2015 Louisiana Football Training Camp Central

AUGUST 22: Practice No. 19 (Scrimmage)

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team wrapped up fall camp on Saturday as the team held a two-hour situational scrimmage at Cajun Field.

The Ragin' Cajuns spent time working on their two-minute package, third-down situations and the kicking game. The team also worked on sideline management, getting players on and off the field and making necessary adjustments.

"There were a lot of things that we wanted to get accomplished today," Louisiana head coach Mark Hudspeth said. "We had to focus on not only offensively and defensively being in great position with great leverage and execution, we wanted to get some quality work in the kicking game with live situations.

"We sent them out in game-like form and had them carry out their assignments against our Cajun Look team. I thought they did well."

50384 — Gabe Fuselier heads downfield after a reception during Saturday's final day of fall camp.

Quarterbacks Brooks Haack, Jalen Nixon and Jordan Davis each took the majority of snaps during the scrimmage with Davis scoring on a touchdown run. Freshman Stevie Artigue capped off a two-minute drive for the Ragin' Cajuns with a field goal.

Freshman Steven Coutts continued his impressive first camp with the Ragin' Cajuns as the native Australian is slated to follow fellow countryman Daniel Cadona at punter. Coutts, who participated in spring practice after enrolling in school in January, played Australian Rules Football and rugby before suiting up for the Ragin' Cajuns.

"He seems to be doing pretty good," Hudspeth said. "We've tried to give him a lot of rush opportunities during practice, a lot of people around him to get that feel of being able to punt the ball with people all around you, and in your space.

"It's a lot different than just punting out there at practice with nobody around you and then punting with three or four 240-pound guys running right at you. We've worked a lot on that and it showed today that he was way more comfortable. I thought he had his best day punting. He's going to be a weapon if he stays that consistent."

Louisiana will participate in the annual Fall Sports Fan Day that begins at 5 p.m. on Sunday at the Cajundome. The Ragin' Cajuns, who will open the season on Sept. 5 at Kentucky, will then begin classes on Monday before returning to practice on Tuesday.

Season tickets, beginning at $110 per seat, are currently available at the Cajundome Ticket Office by calling (337) 265-2357 or visiting on-line at RaginCajuns.com. The Ragin' Cajuns will open their six-game home schedule on Sept. 12 against Northwestern State in the 15th annual Herbert Heymann Classic and will host Akron (Sept. 26), Texas State (Oct. 10), ULM (Oct. 31), New Mexico State (Nov. 21) and Troy (Dec. 5).

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AUGUST 21: Practice No. 18 (Full gear)

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team will wrap up fall camp on Saturday when it holds its third closed scrimmage at Cajun Field.

The Ragin' Cajuns worked out in full gear on Friday as showers forced the team into the Moncla Indoor Practice Facility for the second time since camp started on Aug. 6. The team worked out for 22 periods, continuing on installing their offensive and defensive packages.

"We're not going to go as many reps in this third scrimmage as we have in the first two," Louisiana head coach Mark Hudspeth said. "It'll be a little more emphasis on the kicking game, just to make sure we've covered a lot of different scenarios. It'll be one more dress rehearsal and one more opportunity to get some guys some repetitions."

50378 — Ross Duhon goes through drills during Ragin' Cajuns fall camp

Louisiana, which opens the season on Sept. 5 at Kentucky, will officially start classes on Monday before returning to practice on Tuesday. The fifth fall camp under Hudspeth was the first one that didn't go according to plan, as a severe heat wave in the early part of camp forced the coaching staff to move practices from the morning into the early evening and not schedule as many two-a-day workouts.

"It's been a little different camp for the fact that we changed course at midstream," Hudspeth said. "We had our itinerary all set to practice in the mornings and then that heat wave started right as camp started. And so we changed the schedule midstream, just as camp was starting, so that was a logistical nightmare just to get all of that done.

"That (the opening week) was probably the hottest week of practice that I've been associated with … and they're all hot. Every year is hot, but this year was particularly hot, especially after last year was probably the coolest it's ever been."

Louisiana will participate in the annual Fall Sports Fan Day on Sunday beginning at 5 p.m. at the Cajundome.

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AUGUST 18: Practice No. 15 (Scrimmage No. 2)

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team held their second scrimmage of fall camp, working for two hours in a controlled setting on Tuesday at Cajun Field.

