on Raging Rundown. What's good, ladies and gentlemen, 4 00:00:29.559 --> 00:00:33.079 and welcome into another episode of Raging Rundown. All Cajuns 5 00:00:33.159 --> 00:00:35.679 all the time. I'm your guy, JaMarcus Fitzpatrick, but you 6 00:00:35.719 --> 00:00:37.920 know you can always call me fits. It's been a 7 00:00:37.960 --> 00:00:40.359 couple of days since I've dropped an episode, but we 8 00:00:40.399 --> 00:00:44.960 are back in action, and it's because football season is 9 00:00:45.359 --> 00:00:45.880 upon us. 10 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:46.240 Guys. 11 00:00:46.280 --> 00:00:50.439 The Raging Cagens reported for fall camp here on Tuesday, 12 00:00:50.520 --> 00:00:53.479 August the fourth. They will hit the practice field for 13 00:00:53.520 --> 00:00:58.039 the first time officially on Wednesday, August the fifth. We 14 00:00:58.119 --> 00:01:00.159 had a chance to talk with a lot of the 15 00:01:00.200 --> 00:01:05.280 players and coaches in their media availability that they had today. 16 00:01:05.959 --> 00:01:08.000 You can check a lot of those interviews out. I'll 17 00:01:08.040 --> 00:01:12.280 be dropping periodically throughout on social media for my day 18 00:01:12.359 --> 00:01:14.879 job at KTC, and I also have some episodes here 19 00:01:14.879 --> 00:01:16.799 that you can be able to listen in to of 20 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:19.760 what we'll talk about here on the show. So we're 21 00:01:19.799 --> 00:01:23.079 going to go through what we can expect out of 22 00:01:23.079 --> 00:01:25.719 this team. What are the expectations will break down the roster. 23 00:01:25.799 --> 00:01:28.959 We'll go through different positions, starting on offense first, and 24 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:32.079 then we'll talk about positions that will be main ones 25 00:01:32.120 --> 00:01:34.799 to look out for in terms of battles and what 26 00:01:34.879 --> 00:01:37.000 we can hope to see out of these guys in 27 00:01:37.040 --> 00:01:39.239 twenty twenty six. But before we move on to twenty 28 00:01:39.239 --> 00:01:42.040 twenty six, we have to turn the final page of 29 00:01:42.120 --> 00:01:42.879 twenty twenty five. 30 00:01:42.920 --> 00:01:43.680 The year that was. 31 00:01:44.079 --> 00:01:47.599 Louisiana finish that year six and seven, but at one 32 00:01:47.640 --> 00:01:49.879 point they were two and six on the year. They 33 00:01:49.879 --> 00:01:54.359 were incredibly decimated by injury, and then they proceeded to 34 00:01:54.439 --> 00:01:57.959 rattle off four straight victories one score games at that 35 00:01:58.079 --> 00:02:01.840 I might add, including an overtime victory against their arrival 36 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:06.599 Ulm at home in order to clinch Bowl eligibility. They 37 00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:08.759 then went to the sixty eight Ventures Bowl, where they 38 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:13.240 had guys opt out in different positions and were again decimated, 39 00:02:13.319 --> 00:02:17.919 especially along the offensive line, and they scrapped their team 40 00:02:17.960 --> 00:02:22.080 together and unfortunately lost their game to Delaware, finishing the 41 00:02:22.159 --> 00:02:26.080 season six and seven for a third out of the 42 00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:29.960 last four seasons that we've seen here. It's year five 43 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:33.080 for head coach Michael Desermo to lead his Alma mater 44 00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:36.719 and there are a lot of pieces that he has 45 00:02:37.039 --> 00:02:41.960 coming back, and there are a lot of experienced players 46 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:45.800 along the way that if this group can stay healthy, 47 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:49.159 the sky is truly the limit for this team. And 48 00:02:49.159 --> 00:02:52.240 that's not just saying that because of what they have 49 00:02:52.319 --> 00:02:56.039 on paper, but of how productive the group of guys 50 00:02:56.080 --> 00:02:59.080 that they have returning have been for them in their 51 00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:01.680 tenure as a raging So, like I said, we'll go 52 00:03:01.719 --> 00:03:06.159 through positions and talk about the roster as a whole. 53 00:03:06.719 --> 00:03:09.319 We'll start off with the position that everyone talks about 54 00:03:09.360 --> 00:03:11.039 the most, that everyone. 