(Photo Credit: LA Tech Athletics)
Key Players Returning:
QB Evan Bullock, RB Omiri Wiggins, TE Eli Finley, OG Ashanti Cole, DT Zion Nason, LB Kolbe Fields, LB Sifa Leota, CB Jhamal Shelby Jr., CB Cedric Woods, NB Mekhi Mason, FS Jacob Fields, SS Jakari Foster, and SS Michael Richard.
Key Players Departing:
WR Tru Edwards, WR Jimmy Holiday, OC Zarian McGill, OG Jerren Gilbert, OG Bert Hale, OT Daniel Keys, DT David Blay, DE Mykol Clark, DE Jessie Evans, LB Zach Zimos, CB/KR Demarcus Griffin-Taylor, NB CJ Harris, FS Blake Thompson, SS Isaiah McElvane, PR Solo Lewis, PK Buck Buchanan, and PT Patrick Rea.Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: LB Jaylon Parnell (Pascagoula, Mississippi), ATH Sentel Simpson (Frisco, Texas), QB Jackson Bradley (Oak Grove, Louisiana), DS Tobias Gary (Dallas, Texas), CB Noah Biglow (Pittsburgh transfer), WR Jalen Mickens (Willis, Texas), OL Ervin Smith (Baton Rouge, Louisiana), LB Zheric Hill (Ruston, Louisiana), WR Kolby Thomas (Shreveport, Louisiana), and DL Daylin Page (Hattiesburg, Mississippi).
2024 Results:
G01 NICHOLLS W 25-17
G02 @ NC State L 20-30
G03 TULSA L/OT 20-23
G04 @ FIU L 10-17
G05 MIDDLE TENNESSEE W 48-21
G06 @ New Mexico State L/OT 30-33
G07 UTEP W 14-10
G08 @ Sam Houston L 3-9
G09 JAX STATE L/OT 37-44
G10 @ Western Kentucky W 12-7
G11 @ Arkansas L 14-35
G12 KENNESAW STATE W 33-0
BOWL vs. #22 Army L 6-27
Team Info:
2024 Overall: 5-8 (6th in CUSA)
Home: 4-2
Away: 1-5
Neutral: 0-1
CUSA: 4-4
Non-CUSA: 1-4
Head Coach: Sonny Cumbie
Louisiana Tech: 11-26
Bowls: 1-1
Career: 13-29
(Photo Credit: LA Tech Athletics)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Evan Bullock (197-300, 2104 yards, 65.7%, 7.0 avg., 14 TD, 3 INT)
Rushing: Omiri Wiggins (111 car., 527 yards, 4.7 avg., 4 TD)
Receiving: Eli Finley (25 rec., 314 yards, 12.6 avg., 2 TD)
TD’s Scored: Omiri Wiggins (6)
Sacks: Sifa Leota (3.5)
Tackles: Kolbe Fields (71)
Interceptions: Jacob Fields (2)
Pass Deflections: Jacob Fields/Jhamal Shelby Jr. (4)
Tackles For Loss: Kolbe Fields (9)
Forced Fumbles: Kolbe Fields (2)
Kick Returns: Dedrick Latulas (1 ret., 18 yards, 18.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Dedrick Latulas (7 ret., 36 yards, 5.1 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Drew Henderson (2-2 fg/fga., 100%, 0-0 xp/xpa., 6 pts.)
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 7 Evan Bullock (RS SO)
RB: 22 Omiri Wiggins (JR/TR)
WR: 47 Jay Wilkerson (RS JR/TR)
WR: 9 Marlion Jackson (RS JR)
WR: 1 Devin Gandy (RS SR/TR)
TE: 84 Eli Finley (JR)
LT: 73 Kenneth Bannister (RS SR)
LG: 79 Ashanti Cole (RS JR/TR)
OC: 55 Landon Nelson (RS SR/TR)
RG: 58 Jonathan Denis (RS SR/TR)
RT: 72 Hayden Christman (RS SO)
KR: 22 Omiri Wiggins (JR/TR)
PK: 43 Drew Henderson (RS SO)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 98 Donovan Rieman (RS JR/TR)
NT: 97 Christian Davis (RS SO/TR)
DT: 96 Zion Nason (GR/TR)
DE: 91 Caleb Sims (RS SR/TR)
LB: 10 Kolbe Fields (RS SR/TR)
LB: 42 Sifa Leota (RS SR/TR)
NB: 9 Mekhi Mason (RS JR/TR)
CB: 11 Cedric Woods (GR)
CB: 18 Noah Biglow (RS SR/TR)
FS: 23 Jacob Fields (JR)
SS: 6 Jakari Foster (RS SR/TR)
PR: 3 Dedrick Latulas (RS SO)
PT: 48 John Hoyet Chance (RS FR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams:
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: C
Schedule:
08/30 SE LOUISIANA LIONS | LA Tech leads the series 2-0. The Bulldogs won (45-42) the last meeting in 2021, and they won (41-26) the inaugural meeting in 2008.
09/06 @ LSU Tigers | LA Tech trails the series 1-19. The Bulldogs lost (21-38) the last meeting in 2018, and they lost (16-24) the prior meeting in 2009.
09/13 NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES | LA Tech leads the series 7-4. The Bulldogs lost (30-33 2OT) last season’s meeting, and they lost (24-27) the prior meeting in 2023.
09/20 SOUTHERN MISS GOLDEN EAGLES | LA Tech trails the series 17-36. The Bulldogs are 2-5 since 2015, and they lost (19-35) the last meeting in 2021.
09/27 @ UTEP Miners | LA Tech leads the series 15-2. The Bulldogs are 9-1 since 2015, and their last series loss (3-19) was in 2021.
10/09 @ Kennesaw State Owls | Last season’s 33-0 win was the first meeting between schools.
10/21 WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS | The series is tied 4-4. The Bulldogs are 3-4 since 2015, and their last series loss (28-35) was in 2023.
10/31 SAM HOUSTON BEARKATS | LA Tech trails the series 1-2. The Bulldogs lost (3-9) last season’s meeting, and they lost (27-42) the prior meeting in 2023.
11/08 @ Delaware Blue Hens | First meeting.
11/15 @ Washington State Cougars | First meeting.
11/22 LIBERTY FLAMES | LA Tech lost (30-56) the only prior meeting in 2023.
11/29 @ Missouri State Bears | First meeting.
Predictions:
Home: 3-3
Away: 0-6
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 2-6
Non-CUSA: 1-3
Overall: 3-9 (10th in CUSA)
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