Quarterbacks Brooks Haack, Jalen Nixon and Jordan Davis each shared duties in directing the No. 1 offense for the Ragin' Cajuns, who will open the season on Sept. 5 at Kentucky. The trio each threw touchdown passes in the controlled scrimmage, which worked on all aspects.

"It was solid … a solid scrimmage tonight in the stadium," head coach Mark Hudspeth said. "I thought our kids showed up to play and played awfully hard and I thought we did a good job of practicing against one another. I probably saw what I expected to see."

50338 — Jamal Robinson (left) along with quarterbacks Brooks Haack, Dion Ray and Jordan Davis look on during Tuesday's scrimmage at Cajun Field.

Freshman Stevie Artigue booted a short field goal to cap a two-minute drill while Tracy Walker highlighted the defensive effort with an interception early in the workout.

Louisiana will take off on Wednesday before wrapping up two-a-days on Thursday. The Ragin' Cajuns will hold their final scrimmage on Saturday before participating in the annual Ragin' Cajuns Fall Sports Fan Day on Sunday at the Cajundome and beginning classes on Monday.

Season tickets, beginning at $110 per seat, are currently available at the Cajundome Ticket Office by calling (337) 265-2357 or visiting on-line at RaginCajuns.com. The Ragin' Cajuns will open their six-game home schedule on Sept. 12 against Northwestern State in the 15th annual Herbert Heymann Classic and will host Akron (Sept. 26), Texas State (Oct. 10), ULM (Oct. 31), New Mexico State (Nov. 21) and Troy (Dec. 5).

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AUGUST 17: Practice No. 13/14 (Full gear; Helmets)

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team worked out twice on Monday, holding a 90-minute session in full gear in the morning before having a light evening workout in helmets.

Louisiana, which opens the season Sept. 5 at Kentucky, will hold its second closed scrimmage of fall camp on Tuesday as several position battles are continuing.

The Ragin' Cajuns continued their quarterback battle with Brooks Haack, Jalen Nixon and Jordan Davis each sharing time directing the No. 1 offense. The trio is looking to replace three-year starter Terrance Broadway, who finished as the school's all-time leader in total offense (9,420) and second in passing yards (7,556).

50332 — The Ragin' Cajuns quarterbacks, with former UL quarterback Brady Thomas, prepare to work out prior to Monday's evening session

"I want a quarterback that is not going to turn the ball over, period," head coach Mark Hudspeth said. "That's the No. 1 thing for us. I think we have quality enough (skill) players that if he can just get the ball to our playmakers whether it's a handoff or running the ball and not turning it over.

"The main thing I want them to do is just take care of the football. If we do that and can lead the country in the fewest turnovers, we'll have a chance to win a lot of games."

Outside of the loss of Broadway at quarterback, the biggest area that needs to be filled is on the defensive line where the Ragin' Cajuns must replace departed starters Christian Ringo and Justin Hamilton.

Ringo, who was drafted in the sixth round by the Green Bay Packers in the 2015 NFL Draft, created havoc on the edge for the Ragin' Cajuns finishing with 45 tackles with 20 stops behind the line of scrimmage with a single-season record 11.5 sacks. Hamilton, who signed a free agent contract with the Buffalo Bills, took care of the middle as he recorded 27 tackles with 10 stops for loss and five sacks.

The trio of Blain Winston, Sherard Johnson and Karmichael Dunbar were penciled in as the starters coming out of spring practice with returning letterwinners Chris Prater, Jacoby Briscoe and redshirt freshman LaDarrius Kidd listed as the backups.

Briscoe, another local product, posted 19 tackles in his first season with the Ragin' Cajuns after transferring from Miami. Prater finished with 13 stops at defensive end with Taboris Lee, who missed spring practice with an injury, recording 16 tackles as a true freshman.

Remaine Douglas and Rodrick Stephens each showed flashes during the season and will look to bounce back from season-ending injuries. Darryl Johnson, a 2014 signee, will look to contribute in his first season with the Ragin' Cajuns along with incoming freshman Mario Osborne.

"The kids are really working hard and we have some guys back from last year that did play," first-year defensive line coach Levorn Harbin said. "The big thing that I'm trying to get everybody to be able to work together after losing two NFL guys. We're young, but we're experienced with Taboris Lee and Remaine Douglas. We've got to build depth and that will have to come from the younger guys.