55 00:03:10.719 --> 00:03:11.520 Knows about the most. 56 00:03:12.240 --> 00:03:16.240 That is the main position in all of football, and 57 00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:19.280 that's the quarterback position. For the first time since Levi 58 00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:23.120 Lewis started in twenty twenty one, which was the first 59 00:03:23.159 --> 00:03:25.520 season that I got here working as a media member 60 00:03:25.560 --> 00:03:28.439 in Lafayette, for the first time, we know who the 61 00:03:28.520 --> 00:03:32.759 starting quarterback will be going into this upcoming season. There 62 00:03:32.759 --> 00:03:37.000 will not be a quarterback competition because Winfield has proven 63 00:03:37.039 --> 00:03:39.159 that he is ahead of the pack. Last season, he 64 00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:42.680 had twenty two hundred all purpose yards twenty total touchdowns, 65 00:03:42.719 --> 00:03:46.280 and that all came as he stepped in midway through 66 00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:50.759 the season. You remember in the Marshall game. Lunch Winfield 67 00:03:50.800 --> 00:03:53.240 would be inserted into the game when the Cajuns were 68 00:03:53.319 --> 00:03:57.680 down after collapsing there in the early parts of the 69 00:03:57.719 --> 00:04:00.000 second half of that game against Marshall, and it was 70 00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:02.520 almost like a go out there and see what can 71 00:04:02.599 --> 00:04:06.639 happen type of moment. Lunch gets in, he rallies the troops, 72 00:04:06.759 --> 00:04:09.120 they come all the way back, and then he eventually 73 00:04:09.240 --> 00:04:11.759 leads them to a double overtime victory and the rest 74 00:04:11.840 --> 00:04:15.479 was history. He never gave the job back. With him 75 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:19.519 at the Helm, it creates so much of a dynamic, 76 00:04:20.439 --> 00:04:24.240 a different dynamic to your offense because of his ability 77 00:04:24.279 --> 00:04:27.040 to not just throw the football, but how special he 78 00:04:27.120 --> 00:04:29.439 can be in the run game, so much to so 79 00:04:30.040 --> 00:04:32.720 that he was your third leading rusher last season with 80 00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:35.680 one hundred and fifty two carries, six hundred and sixty 81 00:04:35.720 --> 00:04:39.800 seven yards and a team leading nine touchdowns. So he 82 00:04:39.839 --> 00:04:43.439 knew how to go and find the end zone. When 83 00:04:43.480 --> 00:04:46.560 I spoke to Lunch, you know, I asked him about 84 00:04:46.639 --> 00:04:50.439 how much different it felt from last season. When I 85 00:04:50.439 --> 00:04:52.560 talked to him, he was the third string quarterback and 86 00:04:52.600 --> 00:04:53.800 now this season he's the guy. 87 00:04:53.879 --> 00:04:55.879 And you know, he said, it's a great feeling when 88 00:04:55.920 --> 00:04:56.319 you have the. 89 00:04:56.240 --> 00:05:00.519 Community rallying around you, you have your teammates, your coach 90 00:05:00.600 --> 00:05:02.279 is letting you know that you're the guy and we're 91 00:05:02.279 --> 00:05:04.839 going to one hundred percent back you. And I also 92 00:05:04.879 --> 00:05:07.319 talked to him about staying healthy. Right there on the 93 00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:09.240 back half of the season, he was dealing with a 94 00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:11.519 high ankle spring he got that cleaned up in the 95 00:05:11.560 --> 00:05:13.800 offseason to make sure that he can be healthy coming 96 00:05:13.800 --> 00:05:17.120 here into twenty twenty six. And he said, you know, 97 00:05:17.199 --> 00:05:20.560 even if it takes sliding, he's going to make sure 98 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:23.480 that he can be as available as possible for his 99 00:05:23.519 --> 00:05:26.839 teammates because the best ability is availability, and when Lunch 100 00:05:26.839 --> 00:05:30.360 Winfield is available, he can be as a as dynamic 101 00:05:30.360 --> 00:05:34.199 of a player as not just the Cajuns have seen, 102 00:05:34.279 --> 00:05:37.800 but what the Sun Belt could potentially see as well. 103 00:05:38.439 --> 00:05:43.639 In behind him there is Daniel Bill, sam Altman, and 104 00:05:43.720 --> 00:05:48.920 Coleman Carter. Coach Desermo told us that the way the 105 00:05:49.040 --> 00:05:52.959 quarterback breakdown look obviously Lunch getting right now one percent 106 00:05:53.000 --> 00:05:54.959 of the first team reps and then he'll probably dial 107 00:05:55.000 --> 00:05:57.480 it back to ninety to make sure that guys behind 108 00:05:57.519 --> 00:06:01.839 them can get some reps in as well. He said 109 00:06:01.879 --> 00:06:05.160 that from there it'll be Daniel Bill and Coleman Carter 110 00:06:05.240 --> 00:06:09.160 get into two reps, and then Sam Altman and Alex Munos, 111 00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:13.079 the son of tight ends coach George Munos and former 112 00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:18.160 Turlin's Catholic quarterback coming in to also give you a 113 00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:19.959 little bit of a mix there as well as your 114 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:22.519 threes position. So that's how that will look. But as 115 00:06:22.600 --> 00:06:24.959 I said, if Lunch is able to stay upright, the 116 00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:26.879 sky is the limit for this offense because of how 117 00:06:26.959 --> 00:06:29.079 dynamic of a player he truly is. 118 00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:30.920 Then you look at the running back position. 