(Photo Credit: Tim Smith)
Key Players Returning:
QB Luke Anthony, WR Isaiah Graham, WR/PR Smoke Harris, OC Abraham Delfin, OC Jerren Gilbert, OG Joshua Mote, OT Dakota White, DE Deshon Hall, DE Eric Kendzior, NT Keivie Rose, LB Trey Baldwin, LB Ezekiel Barnett, LB Maki Carabin, LB Tyler Grubbs, CB Zach Hannibal, CB Cedric Woods, FS Jaiden Cole, FS Khalil Ladler, SS BeeJay Williamson, and PK/PT Jacob Barnes.
Key Players Departing:
RB Israel Tucker, WR Cee Jay Powell, WR Adrian Hardy, DT Levi Bell, DT Milton Williams, and KR Wayne Toussant.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: S Myles Mason (Arkansas transfer), LB J’Dan Burnett (Fort Worth, Texas), CB Baylen Buchanan (Tennessee transfer), WR Cyrus Allen (New Orleans, Louisiana), OT Kenneth Bannister (New Orleans, Louisiana), WR Solomon Lewis (Lake Charles, Louisiana), RB Marcus Williams (Appalachian State transfer), LB Dominik Calhoun (Freeport, Texas), CB Elijah Hamilton (Vanderbilt transfer), and DE Erron Bean (Ferriday, Louisiana).
2020 Results:
G01 at Southern Miss W 31-30
G02 HOUSTON BAPTIST W 66-38
G03 at BYU L 14-45
G04 UTEP W 21-17
G05 MARSHALL L 17-35
G06 at UTSA L 26-27
G07 UAB W | 2OT 37-34
G08 at North Texas W 42-31
G09 at TCU L 10-52
BOWL vs. Georgia Southern L 3-38
Team Info:
2020 Overall: 5-5 (3rd in CUSA West)
Home: 3-1
Away: 2-3
Neutral: 0-1
CUSA: 4-2
Non-CUSA: 1-3
Head Coach: Skip Holtz
Louisiana Tech: 61-41
Career: 149-112
Bowls: 8-4
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Luke Anthony (138-221, 1479 yards, 62.4%, 6.7 avg., 16 TD, 5 INT)
Rushing: Greg Garner (33 car., 115 yards, 3.5 avg., 2 TD)
Receiving: Smoke Harris (39 rec., 304 yards, 7.8 avg., 4TD)
TD’s Scored: Smoke Harris (5)
Sacks: Jaiden Cole (2)
Tackles: Tyler Grubbs (96)
Interceptions: Bee Jay Williamson (3)
Pass Deflections: Cedric Woods (6)
Tackles For Loss: Tyler Grubbs (9.5)
Forced Fumbles: 4 Tied (1)
Kick Returns: Isaiah Graham (8 ret., 111 yards, 13.9 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Smoke Harris (6 ret., 139 yards, 23.2 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Jacob Barnes (12-14 fg/fga., 86%, 33/33 xp/xpa., 69 pts.)
Punting: Jacob Barnes (49 punts, 1825 yards, 37.2 avg., 10 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 9 Luke Anthony (GR/TR)
RB: 00 Marcus Williams (GR/TR)
WR: 13 Isaiah Graham (RS SR/TR)
WR: 5 Smoke Harris (RS SO)
WR: 80 Griffin Hebert (RS JR)
WR: 14 Praise Okorie (SR)
LT: 68 Dakota White (FR)
LG: 64 Joshua Mote (RS JR)
OC: 62 Abraham Delfin (RS JR)
RG: 74 Jonah Brewster (RS FR)
RT: 72 Samuel Williams (GR/TR)
KR: 13 Isaiah Graham (RS SR/TR)
PK: 35 Jacob Barnes (RS FR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 93 Deshon Hall (SO)
DT: 43 Tristan Allen (RS JR)
NT: 94 Keivie Rose (RS FR)
DE: 85 Willie Baker (RS SR)
LB: 46 Ezekiel Barnett (RS SR)
LB: 52 Tyler Grubbs (FR)
LB: 3 Trey Baldwin (RS SR/TR)
CB: 2 Zach Hannibal (RS SR)
CB: 15 Elijah Hamilton (GR/TR)
FS: 1 Khalil Ladler (GR/TR)
SS: 4 BeeJay Williamson (RS SO)
PR: 5 Smoke Harris (RS SO)
PT: 35 Jacob Barnes (RS FR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams:
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: B
Kickers: A
Punters: C
Schedule:
09/04 at Mississippi State Bulldogs | Louisiana Tech trails the series 3-11. The Bulldogs are 0-4 since 2011, and they lost (3-45) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
09/11 SE LOUISIANA LIONS | Louisiana Tech won (41-26) the only prior meeting between schools in 2008.
09/18 SMU MUSTANGS | Louisiana Tech leads the series 4-1. The Bulldogs won (51-10) the last meeting between schools in 2017.
09/25 NORTH TEXAS MEAN GREEN | Louisiana Tech leads the series 12-7. The Bulldogs are 6-2 since renewing the series in 2013, and their last series loss (23-24) was in 2017.
10/02 at NC State Wolfpack | Louisiana Tech lost (14-40) the only prior meeting between schools in 2013.
10/16 at UTEP Miners | Louisiana Tech leads the series 14-2-1. The Bulldogs are 8-0 since 2011, and their last series loss (27-44) was in 2004.
10/23 UTSA ROADRUNNERS | Louisiana Tech leads the series 7-2. The Bulldogs lost (26-27) last season’s meeting between schools, and their lasts series win (41-27) was in 2019.
10/30 at Old Dominion Monarchs | Louisiana Tech lost (27-30 OT) the only prior meeting between schools in 2014.
11/06 at UAB Blazers | Louisiana Tech leads the series 6-3. The Bulldogs are 2-3 since renewing the series in 2014, and their last series loss (14-20) was in 2019.
11/13 CHARLOTTE 49ERS | First meeting between schools.
11/19 SOUTHERN MISS GOLDEN EAGLES | Louisiana Tech trails the series 17-35. The Bulldogs are 4-5 since 2011, and their last series loss (20-21) was in 2018.
11/27 at Rice Owls | Louisiana tech leads the series 9-4. The Bulldogs are 7-1 since renewing the series in 2012, and they won (23-20 OT) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
Predictions:
Home: 5-1
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 5-3
Non-CUSA: 2-2
Overall: 7-5 (2nd in CUSA West)
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