Louisiana will wrap up two-a-days on Thursday before holding its final scrimmage on Saturday. The Ragin' Cajuns will participate in Fan Day on Sunday at the Cajun Dome before beginning classes on Monday.

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AUGUST 16: Practice No. 12 (Helmets)

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team worked out in helmets for nearly two hours on Sunday as much-needed rain to the area forced the team inside the Moncla Indoor Practice Facility for the first time during fall camp.

50330 — Jordan Davis throws a pass to Chris Collins during individual drills on Sunday.

The Ragin' Cajuns continued working on all phases of their game during the 19-period session, including an 11-on-11 session with crowd noise piped in. Quarterbacks Brooks Haack, Jalen Nixon and Jordan Davis each took turns working with the No. 1 offense for the Ragin' Cajuns, who open the season on Sept. 5 at Kentucky.

"It was a really solid practice, we went from going in full pads to just helmets, because (Saturday's) practice was so physical," head coach Mark Hudspeth said. "We've been practicing pretty physical and it's starting to take a toll on them. We backed off with the physicality a little bit, but not with the tempo. I thought we had a pretty good day."

The Ragin' Cajuns will have a pair of practices on Monday, starting with a workout in full gear at 9:25 a.m., followed by a light workout in the evening at 5:40 p.m. Louisiana will hold its second scrimmage of fall camp on Tuesday and will wrap up two-a-days on Thursday.

Season tickets, beginning at $110 per seat, are currently available at the Cajundome Ticket Office by calling (337) 265-2357 or visiting on-line at RaginCajuns.com. The Ragin' Cajuns will open their six-game home schedule on Sept. 12 against Northwestern State in the 15th annual Herbert Heymann Classic and will host Akron (Sept. 26), Texas State (Oct. 10), ULM (Oct. 31), New Mexico State (Nov. 21) and Troy (Dec. 5).

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AUGUST 15: Practice No. 11 (Full gear)

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team worked out for nearly two hours in full gear on Saturday as the team worked on all phases of its game in preparation for its Sept. 5 opener at Kentucky.

The Ragin' Cajuns received stellar play from receivers Jamal Robinson and freshman Keenan Barnes, who each caught touchdown passes during 11-on-11 drills. The duo each grabbed TD passes during 7-on-7 drills, while freshman Jarrod Jackson also nabbed a long pass for a TD. Defensively, sophomore Travis Crawford recorded an interception off a tipped pass during 7-on-7 drills.

"I thought this was one of better practices of camp," head coach Mark Hudspeth said. "It was physical out there tonight. They challenged each other, competed awfully hard and we came off the field a much better team. I love the attitude that this team is starting to take on."

50325 — Grant Horst (72) calls out signals as the Ragin' Cajuns worked out on Saturday

Louisiana will return to practice on Sunday when it works out at 5:40 p.m. The Ragin' Cajuns will have a pair of practices on Monday before holding their second scrimmage of fall camp on Tuesday.

Season tickets, beginning at $110 per seat, are currently available at the Cajundome Ticket Office by calling (337) 265-2357 or visiting on-line at RaginCajuns.com. The Ragin' Cajuns will open their six-game home schedule on Sept. 12 against Northwestern State in the 15th annual Herbert Heymann Classic and will host Akron (Sept. 26), Texas State (Oct. 10), ULM (Oct. 31), New Mexico State (Nov. 21) and Troy (Dec. 5).

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AUGUST 14: Practice No. 9/10 (Full gear; helmets)

Following a walkthrough practice a day ago, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team returned to the Ragin' Cajuns practice facility for its second two-a-day of 2015 training camp on Friday with a two-hour morning practice in full pads before capping the day with a shortened evening practice in helmets.

Back to work for its first full gear workout since its first scrimmage on Wednesday, Louisiana continued to install its offensive and defensive packages. The Ragin' Cajuns, who finished 9-4 last season and captured its fourth consecutive R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl championship, will open the season on Sept. 5 at Kentucky.

50317 — Quarterbacks and running backs go through individual drills during Friday's evening workout

"We put in 38 periods of practice today and I thought it was our most spirited yet," head coach Mark Hudspeth said. "We got a little bit of a break with practice this evening although this morning was really hot, but our guys had a really sharp day and I saw some improvement, and hopefully we can build on that and have some consistency the next few days."