119 00:06:31.240 --> 00:06:35.399 Right in that room, you have Stephen Blanco, Darrell Smith, 120 00:06:35.560 --> 00:06:39.800 JJ Gardner, Key Ryan Smith, Anthony Reagan Junior, and A'marion Brown. 121 00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:44.959 All of those guys last season had little to no 122 00:06:45.240 --> 00:06:47.879 impact in a lot of your run game. Now, Stephen 123 00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:50.759 Blanco did have thirty carries for one hundred and fifty 124 00:06:50.759 --> 00:06:53.399 six yards and two touchdowns, but it was in very 125 00:06:54.199 --> 00:06:57.800 small amounts of action. Darrell Smith had just three carries 126 00:06:57.839 --> 00:07:02.040 and seven yards for you, and after that, Marion Brown 127 00:07:02.160 --> 00:07:03.959 was not on your roster last season. He was on 128 00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:07.040 the Arkansas State roster where he followed over his position 129 00:07:07.120 --> 00:07:09.839 coach Marcus Lovings, who's now your running backs coach Anthony 130 00:07:09.879 --> 00:07:14.240 Reagan was at Howard so now and then Key Ryan 131 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:17.800 Smith was in high school. Last year was Bill Davison, 132 00:07:17.879 --> 00:07:20.199 Ziland Perry. They've moved on from the program where you're 133 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:23.480 two leading rushers ahead of lunch Winfield. It is going 134 00:07:23.519 --> 00:07:26.759 to be imperative that these guys can go out and 135 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:30.439 prove to the world why they can be a special 136 00:07:30.480 --> 00:07:33.639 group because this is a run first offense. It always 137 00:07:33.639 --> 00:07:36.680 has been and it always will be under this coaching 138 00:07:36.680 --> 00:07:38.720 staff because that's what they believe is their strength, and 139 00:07:38.759 --> 00:07:42.079 it has been because they are not passing the ball 140 00:07:42.199 --> 00:07:44.720 first and then getting the run game. They are running 141 00:07:44.759 --> 00:07:47.639 the football to set up everything else that they do 142 00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:50.360 along the way. So it's going to be interesting to see. 143 00:07:50.360 --> 00:07:52.920 We're going to come back to that to talk about 144 00:07:53.120 --> 00:07:56.240 that being a key position battle in behind or in 145 00:07:56.319 --> 00:07:57.079 front of them. 146 00:07:56.959 --> 00:07:58.639 Will be a very, very. 147 00:07:58.519 --> 00:08:02.680 Very experienced offensive line. If you'll remember, George Jackson got 148 00:08:02.759 --> 00:08:04.920 hurt last season. I believe it was in the Eastern 149 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:07.560 Michigan game. He has had a list ering injury. I'm 150 00:08:07.600 --> 00:08:10.600 going to do a future story on that at KTC. 151 00:08:11.079 --> 00:08:13.360 You can check that out whenever I finally drop it. 152 00:08:13.879 --> 00:08:16.399 He was able to get his medical richert and come 153 00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:19.000 back for another season. He's going to be backed as 154 00:08:19.079 --> 00:08:22.279 an experienced offensive tackle. See Alexander Is back as an 155 00:08:22.319 --> 00:08:27.319 experienced offensive tackle, Cayden Morrow an offensive guard, Matt Bruceard 156 00:08:27.639 --> 00:08:31.800 Cooper Fordham at the center position. Jacobe Aisam there at 157 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:34.840 the guard position as well. So you have a ton 158 00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:37.320 of experienced guys that you have in the mix. And 159 00:08:37.559 --> 00:08:39.879 when Coach Dez talked to the podium, he said that 160 00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:43.080 you know, the number is around eight or nine guys 161 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:45.120 that he would like to see that can be able 162 00:08:45.159 --> 00:08:46.559 to help you to win games on Saturday. 