(Photo Credit: Jay Biggerstaff/USA TODAY Sports)
Key Players Returning:
RB Marquis Crosby, RB Charvis Thornton, WR Cyrus Allen, WR/RS Smoke Harris, OC Abraham Delfin, OG Jerren Gilbert, OT Carson Bruno, OT Dakota White, DT Deshon Hall Jr., LB Hugh Davis, CB Willie Roberts, FS Cecil Singleton Jr. and PK Jacob Barnes.
Key Players Departing:
QB Parker McNeil, WR Tre Harris, TE Griffin Hebert, OG Joshua Mote, DE Kershawn Fisher, DE Eric Kendzior, DT Keivie Rose, LB Maki Carabin, LB Tyler Grubbs, CB Myles Brooks, CB Myles Mason, DS Jaiden Cole, DS Khiry Morrison, SS Bee Jay Williamson and PT Austin McCready.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: RB Sqwirl Williams (Baylor transfer), QB Hank Bachmeier (Boise State transfer), WR Decoldest Crawford (Nebraska transfer), LB Jeslord Boateng (Akron transfer), OT Hayden Christman (Pineville, Louisiana), LB Delvin Whitaker (St. Francisville, Louisiana), LB Kolbe Fields (LSU transfer), LB Jeslord Boateng (Akron transfer), CB David Webb III (New Orleans, Louisiana) and RB Keith Willis (Houston, Texas).
2022 Results:
G01 @ Missouri L 24-52
G02 STEPHEN F. AUSTIN W 52-17
G03 @ #5 Clemson L 20-48
G04 @ South Alabama L 14-38
G05 UTEP W 41-31
G06 @ North Texas L 27-47
G07 RICE L | OT 41-42
G08 @ FIU L | 2OT 34-42
G09 MIDDLE TENNESSEE W 40-24
G10 @ UTSA L 7-51
G11 @ Charlotte L 21-26
G12 UAB L 27-37
Team Info:
2022 Overall: 3-9 (11th in CUSA)
Home: 3-2
Away: 0-7
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 2-6
Non-CUSA: 1-3
Head Coach: Sonny Cumbie
Louisiana Tech: 5-12
Career: 5-12
Bowls: 1-0
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Jack Turner (16-29, 176 yards, 55.2%, 3.7 avg., 1 TD, 2 INT)
Rushing: Marquis Crosby (183 car., 918 yards, 5.0 avg., 9 TD)
Receiving: Smoke Harris (66 rec., 635 yards, 9.8 avg., 5 TD)
TD’s Scored: Marquis Crosby (9)
Sacks: Zion Nason/Cecil Singleton Jr. (2)
Tackles: Cecil Singleton Jr. (56)
Interceptions: Willie Roberts (4)
Pass Deflections: Willie Roberts/Cecil Singleton Jr. (5)
Tackles For Loss: Cecil Singleton Jr. (6)
Forced Fumbles: Cecil Singleton Jr. (3)
Kick Returns: Smoke Harris (19 ret., 517 yards, 27.2 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Smoke Harris (19 ret., 236 yards, 12.4avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Jacob Barnes (13-18 fg/fga., 72%, 38-39 xp/xpa., 77 pts.)
Punting: Patrick Rea (10 punts, 396 yards, 39.6 avg., 1 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 19 Hank Bachmeier (SR/TR)
RB: 3 Marquis Crosby (RS SO)
WR: 16 Tru Edwards (RS JR/TR)
WR: 1 Cyrus Allen (SO)
WR: 6 Smoke Harris (RS SR)
TE: 17 Nate Jones (JR/TR)
LT: 68 Dakota White (JR)
LG: 79 Bert Hale (JR)
OC: 62 Abraham Delfin (GR)
RG: 75 Jerren Gilbert (JR)
RT: 65 Carson Bruno (RS SO)
KR: 6 Smoke Harris (RS SR)
PK: 35 Jacob Barnes (RS JR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 20 J’Dan Burnett (RS SO)
DT: 93 Rason Williams II (RS SR/TR)
DT: 93 Deshon Hall Jr. (SR)
DE: 88 Mykol Clark (RS JR)
LB: 6 Brevin Randle (RS SR/TR)
LB: 9 Hugh Davis (RS SR/TR)
NB: 8 Demarcus Griffin-Taylor (RS SR/TR)
CB: 1 Willie Roberts (SR/TR)
CB: 11 Cedric Woods (RS JR)
FS: 2 Cecil Singleton Jr. (RS SR/TR)
SS: 00 Myles Heard (RS SR/TR)
PR: 6 Smoke Harris (RS SR)
PT: 31 Blake Ochsendorf (RS SR/TR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams:
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: A
Kickers: A
Punters: C
Schedule:
08/26 FIU PANTHERS | Louisiana Tech leads the series 4-1. The Bulldogs 34-42 loss last season was their first loss of the series dating back to 2013.
09/02 @ SMU Mustangs | Louisiana Tech leads the series 4-2. The Bulldogs lost (37-39) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
09/09 NORTHWESTERN STATE DEMONS | Louisiana Tech leads the series 46-17-5. The Bulldogs won (52-24) the last meeting between schools in 2017.
09/16 NORTH TEXAS MEAN GREEN | Louisiana Tech leads the series 13-8. The Bulldogs are 7-3 since 2013 and their last series win (24-17) was in 2021.
09/23 @ Nebraska Cornhuskers | Louisiana Tech trails the series 0-2. The Bulldogs lost (10-49) the last meeting between schools in 2006.
09/29 @ UTEP Miners | Louisiana Tech leads the series 15-3-1. The Bulldogs are 9-1 since 2013 and their last series loss (3-19) was in 2021.
10/05 WKU HILLTOPPERS | Louisiana Tech leads the series 5-4. The Bulldogs lost (15-30) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
10/10 @ Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders | Louisiana Tech leads the series 5-2. Last season’s 40-24 win was the first meeting between schools since 2016.
10/24 NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES | Louisiana Tech leads the series 8-4. The Bulldogs won (28-14) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
11/04 @ Liberty Flames | First meeting between schools.
11/11 SAM HOUSTON BEARKATS | Louisiana Tech won (55-17) the only prior meeting between schools in 1999.
11/18 @ JACKSONVILLE STATE GAMECOKS | First meeting between schools.
Predictions:
Home: 6-0
Away: 5-1
Neutral: 1-0
CUSA: 8-0
Non-CUSA: 4-1
Overall: 12-1 (1st in CUSA/CUSA Champions)
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