The Cajuns wide receiver corps continued to shine during the workout with Gabe Fuselier, Jamal Robinson and Devin Scott hauling in some impressive receptions. Newcomers Keenan Barnes and Gary Haynes have also made a strong impression during training camp with Haynes drawing some comparisons to former standout Harry Peoples.

Freshmen Michael Jacquet, Jarrod Jackson and Ja'Marcus Bradley could see action this season due to the losses of Jared Johnson and Lance Pace.

Louisiana will have two night practices this weekend before returning to two-a-days on Monday. The squad's second scrimmage of camp is slated for Tuesday evening.

Season tickets, beginning at $110 per seat, are currently available at the Cajundome Ticket Office by calling (337) 265-2357 or visiting on-line at RaginCajuns.com. The Ragin' Cajuns will open their six-game home schedule on Sept. 12 against Northwestern State in the 15th annual Herbert Heymann Classic and will host Akron (Sept. 26), Texas State (Oct. 10), ULM (Oct. 31), New Mexico State (Nov. 21) and Troy (Dec. 5).

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AUGUST 12: Practice No. 8 (Scrimmage No. 1)

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team conducted its first scrimmage of fall camp on Wednesday as head coach Mark Hudspeth put his team through an approximate situational 110-play scrimmage under the lights at Cajun Field.

Quarterbacks Brooks Haack, Jalen Nixon and Jordan Davis each directed the No. 1 offense on scoring drives while Darius Hoggins capped off a drive with a touchdown run in a short-yardage situation. Freshman Keenan Barnes caught a pair of touchdown passes for the Ragin' Cajuns with Gabe Fuselier and Devin Scott each catching passes to set up scores for the offense.

"We wanted to get a lot of reps this time, and it was a little bit of a challenge because of some of the numbers at receiver and offensive line, some guys that we were holding out, plus guys that were a little banged up," Hudspeth said. "But we pushed through it and got some quality work in."

50276 — Louisiana head coach Mark Hudspeth meets with the officials prior to Wednesday's scrimmage at Cajun Field.

Freshman quarterback Dion Ray fueled a drive for the No. 3 offense with a long run before connecting with freshman Gary Haynes on a pass play down the left sideline. Freshman Stevie Artigue capped off a two-minute drive with a field goal for the Ragin' Cajuns before combining with Carlos Alvarez in field goal drills at the end of the workout.

Defensively, Mario Osborne and Zach DeGrange each had sacks for the Ragin' Cajuns with Travis Crawford recording an interception.

"I thought they came down with a lot of energy, and that's a thing that we talk about," Hudspeth said. "We don't get to go down in the stadium very often, and when we do, we expect them to play with a lot of energy, emotion and passion, and what we call relentless effort. And I thought they did that for the most part."

The Ragin' Cajuns, who will face Kentucky in the season opener in Sept. 5, will return to practice on Friday with a pair of workouts starting at 9:25 a.m. in full gear before a 5:40 p.m. session in helmets.

Season tickets, beginning at $110 per seat, are currently available at the Cajundome Ticket Office by calling (337) 265-2357 or visiting on-line at RaginCajuns.com. The Ragin' Cajuns will open their six-game home schedule on Sept. 12 against Northwestern State in the 15th annual Herbert Heymann Classic and will host Akron (Sept. 26), Texas State (Oct. 10), ULM (Oct. 31), New Mexico State (Nov. 21) and Troy (Dec. 5).

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AUGUST 11: Practice No. 6/7 (Full gear, walkthrough)

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team opened two-a-days on Tuesday, working out for nearly two hours in full gear in the morning before going inside the Moncla Indoor Practice Facility for a light evening walkthrough.

Louisiana continued installation of its offensive and defensive packages, which included live action on the goal line. The Ragin' Cajuns defense highlighted the short-yardage situation as they kept one of the nation's top red zone offenses in 2014 out of the end zone five times in an eight-play period.

50247 — Elijah McGuire goes through individual drills on Tuesday at the Ragin' Cajuns Practice Facility.

The Ragin' Cajuns will hold their first of three closed scrimmages on Wednesday at Cajun Field. Louisiana, which will open the season on Sept. 5 at Kentucky, will also hold scrimmages on Aug. 18 and Aug. 21.

"I want us to play hard, that's what do and I don't expect anything less than our guys giving great effort," head coach Mark Hudspeth said of Wednesday's first scrimmage. "When we step on that turf, we expect our guys to play hard and I think they will. They're looking forward to competing. It'll be a big scrimmage for a lot of guys because we want to see what we've got a certain positions and see if some depth is going to start to develop."