163 00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:48.639 Of course you want to see even. 164 00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:52.080 More because the more the merrier, the more literally because 165 00:08:52.399 --> 00:08:55.519 we saw last season of how much injury can come 166 00:08:55.559 --> 00:08:58.519 into effect and how quickly guys can go from being 167 00:08:58.559 --> 00:09:00.799 a three to two and then from a to a starter. 168 00:09:02.759 --> 00:09:05.120 After a lot of those guys that I mentioned, you 169 00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:07.240 have the two lane transferend Jason Mitchell, who had a 170 00:09:07.240 --> 00:09:09.200 lot of good reps for you in the spring. With 171 00:09:09.279 --> 00:09:12.000 George Jackson being out of the lineup, Mari and Gooch 172 00:09:12.120 --> 00:09:15.559 is also back as well, I believe was out in 173 00:09:15.639 --> 00:09:18.799 spring as well. So you have a lot of depth 174 00:09:18.960 --> 00:09:23.039 along the way that can help create some creases for 175 00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:26.559 this run game and can help to keep lunch winfield upright, 176 00:09:27.240 --> 00:09:30.679 they are going to be as imperative as ever before. 177 00:09:31.320 --> 00:09:34.480 Offensive coordinator Tim Leja alluded to that, saying that if 178 00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:37.559 we went in the trenches, we win everything, and I 179 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:39.720 you know, as a former offensive lineman myself, I can 180 00:09:40.360 --> 00:09:43.919 it cannot It goes without saying how important that truly is, 181 00:09:44.039 --> 00:09:48.159 especially for this type of offense. An extension of that 182 00:09:48.279 --> 00:09:52.000 offensive line will be the tight end position. As we 183 00:09:52.120 --> 00:09:56.080 know you have guys like Kayden Jensen and Brock Chapel 184 00:09:56.120 --> 00:09:58.320 that will be coming back in behind them, which we'll 185 00:09:58.320 --> 00:10:00.759 talk about that in a second. In behind them are 186 00:10:00.799 --> 00:10:04.480 a lot of young guys that have very minimal experience. 187 00:10:04.519 --> 00:10:07.000 But you're gonna need to have another tight end in 188 00:10:07.039 --> 00:10:09.440 there because sometimes they do like to go three tight 189 00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:13.720 end sets, which is thirteen personnel. But coach lej mentioned 190 00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:17.080 that if they are not able to find that third guy, 191 00:10:17.480 --> 00:10:19.279 you might see a little bit more of just one 192 00:10:19.320 --> 00:10:21.480 tight end sets or maybe even two tight in sets 193 00:10:21.840 --> 00:10:25.399 to make sure that they can fill the needs of 194 00:10:25.480 --> 00:10:29.279 what their personnel is able to do and they're not 195 00:10:29.399 --> 00:10:32.320 forcing a guy in there that might not potentially be ready. 196 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:35.679 The last position that we'll talk about offensively, and we'll 197 00:10:35.720 --> 00:10:38.320 dabble back into this one as well, is the wide 198 00:10:38.360 --> 00:10:42.720 receiver position. Shelton Samson is your leading receiver. He led 199 00:10:42.759 --> 00:10:45.679 the team in receptions last season with thirty two. He 200 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:48.320 had five hundred and thirty seven yards and a team 201 00:10:48.440 --> 00:10:51.679 leading six touchdowns. He was an explosive playmaker for you 202 00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:54.399 all the way across the board. Him and Lunch Winfield 203 00:10:54.440 --> 00:10:58.600 had a incredible connection, especially as they emerge further and 204 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:03.320 further down the season. He is going to be getting 205 00:11:03.320 --> 00:11:07.720 a lot of attention from defenses and rightfully so. So 206 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:10.279 there are other guys around him that are going to 207 00:11:10.320 --> 00:11:12.480 have the opportunity to shine. The land and Struggs, the 208 00:11:12.559 --> 00:11:16.519 Roggi Denniss, the Cadarius Waves, the Trenton Chenese, the Russell 209 00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:18.320 Babino's and on and on and on of the other 210 00:11:18.360 --> 00:11:21.080 guys that will have opportunities to go out and make plays. 