2015 Team Roster Analysis and Depth Chart Projections
SENIOR CORNERBACK JEVANTE WATSON
With Terrence Broadway now gone Redshirt juniors Brooks Haack and Jalen Nixon battled throughout spring football and up until a week or so ago the coaching staff had not named a starter. Haack has been named the starter but Nixon is close behind in the event of injury or poor performance. The players are very similar with Haack having a slightly more lively arm and Nixon a bit better runner. Both will likely be used. Redshirt sophomore Matt Hayden looked good at times in the spring and should be a good option in 2017 if he sticks around. Freshman Rashad Brooks will redshirt this season and hopefully develop into a serviceable backup.
RUNNINGBACKS
The team has a pile of seniors at RB with Effrem Reed, Montrel Carter and Torrey Pierce all in their final year of eligibility. All three of them will be contributors but the coaching staff as well as us here are most excited about Kyle Hicks who is now eligible after transferring from TCU and sitting out in 2014. Hicks is a former four star recruit and has the speed to do substantial damage in the conference. Freshman Franz III and Jones will redshirt in hopes to contribute significantly in 2016.
Junior Thomas Singleton is the primary fullback and Coach Davis has indicated that the team hopes to use him more this season as they intend to be a run first offense. He has great size and speed for the position and is an above average receiver. He excels as a lead blocker and is a good pass blocker as well. Xavier Archer Jr., who moved over from linebacker, will redshirt.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Junior Scott Austin tied for the team lead in receptions last season and led the team in yardage and tied for touchdowns. The next most productive wide receiver still here is senior Adam Savoie who caught seven passes in 2014. The rest of the position group is made up of newcomers or redshirt freshmen with zero receptions. Austin and Savoie top the depth chart with Mikey Porter Sr. and Darren Guerrero rounding out the top four. True freshman Seth Palmero will be active and have a chance to get on the field at times. Junior Hunter Keith is available as well. Freshmen Travaris Jones and Trai Hart are going to redshirt. Austin has everything you want in an outside receiver at 6'4" with solid speed and hands. At 5'7" Savoie will have to do the bulk of his damage in the slot while the team will rely on Porter to come on quickly. Guerrero has had issues with drops. Runningback Montrel Carter has also been working with the group.
TIGHT ENDS
James Moody came in as a freshman last season and took over the tight end position while putting up solid numbers in limited use. With the wide receiver position less talented expect to see a lot more of him. At 6'6" and 241 pounds he has the ability to be a great redzone target and has decent open field speed. He does not have the best speed but he is a very good blocker. Senior Larry Pettis is a better receiver and is faster but is a significant downgrade as a blocker. Nick Byrne provides good depth at the position.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Coach Davis and his staff have shuffled the offensive line significantly and settled on the following starting unit:
LT Mykhael Quave, LG Octravian Anderson, C Ryan Hoefeld, RG Greg Siener, RT Derek Edinburgh Jr.
The group is quite experienced and talented and should be one of the better units in the conference. Depth is a bit of a concern here so they will hope to remain healthy throughout the season.
DEFENSIVE LINE
The Cajuns had their top three defensive tackles move on after last season but have retained all of their defensive ends. Dominique Tovell and Chris Prater may be the most talented pair of ends in the conference and they accounted for 18 sacks last season. There is great depth on the outside with Miggins, Bolden, Batiste and Reid all expected to rotate at the position. Inside is a different story. A.J. Jefferson, a transfer from Mississippi State is the top tackle on the roster and should be on the field in most defensive sets. Behind him are sophomore Daniel Fritz and junior Leonard Washington, who transferred in from Florida International. Fritz and Washington should contribute but expect to see a lot more three man fronts this season. Walk on Anthony Jones fills out the position and will redshirt this season.
LINEBACKERS
ULL lost four linebackers after 2014 with Anyama, Molbert, Sager and Borque all using up their eligibility. Senior Chris Hill leads the group and will be on the field the majority of the time, primarily as a middle linebacker. Fellow senior Trae Johnson is listed behind him in the middle. On the outside Juniors Chad Polk and George Williams are expected to be the top contributors. Freshmen Jeremy Bailey and Christian Dawson will redshirt. Sammy Douglas, Derek Jackson, Chad Adams and Tre'Maine Lightfoot provide good depth.
CORNERBACKS
Senior Jevante Watson picked off nine passes last year to tie for the team lead. Jamal Rainey, who moves from the slot position to the other outside starter picked off three. Sophomore Troy McCollum will move into the nickel role and Tracy Walker is the dime. Watson is one of the top corners in the conference and Rainey has all the tools to be a solid number two. McCollum and Walker are unproven as of yet. McCollum was recruited as a three star in 2013 while Walker came in as a two star in the same class. Sophomores Kelvin Greenwood and Kyle Coleman round out the position.
SAFETIES
Senior T.J. Worthy leads the position and is one of the top strong safeties in the conference. He has great size and speed for the position and recorded 33 tackles, a sack and an interception in 2014. Senior Cedrick Tillman will start at the free safety position. He made nine tackles in 2014 while playing sparingly. Coach Davis is known to use three safeties frequently so expect to see plenty of sophomore Simeon Thomas and freshman safety/linebacker hybrid Brandon Wilson. Freshman Reginald McFadden will redshirt.
SPECIALISTS
True freshman lefty Jeffrey Yatkowski will take over the kicking duties after signing late but reporting in the spring. The Taylor, Texas native has a strong leg but has struggled some with accuracy. Junior Daniel Cadona improved his average to 44.2 in 2014 over his 38.2 yard average in 2013. He has yet to have a punt blocked but did struggle to pin opponents inside the 20 last season.
Runningbacks Effrem Reed and Montrel Carter have gotten the bulk of the work returning kicks and punts thus far.