As the Ragin' Cajuns near the beginning of their second week of fall camp, Hudspeth praised his team's work ethic while battling the normal bumps and bruises of camp, coupled with above normal temperatures in the area.

"I'm seeing some toughness, we've had a tough team in the past and this team is going to be no different," Hudspeth said. "They're pushing each other and they're pushing through. We're deep into camp right now and fatigue is starting to set in … sore muscles and small little nicks and bumps are starting to show. But our guys are pushing and still getting better and I'm really proud of their work."

Season tickets, beginning at $110 per seat, are currently available at the Cajundome Ticket Office by calling (337) 265-2357 or visiting on-line at RaginCajuns.com. The Ragin' Cajuns will open their six-game home schedule on Sept. 12 against Northwestern State in the 15^th annual Herbert Heymann Classic and will host Akron (Sept. 26), Texas State (Oct. 10), ULM (Oct. 31), New Mexico State (Nov. 21) and Troy (Dec. 5).

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AUGUST 10: Practice No. 5 (Full gear)

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team donned full pads for the first time in fall camp as the team worked out for nearly two hours on Monday at the Ragin' Cajuns Practice Facility.

The Ragin' Cajuns, who open the season Sept. 5 at Kentucky, continued to install more elements of their offensive and defensive packages. Louisiana spent the latter portion of the practice working on third-down situations before capping off the workout in goal line situations.

"It was hot early, but the guys had the full pads on and pushed through it," head coach Mark Hudspeth said. "We got a break in the last 45 minutes with a breeze and that helped out a lot. I thought we finished with a pretty good spirit."

50245 — Raynard Ford (63) blocks Blain Winston (96) during Monday's practice at the Ragin' Cajuns Practice Facility

Freshman Jarrod Jackson caught a pair of touchdown passes and Gabe Fuselier added a touchdown grab to highlight the Ragin' Cajuns offense during team drills. Quarterbacks Brooks Haack, Jalen Nixon and Jordan Davis each took turns with the No. 1 offense during team drills as the trio continued their battle to replace departed starter Terrance Broadway.

With a new defensive staff in place, outside linebackers Dominique Tovell and Darzil Washington will be looked upon to provide leadership to a group that looks to replace five starters from a team that posted its fourth consecutive 9-4 season.

Louisiana lost five of its top six defenders, including linebackers Boris Anyama and Trae Johnson, after the 2014 season, but the Ragin' Cajuns return Tovell – the team's second-leading tackler last season with 71. Tovell will be the leader of an outside linebackers group that returns Washington, Kevin Fouquier and Tyren Alexander.

"Darzil and Dominique are playing well," Hudspeth said about his outside linebackers. "Darzil has worked so hard to get himself in good shape. I'm really proud of his work. (Kevin) Fouquier is as solid as they can be. He's going to play a big role in our defense this year. He's just a natural football player. He's very instinctive, a dependable person and a great athlete."

The Ragin' Cajuns will open two-a-days on Tuesday with a 9:25 a.m. workout in full gear before returning to the field at 6 p.m. in helmets.

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AUGUST 9: Practice No. 4 (Shells)

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team held its fourth practice of fall camp on Sunday as they worked out in shells during a two-and-a-half hour session at the Ragin' Cajuns Practice Facility.

The workout was dominated by big plays on both sides with Gabe Fuselier, Jamal Robinson and Devin Scott each recording long receptions during 7-on-7 and team drills. On the defensive side, Zachary DeGrange stepped in front of a Ragin' Cajuns receiver during 7-on-7 drills and returned an interception for a touchdown while Tre'maine Lightfoot added an interception during 11-on-11 drills.

Quarterbacks Brooks Haack, Jalen Nixon and Jordan Davis each took turns directing the No. 1 offense during 11-on-11 drills. The trio continues their battle to replace departed starter Terrance Broadway - the school's No. 2 all-time passer with 7,556 yards.

Whoever takes the Ragin' Cajuns first snap on Sept. 5 at Kentucky will have an arsenal of skills players to work with, highlighted by one of the most dynamic players in college football – running back Elijah McGuire.

50242 — A Ragin' Cajuns running back gets through a hole during Sunday's practice.