211 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:23.799 And like I said, we'll talk about that a little 212 00:11:23.799 --> 00:11:26.600 bit later. Of this being in a main position to 213 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:30.080 look at as well. Defensively, there are a lot of 214 00:11:30.080 --> 00:11:32.759 things that we have to discuss from the defensive line 215 00:11:33.240 --> 00:11:35.799 to guys like Brent Gordon Junior at the cornerback position, 216 00:11:36.679 --> 00:11:38.679 and the list goes on, and we're going to get 217 00:11:38.720 --> 00:11:41.519 more into that when we come back here on Rage 218 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:48.320 and Rundown. Hey, guys, thank you so much for tuning 219 00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:50.279 in to another episode of Raging Rundown. We're going to 220 00:11:50.360 --> 00:11:52.720 get back into the action in just a second, but 221 00:11:52.759 --> 00:11:55.000 before we do, please do me a favor. If you 222 00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:58.159 are watching this episode on YouTube, please like it, share it, 223 00:11:58.200 --> 00:12:00.480 and leave a comment down below, but most importantly, make 224 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:03.080 sure you subscribe to the channel. If you're listening, please 225 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:05.639 follow the podcast feed, rate the show, and leave us 226 00:12:05.639 --> 00:12:07.639 a review, because that's gonna help us get in front 227 00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:11.840 of more Raging Cajun fans just like yourself. We've talked 228 00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:14.639 about the offense. Now let's switch over to the defensive 229 00:12:14.679 --> 00:12:18.279 side of the ball, a unit that overall in twenty 230 00:12:18.360 --> 00:12:21.759 twenty five was right there in the middle of the pack. Statistically, 231 00:12:23.399 --> 00:12:26.320 they gave up about twenty nine and a half or 232 00:12:26.320 --> 00:12:31.039 twenty nine point two points per game, and there was 233 00:12:31.080 --> 00:12:34.200 a lot of close games, especially there on the back 234 00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:36.320 half of the season, that they had to be a 235 00:12:36.360 --> 00:12:38.519 part of, but they were able to have big moments 236 00:12:38.519 --> 00:12:40.679 and stand up, have goal line stands and get big 237 00:12:40.679 --> 00:12:44.320 stops and force turnovers and key moments. But it just 238 00:12:44.519 --> 00:12:48.279 wasn't as much as what they would like. So we'll 239 00:12:48.320 --> 00:12:51.799 start on the front end this time around. We'll start 240 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:54.879 on the defensive line. Fitzgerald West is gonna anchor you 241 00:12:54.960 --> 00:12:57.279 down up front on the defensive line. 242 00:12:57.320 --> 00:12:57.759 We know that. 243 00:12:57.919 --> 00:13:00.879 Originally he entered his name into the transfer but then 244 00:13:01.240 --> 00:13:04.799 eventually decided to pull his name out and return back 245 00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:08.320 for his final season of collegiate football. He's going to 246 00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:10.879 be a huge anchor point for you. You know, he 247 00:13:10.919 --> 00:13:15.960 didn't have a ton of production in terms of statistically, 248 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:19.559 but just from a veteran standpoint, having a guy that 249 00:13:19.720 --> 00:13:22.799 knows the scheme, that understands college football, that's seen a 250 00:13:22.840 --> 00:13:26.840 lot how Southern miss blocks and how James Madison blocks, 251 00:13:26.840 --> 00:13:29.720 and how Arkansas State blocks, and Troy and other teams 252 00:13:29.720 --> 00:13:32.399 in the Sunbelt West, He's going to be able to 253 00:13:32.440 --> 00:13:36.480 pour that wisdom into other defensive linemen around him. Right 254 00:13:36.519 --> 00:13:40.039 along with him. Another senior is Maxie Bodwin that's coming back. 255 00:13:40.120 --> 00:13:43.399 Another local product that gets another opportunity to go out 256 00:13:43.399 --> 00:13:46.240 and play for his hometown team. Yet another guy that's 257 00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:49.279 been in the program that's had snap experience and will 258 00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:53.000 get the opportunity to once again anchor that defensive line. 259 00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:55.879 You've got guys like Prestas, Lance Williams that could be 260 00:13:55.919 --> 00:13:59.799 your edge positions. You have Chase Edwards that's been you know, 261 00:14:00.519 --> 00:14:05.080 thrown into the mix beginning in last season as a 262 00:14:05.159 --> 00:14:09.360 you know, defensive tackle type of skill skilled player for you. 263 00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:13.480 Then you have you know, transfers coming in Rogers Stewart 264 00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:16.799 being a defensive tackle that integrated himself into the rotation. 