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UL Lafayette Team Recap
OFFENSE
UL Lafayette has the league's best quarterback tandem in senior Jerry Babb and sophomore Michael Desormeaux, who stepped in when Babb was injured and ended up the all-purpose pick on the all-league team.
Babb, the most accurate passer in school history and a top-four performer in every career statistical category, completed 62.2 percent of his passes last year and rushed for 400 yards. Desormeaux, a four-game starter at midseason, was the team's second-leading rusher.
True freshman Tyrell Fenroy answered a major question at running back, becoming only the second Cajun back to rush for 1,000 yards. He improved as the season progressed, getting 569 yards and 10 touchdowns in his final four games. But he won't be a one-man show this year, with former starter and fifth-year senior Chester Johnson returning after shoulder surgery and redshirt freshman Deon Wallace turning heads in the spring.
The Cajuns' ground game was so potent at the end of last year that the pass almost became an afterthought. But two wideouts who posted 21 or more catches do return. Veteran Corey Fredrick is solid, and sophomores Derrick Smith and speedster Jason Chery could turn into big-play performers.
An experienced front wall allowed the Cajuns to average over 254 yards rushing per game last year while allowing only nine sacks, tied for the fourth-fewest in the country. Three of last year's starters return, including first-team All-Sun Belt tackle Brandon Cox, who will start for the fourth straight year. Jesse Newman, a second-team all-league selection, didn't allow a sack all year at left tackle.
DEFENSE
The defensive front wall could be the biggest stumbling block the Cajuns will face. Heavy graduation losses leave end Tony Hills as the most experienced lineman; he had 19 tackles and four sacks last year. That unit gets immediate help from promising junior college transfers Korey Raymond and Lamarr Waiters.
Linebackers Mark Risher and Brent Burkhalter were the team's second- and third-leading tacklers last season as a sophomore and a freshman, respectively. Risher was the most consistent of all Cajun defenders.
The Cajun secondary has put six players onto NFL rosters in the last five years. Michael Adams at 5'8" may not fit that profile, but he was an honorable mention all-league pick despite an injury-plagued season. Strong safety Johnny Felders had 51 tackles last season while splitting time with Lamar Morgan, but Morgan moves to free safety this year.
SPECIALISTS
Placements are a question with the departure of Sean Comiskey, the second-leading scorer in conference history. Brit Framel returns to handle punting duties and could also be in the mix for placement duties. The return game was a weak point, but the Cajuns have blocked 23 kicks in four seasons.
FAU returns 12 starters, but sophomores predominate on the two-deep. The non-conference schedule, including Clemson, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and South Carolina, is rated R for obscene road content. The Owls are breaking in a new quarterback and searching for a defensive leader.
Florida Atlantic Team Recap
OFFENSE
At quarterback, junior Sean Clayton is poised to be the Owls' third full-time starter in as many seasons. Clayton, a tight end at Michigan State before transferring in 2004, replaced an injured Danny Embick in the last two contests of '05 and won his first start, 26-23 over North Texas. Clayton completed 31-of-57 passes for 329 yards last year.
Sophomore DiIvory Edgecomb posted FAU's only 100-yard rushing game of the season when he gouged North Texas for 118 yards. He and the heftier Charles Pierre, the Owls' leading returning rusher, are back to pilot a nondescript ground attack (1,259 net yards in '05).
"We consider them both starters," offensive coordinator Gary Nord says. "They'll both play a lot, and they're both very explosive running backs."
The wide receiving corps was so green last season that Casey McGahee, a defensive back in 2004, was third on the squad in catches (23) and third in yards (269). Now McGahee, a senior, is something of an elder statesman, along with sophomore Frantz Simeon (18 receptions, 274 yards).
With tackles Nello Faulk and Antes Perkins among four returning starters on the offensive line, the Owls are positioned, at least up front, for a big leap forward after scoring the fewest points in the Sun Belt in '05.
DEFENSE
Boston College transfer Frantz Joseph should take over for graduated team MVP Shomari Earls at the mike linebacker, while junior Cergile Sincere, the Owls' third-leading tackler in 2005, mans the will spot.
Josh Jenkins and Josh Pinnick are the only defensive linemen with more than a season of experience; they figure to jostle sophomore Robert St. Clair, the Owls' Most Improved Player as voted by the team, for time at end. St. Clair came to Florida Atlantic at a svelte 192 pounds. Forty pounds later, he led the squad with eight tackles for a loss as a redshirt freshman defensive end.
"Robert certainly was a bright spot in a lean year," defensive coordinator Kirk Hoza says. "We're just awfully young."
The Owls graduated corners Willie Hughley and Lawrence Gordon from the Sun Belt's best pass defense a season ago. However, safeties Kris Bartels - the team's second-leading tackler in '05 - and Troy Pindell return to the back line.
SPECIALISTS
Sophomore Warley Leroy takes over for Daniel Kennard as placekicker and kickoff specialist. The punting job could fall to Mike O'Neill or Keegan Peterson. McGahee and Edgecomb will be featured in the return game.