McGuire was part of a backfield that included Alonzo Harris, now a member of the NFL's Green Bay Packers, who finished as the school's third-leading rusher with 3,330 yards and 44 touchdowns.

But the cupboard is far from bare in the backfield for the Ragin' Cajuns as McGuire will be part of a backfield that returns veterans Torrey Pierce, Effrem Reed, Darius Hoggins along with newcomer Jordan Wright.

"We've been real pleased with the depth at running back," head coach Mark Hudspeth said. "Torrey Pierce is doing a great job and has picked up right where he left off. I really like where he's at. Montrel (Carter), Effrem Reed and Darius Hoggins are all running the ball hard and (freshman) Jordan Wright is a kid that can help us this year."

As one half of the Ragin' Cajuns dynamic backfield duo, McGuire was nothing short of spectacular after finishing with 1,264 yards, 14 touchdowns and ranking third nationally in yards per carry (7.6). His versatility as not only a runner and receiver, but also as the top all-purpose back in the league, earned McGuire both the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year and SBC Offensive Player of the Year awards.

In becoming just the fourth player in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, McGuire joined an exclusive club that featured Tyrell Fenroy, the school's all-time leading rusher, along with quarterbacks Michael Desormeaux and Brian Mitchell.

McGuire, who enters the season ranked seventh on the school's all-time rushing list, was a model of consistency in 2014 rushing for a touchdown in nine consecutive games while recording five 100-yard games on the season. He accounted for a team-best 22 plays of over 20 yards during the season with seven going for 40 yards or greater. McGuire shined under the bright lights as he posted a career-high 265 yards – the 12th-best total by an NCAA rusher in 2014), with four touchdowns in a nationally-televised win over Arkansas State.

The Ragin' Cajuns will don full pads for the first time when the team works out at 5:30 p.m. on Monday before starting two-a-days on Tuesday.

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AUGUST 8: Practice No. 3 (Shells)
The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team donned shells for the first time in fall camp on Saturday as the team held a spirited two-and-a-half hour workout at the Ragin' Cajuns Practice Facility.

The Ragin' Cajuns worked out for 23 periods, continuing to install their base offensive and defensive packages while adding work on special teams. But with the team in pads for the first time, the intensity was high on both sides of the ball, forcing head coach Mark Hudspeth to address his team late in the workout.

"It was not one of our better efforts, although there were parts of practice where we did have some good periods," Hudspeth said. "Overall, it was not our best effort. The main thing that we have to is taking better care of one another when we practice.

"We had a big meeting towards the end of practice as it got to the point to where we have to play together and take care of one another and know when it's time to go at each other hard and also watch out for each other."

With a new defensive staff in place, led by defensive coordinator Melvin Smith, the Ragin' Cajuns will break in a new pair of cornerbacks in 2015 as Simeon Thomas and Jevante Watson are slated to replace departed starters Corey Trim and Trevence Patt. Expected to join them in the secondary are returning starters Tracy Walker and Travis Crawford.

50239 — T.J. Worthy (27) and Tracy Walker (23) will be two of the leaders in the secondary in 2015.

"I like what we're doing defensively," head coach Mark Hudspeth said. "The techniques that Coach Smith is teaching are really good and our kids are picking it up and seeing results. I like the way that we're playing there, and we've got a bunch of young kids backing up at some positions that will play a lot. They're talented, they're long and they can run. We've got a lot of height back there in the secondary and I think it's really going to pay off."

Thomas, a 6-foot-3 sophomore who missed the 2014 season, earned a starting spot after a spectacular spring. Watson, who started in four games in 2014, recorded 16 tackles with an interception and three pass breakups.

Walker, named to the Sun Belt Conference All-Freshman Team, appeared in all 13 games for Louisiana earning starts in the final eight. He finished seventh on the team with 44 tackles, tied for team-lead with two interceptions and was second in both passes defended (5) and pass breakups (3). Crawford appeared in the final nine games of the season as a true freshman for the Ragin' Cajuns, making six starts. He finished the season with 28 tackles, two pass breakups, one tackle for loss and one forced fumble.

Coming out of spring practice, Troy McCollum and junior college transfer Christian Goodlett were penciled in as backups on the corner with returning letterwinner Dominick Jones and freshman Corey Turner listed as the backups at safety. Veteran T.J. Worthy brings experience to the safety position after posting 41 tackles with an interception and three pass breakups in 2014.

