University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Cajuns Look To Fill Running Back, Receiver Depth As Spring Drills Continue
4/7/2016 8:41:00 PM | Football
Wright looking to claim backup role at running back; young receivers looking to replace Robinson
LAFAYETTE – After losing three senior members from its running back corp last season, Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns head football coach Mark Hudspeth, knew that would be an area of concern heading into the 2016 season.
Having returning senior Elijah McGuire firmly entrenched as the Ragin' Cajuns No. 1 back, the job of filling the spots left by Torrey Pierce, Effrem Reed and Montrel Carter has been a goal as Louisiana returned to the practice field for a two-hour workout on Thursday as the Ragin' Cajuns Practice Facility.
With McGuire missing the first half of spring practice due to wrapping up the 2015-16 season with the Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team, redshirt freshman Jordan Wright and junior Darius Hoggins saw the majority of snaps during spring drills with converted quarterback Jalen Nixon looking to fill the void left by Alonzo Harris in 2014.
Wright, the No. 3 running back coming out of high school in Mississippi, spent last season as a redshirt before making a strong push to serve as the backup and eventually inheriting the starting role in 2017.
"Right now, Jordan Wright is having a great camp," head coach Mark Hudspeth said. "He's not the biggest back, but he's not small either. He's doing a great job of running behind his pads. But, I still think we've got a place for (Jalen) Nixon on the short-yardage (runs), whether it's Wildcat, at quarterback or at running back."
Another area on the field that the Ragin' Cajuns will rely on youth will be at wide receiver, where a replacement for All-Sun Belt performer Jamal Robinson will be needed. Returning letterwinners Al Riles, Gabe Fuselier and Gary Haynes are all slated to see the majority of action in the slot, with a group of players, including senior Devin Scott, sophomore Keenan Barnes and the redshirt freshmen tandem of Michael Jacquet and Ja'Marcus Bradley looking to pick up the slack left by Robinson.
"We have got a ton of very talented, young, tall and athletic wideouts," Hudspeth said. "We're still waiting for that one guy to step up and just be a playmaker for us. I thought we saw a couple of guys today do just that and as we continue working, and getting into the summer and fall, hopefully someone will evolve as that young (Jamal Robinson) that we've been accustomed to seeing for the last four years."
Louisiana, which will open the season on Sept. 3 against Boise State, will return to practice on Saturday with a closed scrimmage at Cajun Field.
Having returning senior Elijah McGuire firmly entrenched as the Ragin' Cajuns No. 1 back, the job of filling the spots left by Torrey Pierce, Effrem Reed and Montrel Carter has been a goal as Louisiana returned to the practice field for a two-hour workout on Thursday as the Ragin' Cajuns Practice Facility.
With McGuire missing the first half of spring practice due to wrapping up the 2015-16 season with the Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball team, redshirt freshman Jordan Wright and junior Darius Hoggins saw the majority of snaps during spring drills with converted quarterback Jalen Nixon looking to fill the void left by Alonzo Harris in 2014.
Wright, the No. 3 running back coming out of high school in Mississippi, spent last season as a redshirt before making a strong push to serve as the backup and eventually inheriting the starting role in 2017.
"Right now, Jordan Wright is having a great camp," head coach Mark Hudspeth said. "He's not the biggest back, but he's not small either. He's doing a great job of running behind his pads. But, I still think we've got a place for (Jalen) Nixon on the short-yardage (runs), whether it's Wildcat, at quarterback or at running back."
Another area on the field that the Ragin' Cajuns will rely on youth will be at wide receiver, where a replacement for All-Sun Belt performer Jamal Robinson will be needed. Returning letterwinners Al Riles, Gabe Fuselier and Gary Haynes are all slated to see the majority of action in the slot, with a group of players, including senior Devin Scott, sophomore Keenan Barnes and the redshirt freshmen tandem of Michael Jacquet and Ja'Marcus Bradley looking to pick up the slack left by Robinson.
"We have got a ton of very talented, young, tall and athletic wideouts," Hudspeth said. "We're still waiting for that one guy to step up and just be a playmaker for us. I thought we saw a couple of guys today do just that and as we continue working, and getting into the summer and fall, hopefully someone will evolve as that young (Jamal Robinson) that we've been accustomed to seeing for the last four years."
Louisiana, which will open the season on Sept. 3 against Boise State, will return to practice on Saturday with a closed scrimmage at Cajun Field.
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