265 00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:21.200 And as we know, defensive line coach Dennis Thomas is 266 00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:22.960 not afraid to play guys if they know what they're 267 00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:25.879 doing when they're going out there, and they can effectively 268 00:14:25.879 --> 00:14:28.639 help to stop the run and can rush the passer 269 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:31.840 and not just necessarily always get sacked, but can affect 270 00:14:31.879 --> 00:14:35.840 the quarterback the timing, be disruptive, get him to hurry up, 271 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:38.200 and all of those things like that and plus get sacks. 272 00:14:38.440 --> 00:14:42.360 He's going to play them, no doubt. That jack position, 273 00:14:42.919 --> 00:14:44.720 you know, we'll look at that as as kind of 274 00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:47.399 an extension of the defensive line, even though they are 275 00:14:47.399 --> 00:14:52.240 considered an outside linebacker. Ashley Williams when outside linebackers coach 276 00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:54.960 Mike Giuliani talked about him. He said he was kind 277 00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:57.360 of like a bull in a china shop. That he 278 00:14:57.440 --> 00:15:00.080 was also one of the highest graded players that they 279 00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:03.320 had on the defense whenever it turned in terms of 280 00:15:03.480 --> 00:15:06.879 alignment and assignment. So he knows what he's doing because 281 00:15:06.919 --> 00:15:10.240 he's been in the program for a while now. It's about, 282 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:14.559 as Coach Giuliani said, him stepping up and taking one 283 00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:17.440 play at a time and being able to be that 284 00:15:17.480 --> 00:15:20.399 elite pass rusher that they need to fill the shoes 285 00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:24.200 of Cam Whitfield, who has now moved on from the program. 286 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:26.679 In behind him, you know, you have guys like a 287 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:30.960 Notry Brown that has a great skill set as well 288 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:34.000 that didn't necessarily play as much last year because he 289 00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:37.919 was injured, But from what Coach Giuliani has mentioned, he 290 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:40.519 has a lot of ability that can help you a 291 00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:41.200 ton there. 292 00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:44.919 And then in the linebacker room, the inside linebacker. 293 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:48.120 Room, this is a place where you know last season 294 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:50.759 Jayden Dugger and Terrence Williams were first time started for 295 00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:54.320 you at that position. Jaden Dugger obviously had been playing 296 00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:58.159 you know, the outside linebacker jack position. He moves inside. 297 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:00.799 He has a breakout season and is now playing for 298 00:16:00.840 --> 00:16:04.080 the forty nine ers, rightfuless. So now you're having this 299 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:08.320 inside linebacker group where you have a longtime guy like 300 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:11.399 a Caleb Edwards, a longtime guy like Jake Saint Andre 301 00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:14.639 that are now asked to step up and not fill 302 00:16:14.679 --> 00:16:19.360 the shoes, but to continue the legacy of great inside 303 00:16:19.399 --> 00:16:22.080 linebackers that have been in the program, the kco size, 304 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:26.600 you know, the Lorenzo mccaskals, the Jordan Quibbodos. The list 305 00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:29.240 goes on of the type of great linebackers that we've 306 00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:31.759 seen come through this program. Now these guys are asked 307 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:35.639 to do much of the same. Caleb Edwards, Michael Johnson, 308 00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:39.120 Jake Saint Andre, Connor mcphilson was mentioned