A pair of newcomers - Savion Brown and Jeryl Brazil - will each push for playing time after being rated as the No. 67 junior college product in the country by 247Sports.com. Also looking to see playing time for the Ragin' Cajuns as freshmen are local products Kamar Greenhouse and Ethan Rose.

Louisiana will attend church services as a team on Sunday morning before returning to the practice field at 5:30 p.m. The Ragin' Cajuns will don full pads for the first time on Monday when the team works out at 5:30 p.m.

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AUGUST 7: Practice No. 2 (Full Squad - Helmets)
The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team held its first full-squad workout of fall camp on Friday as head coach Mark Hudspeth guided his team through a two-and-a-half hour practice in helmets at the Ragin' Cajuns Practice Facility.

Despite having temperatures hovering in the upper 90's, the Ragin' Cajuns worked on all phases of their offensive and defensive schemes, including special teams work by kickers Carlos Alvarez and freshman Stevie Artigue, along with kick return fundamentals.

50237 — Carlos Alvarez attempts a field goal as Stevie Artigue (38) looks on during Friday's workout.

After working out as a split squad on Thursday, the Ragin' Cajuns got a glimpse of their returning letterwinners while several newcomers made the adjustment of competing against the veteran players.

"Day two was much better, even though it was probably one of the hottest days of the summer, our guys pushed through it," Hudspeth said. "Luckily towards the end of the day, it got cooler. (Senior) Darzil Washington continues to be a guy off the edge that we're having a hard time handling. His motor is running really strong right now.

"We've got some young kids at receiver who are performing well. (Freshman) Gary Haynes, if he continues with his progression, he's going to help our team this year. (Jeryl) Brazil continues to impress at cornerback. He's getting better and learning how we do things. He's shown with his speed that he can really help our team."

With the loss of two starters on the offensive line from last season's team that posted a fourth straight 9-4 season, sophomores Grant Horst and D'Aquin Withrow are among a group of returning players who are vying for considerable playing time in 2015.

"Grant is a smart kid, he processes well," Hudspeth said. "He can probably play any position on the field and that's a luxury to have a kid that can process all of that information and get the job done. (Freshman) Cole Prudhomme is coming on strong and, eventually, is someone who can help us. (Junior college transfer) Raynard Ford is a kid who is very athletic and can still gain some weight. We've got some kids I think who can really contribute."

With the front line led by senior guards Mykhael Quave and Donovan Williams, another veteran on the line – Shreveport native Octravian Anderson – has provided steady leadership during the past two seasons starting 26 consecutive games at right tackle.

"Octravian has done a phenomenal job, he's been so consistent," Hudspeth said about the preseason All-Sun Belt Conference selection. "He's been a great leader. He's an inspirational leader … he fires me up at practice."

Louisiana will return to action on Saturday as the team will work out in shells for the first time at 5:30 p.m. The Ragin' Cajuns will resume practice on Sunday at 5:30 before working out in full gear for the first time on Monday at 5:30.

"That'll add a little more to it because we'll be able to be a little more physical," Hudspeth said of Saturday's practice session. "That's going to start separating people a little bit. We've got a lot of people who look really good right now in helmets. When you start putting on the pads and start separating people a little bit, it will be interesting to see if some of the guys who have looked impressive the first two days will look impressive beginning (Saturday)."

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AUGUST 6: Practice No. 1 (Split Squad - Helmets)
The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team hit the practice field for the first time on Thursday, holding a pair of split squad workouts at the Ragin' Cajuns Practice Facility.

With the veteran players working out in the morning and first- and second-year players working out in the evening, fifth-year head coach Mark Hudspeth and his staff was able to get a better evaluation of their returning players and newcomers before the team holds its first joint practice on Friday.

The Ragin' Cajuns worked out for the first time on Thursday, August 2015 with split squad practices. — The Ragin' Cajuns football team worked out for the first time in preparation for the 2015 season.

The majority of the morning workout was conducted under ideal conditions as the Ragin' Cajuns were greeted by milder than normal temperatures and a slight breeze. But with temperatures rising during the opening workout and expected to reach triple digits in the next few days, the Ragin' Cajuns adjusted their first day by moving practice times to accommodate the weather.

"It was a solid workout for the first day," Hudspeth said. "It started heating up in the last 30 minutes, so I thought we made a good decision with the times that we're practicing. We're trying to keep our guys fresh before our first game and we're supposed to have some of the hottest days yet in the state."

