University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Tuesdays With Mark Hudspeth - July 13, 2017
7/13/2017 11:21:00 AM | Football
Weekly question and answer session with head coach Mark Hudspeth heading into next month's fall camp
This is the fourth of a weekly feature with Louisiana head football coach Mark Hudspeth as the Ragin' Cajuns prepare for fall camp, which starts on July 30. We will return to the normal schedule on July 18.
1.) One of the strongest areas on offense for the Ragin' Cajuns could be at wide receiver, where you have a stable of young guys that are led by Keenan Barnes and Ja'Marcus Bradley. How does this group stack up against Ragin' Cajuns teams from the past, and who is someone who is probably not on the radar that you see contributing significantly this season? – "We have had some very talented wide receivers in the past. This group has the potential to be compared with them one day if they continue to develop. They are young, have good speed, great ball skills and length. One of the greatest attributes is that they love to compete and are winners. Michael Jacquet, Devin Scott, Ryheem Malone, Jarrod Jackson as well as freshman Calif Gossett and junior college transfer Earnest Patterson will all be called upon this year. We have some quality depth. (Receivers coach) Jorge Munoz has done a great job of developing receivers in the past and has some great talent to work with again."
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2.) The offensive line is a veteran group with a pair of seniors (Grant Horst, D'Aquin Withrow) on the perimeter and a pair of young starters (Kevin Dotson, Robert Hunt) on the inside. The one spot that will have a new starter is at center, where Eddie Gordon excelled in his two years. Who are the main players that you see filling that spot in 2017? – "It is very encouraging to enter the season with four returning starters on the offense of line. The center position, which is critical and is the quarterback of the offense of line, will have competition throughout camp. Sophomore Cole Prudhomme, junior college transfer Kordell Brewster and Christian Cederquest are all going to have the opportunity claim that spot in fall camp."
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3.) After the 2016 season, you made some staff changes that came along with the addition of Will Hall as offensive coordinator. One of the moves involved moving Marquase Lovings from running backs coach to defensive ends. After working with some of the top running backs in Ragin' Cajuns history, what has Coach Lovings brought to that position that has three potential all-conference players in Joe Dillon, Trev Miller and Jarvis Jeffries? – "Coach Lovings coaches at only one speed … full speed! He was a defensive lineman in college and had a different background before I moved into running backs 2011. He will add experience to the team room and great energy to the position."
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4.) Earlier this week, a couple of players picked up some preseason honors as Stevie Artigue was named to the Lou Groza Award Watch List and Grant Horst was nominated for the AllState AFCA Good Works Team. Talk about careers at Louisiana and what is it that they bring to the team? – "Both Grant and Stevie are great representative of Ragin' Cajun nation and our university. They are hard workers, great students and a very competitive. They will have big roles the season and will be counted on for leadership."
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5.) This season, you get to take Louisiana into one of the most electric places in the country when the Ragin' Cajuns head to College Station to face Texas A&M. If there is one stadium in the country that you could visit on a road trip, which one is it, and what about it makes it worth the trip for any college football fan? – "With seven road games this year, we will get to see a lot of stadiums. But College Station has to be one of the most electric in the country. They have a lot of fan and student traditions during the game. Our fan base travels well, and I expect us to take a great contingent to College Station. It will be a great experience for them to support their Ragin' Cajuns!
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6.) Extra Point: Next week, you and seniors Grant Horst and Tracy Walker head to New Orleans to participate in Sun Belt Conference Media Day. What are you looking forward to when you head to New Orleans and participating in an event at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome? – "It will be a great opportunity to showcase our 2017 team. I'm excited for Grant and Tracy to get to experience the weekend. They will get to meet all the (Sun Belt) head coaches and players from other teams that they may not know personally. Having media day in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome only adds to the excitement. Obviously, having been there five times in the last six years, we know our way around and we look forward to participating and getting closer to fall camp."
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1.) One of the strongest areas on offense for the Ragin' Cajuns could be at wide receiver, where you have a stable of young guys that are led by Keenan Barnes and Ja'Marcus Bradley. How does this group stack up against Ragin' Cajuns teams from the past, and who is someone who is probably not on the radar that you see contributing significantly this season? – "We have had some very talented wide receivers in the past. This group has the potential to be compared with them one day if they continue to develop. They are young, have good speed, great ball skills and length. One of the greatest attributes is that they love to compete and are winners. Michael Jacquet, Devin Scott, Ryheem Malone, Jarrod Jackson as well as freshman Calif Gossett and junior college transfer Earnest Patterson will all be called upon this year. We have some quality depth. (Receivers coach) Jorge Munoz has done a great job of developing receivers in the past and has some great talent to work with again."
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2.) The offensive line is a veteran group with a pair of seniors (Grant Horst, D'Aquin Withrow) on the perimeter and a pair of young starters (Kevin Dotson, Robert Hunt) on the inside. The one spot that will have a new starter is at center, where Eddie Gordon excelled in his two years. Who are the main players that you see filling that spot in 2017? – "It is very encouraging to enter the season with four returning starters on the offense of line. The center position, which is critical and is the quarterback of the offense of line, will have competition throughout camp. Sophomore Cole Prudhomme, junior college transfer Kordell Brewster and Christian Cederquest are all going to have the opportunity claim that spot in fall camp."
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3.) After the 2016 season, you made some staff changes that came along with the addition of Will Hall as offensive coordinator. One of the moves involved moving Marquase Lovings from running backs coach to defensive ends. After working with some of the top running backs in Ragin' Cajuns history, what has Coach Lovings brought to that position that has three potential all-conference players in Joe Dillon, Trev Miller and Jarvis Jeffries? – "Coach Lovings coaches at only one speed … full speed! He was a defensive lineman in college and had a different background before I moved into running backs 2011. He will add experience to the team room and great energy to the position."
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4.) Earlier this week, a couple of players picked up some preseason honors as Stevie Artigue was named to the Lou Groza Award Watch List and Grant Horst was nominated for the AllState AFCA Good Works Team. Talk about careers at Louisiana and what is it that they bring to the team? – "Both Grant and Stevie are great representative of Ragin' Cajun nation and our university. They are hard workers, great students and a very competitive. They will have big roles the season and will be counted on for leadership."
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5.) This season, you get to take Louisiana into one of the most electric places in the country when the Ragin' Cajuns head to College Station to face Texas A&M. If there is one stadium in the country that you could visit on a road trip, which one is it, and what about it makes it worth the trip for any college football fan? – "With seven road games this year, we will get to see a lot of stadiums. But College Station has to be one of the most electric in the country. They have a lot of fan and student traditions during the game. Our fan base travels well, and I expect us to take a great contingent to College Station. It will be a great experience for them to support their Ragin' Cajuns!
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6.) Extra Point: Next week, you and seniors Grant Horst and Tracy Walker head to New Orleans to participate in Sun Belt Conference Media Day. What are you looking forward to when you head to New Orleans and participating in an event at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome? – "It will be a great opportunity to showcase our 2017 team. I'm excited for Grant and Tracy to get to experience the weekend. They will get to meet all the (Sun Belt) head coaches and players from other teams that they may not know personally. Having media day in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome only adds to the excitement. Obviously, having been there five times in the last six years, we know our way around and we look forward to participating and getting closer to fall camp."
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Players Mentioned
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