as a guy 309 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:43.039 that has a vocal presence. Hayten Darbon, a former Units product, 310 00:16:43.960 --> 00:16:46.600 was mentioned as well as somebody that will give you 311 00:16:46.919 --> 00:16:50.480 an opportunity to do something special. Then you talk about 312 00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:53.279 on the back end at the safety position. Colin Jacob, 313 00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:56.159 a kid once again that I remember when he was 314 00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:58.440 a senior in high school at Laureville and now he 315 00:16:58.519 --> 00:17:01.879 is about to be entering his final season in college. 316 00:17:03.320 --> 00:17:06.000 He you know, broke his forearm there in the middle 317 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:08.799 of the season, and had surgery and now he is 318 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:12.440 going to be back this year. He's another year wiser. 319 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:15.519 He really came on strong for you, not just in 320 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:19.599 the coverage but also affecting the passer, like being able 321 00:17:19.640 --> 00:17:21.799 to blitz and go back there and get sacks, coming 322 00:17:21.880 --> 00:17:23.720 up with big plays in different games. 323 00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:24.799 You think about him. 324 00:17:24.839 --> 00:17:27.759 And then on the other side is also Cody Jackson, 325 00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:30.240 a Shreeport guy, so shout outs to him for that. 326 00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:35.039 But he stepped up a big time after you know, 327 00:17:35.400 --> 00:17:37.839 being in behind a Jaalen Clark and a Tyree Skipper 328 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:40.960 and having to unders continue to understand the defense and 329 00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:43.400 now entering his I believe it is his richer junior 330 00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:47.559 he's coming into now. It's hey, you're the guys that 331 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:49.759 are leading the pack now, So him and Colin are 332 00:17:49.960 --> 00:17:53.279 going to be important there. On the back end behind them, 333 00:17:53.400 --> 00:17:56.519 Lake Baits and Steve and Raynell are guys that were 334 00:17:56.559 --> 00:18:00.000 forced to have to start because of everything that happened, 335 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:02.119 you know, with the fallout from the Texas State game 336 00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:04.599 and injuries and all of those things like that, those 337 00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:07.680 guys had to start later in the year maybe when 338 00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:11.039 they weren't necessarily truly ready, and now that they have 339 00:18:11.119 --> 00:18:14.480 some of that game experience under their belt. Now that 340 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:17.559 they have that, it's now going to be about Okay. 341 00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:19.960 Now you go from being a ten to fifteen snap 342 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:23.200 guy to now maybe a twenty five to thirty snap guy, 343 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:28.400 and then you can eventually integrate yourself to being a starter. 344 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:32.359 You have other positional players like a Luke Green that 345 00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:33.799 could be there on the back end as a true 346 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:36.640 freshman that could help you some depending on how the 347 00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:40.920 rotation all falls. Then the cornerback room, which we'll talk 348 00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:45.799 about them as a position for battle that we could see. 349 00:18:46.079 --> 00:18:48.720 Brent Gordon Jr. Is going to lead the pack as 350 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:52.160 a true sophomore. He got the starting job in the 351 00:18:52.200 --> 00:18:55.920 Missouri game and he never returned the keys and he's 352 00:18:55.920 --> 00:19:00.880 been driving that car ever since. He is going to 353 00:19:00.920 --> 00:19:03.799 be the guy that is probably gonna line up against 354 00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:07.880 the number one receiver for whoever he's playing against. That 355 