OFFENSE
UL Lafayette has the league's best quarterback tandem in senior Jerry Babb and sophomore Michael Desormeaux, who stepped in when Babb was injured and ended up the all-purpose pick on the all-league team.
Babb, the most accurate passer in school history and a top-four performer in every career statistical category, completed 62.2 percent of his passes last year and rushed for 400 yards. Desormeaux, a four-game starter at midseason, was the team's second-leading rusher.
True freshman Tyrell Fenroy answered a major question at running back, becoming only the second Cajun back to rush for 1,000 yards. He improved as the season progressed, getting 569 yards and 10 touchdowns in his final four games. But he won't be a one-man show this year, with former starter and fifth-year senior Chester Johnson returning after shoulder surgery and redshirt freshman Deon Wallace turning heads in the spring.
The Cajuns' ground game was so potent at the end of last year that the pass almost became an afterthought. But two wideouts who posted 21 or more catches do return. Veteran Corey Fredrick is solid, and sophomores Derrick Smith and speedster Jason Chery could turn into big-play performers.
An experienced front wall allowed the Cajuns to average over 254 yards rushing per game last year while allowing only nine sacks, tied for the fourth-fewest in the country. Three of last year's starters return, including first-team All-Sun Belt tackle Brandon Cox, who will start for the fourth straight year. Jesse Newman, a second-team all-league selection, didn't allow a sack all year at left tackle.
DEFENSE
The defensive front wall could be the biggest stumbling block the Cajuns will face. Heavy graduation losses leave end Tony Hills as the most experienced lineman; he had 19 tackles and four sacks last year. That unit gets immediate help from promising junior college transfers Korey Raymond and Lamarr Waiters.
Linebackers Mark Risher and Brent Burkhalter were the team's second- and third-leading tacklers last season as a sophomore and a freshman, respectively. Risher was the most consistent of all Cajun defenders.
The Cajun secondary has put six players onto NFL rosters in the last five years. Michael Adams at 5'8" may not fit that profile, but he was an honorable mention all-league pick despite an injury-plagued season. Strong safety Johnny Felders had 51 tackles last season while splitting time with Lamar Morgan, but Morgan moves to free safety this year.
SPECIALISTS
Placements are a question with the departure of Sean Comiskey, the second-leading scorer in conference history. Brit Framel returns to handle punting duties and could also be in the mix for placement duties. The return game was a weak point, but the Cajuns have blocked 23 kicks in four seasons.
FAU returns 12 starters, but sophomores predominate on the two-deep. The non-conference schedule, including Clemson, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and South Carolina, is rated R for obscene road content. The Owls are breaking in a new quarterback and searching for a defensive leader.
Florida Atlantic Team Recap
OFFENSE
At quarterback, junior Sean Clayton is poised to be the Owls' third full-time starter in as many seasons. Clayton, a tight end at Michigan State before transferring in 2004, replaced an injured Danny Embick in the last two contests of '05 and won his first start, 26-23 over North Texas. Clayton completed 31-of-57 passes for 329 yards last year.
Sophomore DiIvory Edgecomb posted FAU's only 100-yard rushing game of the season when he gouged North Texas for 118 yards. He and the heftier Charles Pierre, the Owls' leading returning rusher, are back to pilot a nondescript ground attack (1,259 net yards in '05).
"We consider them both starters," offensive coordinator Gary Nord says. "They'll both play a lot, and they're both very explosive running backs."
The wide receiving corps was so green last season that Casey McGahee, a defensive back in 2004, was third on the squad in catches (23) and third in yards (269). Now McGahee, a senior, is something of an elder statesman, along with sophomore Frantz Simeon (18 receptions, 274 yards).
With tackles Nello Faulk and Antes Perkins among four returning starters on the offensive line, the Owls are positioned, at least up front, for a big leap forward after scoring the fewest points in the Sun Belt in '05.
DEFENSE
Boston College transfer Frantz Joseph should take over for graduated team MVP Shomari Earls at the mike linebacker, while junior Cergile Sincere, the Owls' third-leading tackler in 2005, mans the will spot.
Josh Jenkins and Josh Pinnick are the only defensive linemen with more than a season of experience; they figure to jostle sophomore Robert St. Clair, the Owls' Most Improved Player as voted by the team, for time at end. St. Clair came to Florida Atlantic at a svelte 192 pounds. Forty pounds later, he led the squad with eight tackles for a loss as a redshirt freshman defensive end.
"Robert certainly was a bright spot in a lean year," defensive coordinator Kirk Hoza says. "We're just awfully young."
The Owls graduated corners Willie Hughley and Lawrence Gordon from the Sun Belt's best pass defense a season ago. However, safeties Kris Bartels - the team's second-leading tackler in '05 - and Troy Pindell return to the back line.
SPECIALISTS
Sophomore Warley Leroy takes over for Daniel Kennard as placekicker and kickoff specialist. The punting job could fall to Mike O'Neill or Keegan Peterson. McGahee and Edgecomb will be featured in the return game.
