The Cajuns defense, known by their motto, TNT (tackles and turnovers), improved in their second year under defensive coordinator Kevin Fouquier.  The defense allowed fewer points, less yards per game and created more turnovers in 2008 than 2007. 

After playing with several young and inexperienced players in 2008, the defense returns a plethora of players that have either started or seen significant playing time.

The team lost only two of its top 12 tacklers from a year ago and sees all but one player who recorded a sack last year returning in 2009.

The defense also scored several touchdowns during the season.   Gerren Blount provided a pair of scores, one coming via a 22-yard fumble return vs. FIU, while his other score came on a 55-yard interception return vs. UTEP.  Scooter Rogers also took a fumble return 30 yards for a TD at FAU.

The defense will certainly have to continue improving to give the Cajuns a chance to be better as a team in 2009.

Nine starters return from last season, which should help improve the overall consistency of the group. In fact, of the 24 letterwinners returning on defense, just six are seniors, meaning the team is loaded with young, but experienced, talent.

Defensive Line

• The Cajuns lost only two players up front on the defensive line, including starter Lanier Coleman.  UL returns eight letterwinners on the defensive front and adds a junior college transfer and five redshirt freshmen.

• The defensive front is wealthy with upperclassmen.  Seniors Hall Davis, Chris Lanaux and LaQuincy Williams join talented juniors Terrell Richardson, Jordan Topp, Sharrick Moore and Jermaine Rogers.

• Despite the experience, it was a redshirt freshman that led the defensive linemen in tackles and tackles-for-loss during the 2008 season.  Now a sophomore, Nate Douglas continued to play well in the spring and will push incumbent starting defensive ends Davis and Richardson.  Lanaux will also be in the mix.

• At defensive tackle, Rogers and Williams will again split time and starts at one spot.  Topp could steal playing time with a good fall, but the junior college transfer missed spring football with a lingering injury sustained prior to his spring semester enrollment.

• To replace Coleman, the Cajuns will likely lean on sophomore Derreck Dean.  Dean played in all 12 games last season as a true freshman and won the spring battle over Moore. The team projects incoming sophomore transfer Tyrell Gaddies (Coffeyville CC) or injured redshirt freshman Tory Day to provide depth.