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:10.720 he is going to say, as he told me, that 356 00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:13.920 I like me in these situations, that I like playing 357 00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:16.200 man and man coverage that you know, obviously they're gonna 358 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:18.720 do both, but when he feels like it's a one 359 00:19:18.759 --> 00:19:21.279 on one situation, he's gonna pick himself, which that's the 360 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:23.279 type of confidence that you want here, not just from 361 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:26.000 a number one cornerback, but from a cornerback in general, 362 00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:29.640 and that is gonna have to be something truly infectious. 363 00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:31.839 That's gonna have to go along the way across the 364 00:19:31.880 --> 00:19:35.519 board for the defensive back round. And behind him, you 365 00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:37.839 think about guys like Avery Dimrie who had came up 366 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:41.799 with big plays in the spring, Jeremiah Moses, Curly Reid 367 00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:45.319 was somebody that's been name dropped several times as well, 368 00:19:46.119 --> 00:19:48.920 and also Kevin Malone, who's somebody that's really young, but 369 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:51.880 coach Dez says believe he believes that can come on 370 00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:57.079 really big for them this season. So that's how things 371 00:19:57.079 --> 00:20:01.960 are shaping up. From the offense and defensive defensive. In 372 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:04.759 the kicking game, Tony Sterner and Logan Klotz are both backs, 373 00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:08.799 so that gives you a solid position in someone that 374 00:20:09.240 --> 00:20:13.119 is coming back, and uh, then you are you also 375 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:16.240 have Brick Schultz, com Breck Schultz, excuse me, coming in, 376 00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:20.240 Mason Golden as a true freshman coming in as a 377 00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:21.839 as a punter for you as well. 378 00:20:22.279 --> 00:20:23.839 And then in the return. 379 00:20:23.559 --> 00:20:26.440 Game, Jacory and Norris is gonna be your guy as 380 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:27.240 the kick returner. 381 00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:30.559 Coach Dez said quote that it is his job to lose. 382 00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:33.839 After that ULM game, when he returned the opening kickoff, 383 00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:36.279 I said, that's that's your guy going forward until he 384 00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:37.839 didn't want to do it anymore and he can't do 385 00:20:37.880 --> 00:20:43.839 it anymore. In the punt return game, Coach Dez alluded 386 00:20:43.880 --> 00:20:46.400 to Brent Gordon being the name that can potentially be 387 00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:48.319 brought up, and then I would later follow up with 388 00:20:48.359 --> 00:20:51.559 Coach Giuliani as I'm trying to go and pull up 389 00:20:51.680 --> 00:20:54.599 my past tweet that I was putting pulling out, which 390 00:20:54.599 --> 00:20:56.839 if you're not following me on social media, you should 391 00:20:56.839 --> 00:20:59.119 because I'm always gonna be putting out information, especially when 392 00:20:59.160 --> 00:21:03.079 we're in pres conference with coaches and players. Coach Giuliani 393 00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:06.440 mentioned that at the punt returner job, guys like Brent Gordon, 394 00:21:06.920 --> 00:21:11.599 Landon Struther, Darrell Smith, Trenton Cheney, and Russell Babino will 395 00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:15.359 all have the opportunities to compete for that job, and 396 00:21:15.400 --> 00:21:17.400 then he will try to narrow it down to see 397 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:20.440 who is going to be the guy that you need 398 00:21:21.079 --> 00:21:24.200 to be back there returning punts. Brent Gordon is very, 399 00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:28.759 very valuable, so it wouldn't be out of the norm 400 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:32.039 that they don't make him the punt returner, not because 401 00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:36.240