With Brooks Haack, Jalen Nixon and Jordan Davis each sharing time directing the No. 1 offense, the trio was able to work with a solid core of skill players highlighted by reigning Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year Elijah McGuire and fifth-year receiver Jamal Robinson.

The opening day of fall camp also saw the fall debut of the Ragin' Cajuns defensive staff, highlighted by new defensive coordinator Melvin Smith, plus co-defensive coordinator Charlie Harbison, inside linebackers coach Mike Lucas and defensive line coach Levorn Harbin.

Returning letterwinners Tracy Walker and T.J. Worthy highlighted the defensive effort for the Ragin' Cajuns with a pair of interceptions off tipped passes.

"They came out excited and were ready to practice, but we looked a little sloppy," Hudspeth said of the overall workout. "We had some tipped balls, but the defense was in great position and got a couple of turnovers. Overall, it was a solid day and I hope to see a lot of improvement on Friday."

The evening workout saw the debut of many of the future Ragin' Cajuns with quarterbacks Dion Ray, Chris Weaver and Gunner Hudspeth each sharing snaps. On the defensive side, freshman Kamar Greenhouse and Loranger native Jeryl Brazil each recorded interceptions during 1-on-1 drills.

Louisiana will hold its first joint practice of camp on Friday when the team holds a 5:30 p.m. workout in helmets. The Ragin' Cajuns will work out in shells for the first time on Saturday before putting on full pads on Monday.

"When you're in helmets, what I want to see great tempo," Hudspeth said of the early days of camp. "You can control that all of the time, and that is your effort. I want to see great tempo right now in practice … getting to the line, getting down, getting set and playing with a sense of urgency. Defensively, attacking the field, getting down and getting set and just trying to use really great fundamentals.

"When we get to pads and live situations, then the tackling and live contact will come into play. Right now, we want to be really crisp, clean and execute at a high level as we install things."

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AUGUST 5: Players Report and Media Day
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns head football coach Mark Hudspeth welcomed 105 players on Wednesday as his team reported for fall camp in preparation for the 2015 season opener on Sept. 5 against Kentucky.

Hudspeth, who is 36-16 in four seasons as head coach for the Ragin' Cajuns, welcomed the return of 50 letterwinners from a team that posted its fourth straight 9-4 record, including a victory in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.

The Ragin' Cajuns moved into their rooms during the morning before receiving equipment and checking in with coaches in the afternoon.

Hudspeth, offensive coordinator Jay Johnson, first-year defensive coordinator Melvin Smith and selected members of the team participated in the annual Ragin' Cajuns Media Day during the afternoon at the UL Alumni House before the team held its first official meeting on campus during the evening.

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Players Mentioned

Tyren Alexander

Carlos Alvarez

Octravian Anderson

Boris Anyama

Stevie Artigue

Keenan Barnes

Ja'Marcus Bradley

Jeryl Brazil

Jacoby Briscoe

Terrance Broadway

Savion Brown

Daniel Cadona

Steven Coutts

Travis Crawford

Jordan Davis

Zachary DeGrange

Remaine Douglas

Karmichael Dunbar

Raynard Ford

Kevin Fouquier

Gabe Fuselier

Christian Goodlett

Kamar Greenhouse

Brooks Haack

Justin Hamilton

Alonzo Harris

Gary Haynes

Darius Hoggins

Grant Horst

Gunner Hudspeth

Jarrod Jackson

Michael Jacquet III

Darryl Johnson

Jared Johnson

Sherard Johnson

Trae Johnson

Dominick Jones

LaDarrius Kidd

Taboris Lee

Tre'maine Lightfoot

Troy McCollum

Elijah McGuire

Jalen Nixon

Mario Osborne

Lance Pace

Trevence Patt

Torrey Pierce

Chris Prater

Cole Prudhomme

Mykhael Quave

Dion Ray

Effrem Reed

Christian Ringo

Jamal Robinson

Ethan Rose

Devin Scott

Rodrick Stephens

Simeon Thomas

Simeon Thomas

Dominique Tovell

Corey Trim

Corey Turner

Tracy Walker

Darzil Washington

Jevante Watson

Chris Weaver

Donovan Williams

Blain Winston

D'Aquin Withrow

T.J. Worthy

Jordan Wright

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