Coach Todd Berry and Company has been working during the
off season, especially during spring practice to develop the Warhawks for a
possible winning season this fall. It want be easy for the Warhawks as they have a tough opening schedule in the
month of September. Louisiana-Monroe has not had a winning season since moving
up to the FBS (formerly I-A) level in 1994, and that time could be changing in
2012.
The Warhawks have the offensive firepower to accomplish the
breakthrough and be a contender in the Sun Belt Conference. The keys to
improving on last year's 5-7 record will be surviving the first month of the
schedule and finding answers on defense to play well in the SBC. The Warhawks
are looking to return 8 on offense and 5 on defense.
The Warhawks will begin the 2012 season facing touch
non-conference competition. They open on Sept. 8 in Little Rock against
Arkansas, which is not coach by former assistant John L. Smith, followed by a
trip to 2010 national champions Auburn. A home game against Baylor and trip to
Tulane which will feature the first month of play. The schedule later features
a home game against new Sun Belt Conference member South Alabama on Oct. 27.
As for the defense, coach Todd Berry and his staff spent
most of the spring taking a close look at many of his younger players, who are
going to have to grow up and grow up fast. The Warhawks held out many true
freshmen last year with an eye toward developing them for 2012, will it work
maybe. I will believe in on the field experience at least one game, so that the
players can get a feel of the game in action.
Three sophomores -- Otis Peterson at corner, Cordero Smith
at safety, and Joey Gautney at end -- and a redshirt freshman, Gerrand Johnson
at nose tackle -- will go into the fall No. 1 on the unit's depth chart, seems
interesting.
Seems as though UL-Monroe has some good offense, but the
offensive live can use some more help, Todd Berry must build the defensive line
to win some key games inside of the Sun Belt Conference. If Coach Berry and his
Defensive Coordinator must get tough with that defensive line and find some go them type players, then the Warhawks would
be able achieve their first winning season in FBS football.
QB Kolton Browning 6’1, 196lb (Jr) had a good season last
year, but he could have use a little more help, this season he leads a squad of
returnees that includes RBs Jyruss Edwards and Centarius Donald and WRs Brent
Leonard, Tavarese Maye, and Colby Harper. Three veteran starters -- Josh Allen,
Ben Risenhoover, and Jonathan Gill -- return up front.
LB Austin Moss -- With his prior experience -- 11 games at
Arkansas in 2009 and last year at Navarro JC in Texas -- Moss was expected to
have an immediate impact, and he didn't disappoint. He goes into the fall as a
starter.
LB DaCorris Ford -- Ford has not seen much in the way of
playing time for much of his career but came out of the spring as a starter on
a deep linebacking corps.
DB Tryen Hills -- Hills, from Boutte, La., got three stars
from Rivals.com. At 6-1, 180, the has the size to cope with bigger receivers.
DB Linzy Pipkins -- Pickens played only one season of high
school football, but he broke up seven passes and had an interception for
Mansfield (Texas) High. He is an outstanding athlete with good speed who also
played basketball in high school.
DE Kentarius Caldwell returns to an outside spot up front
after starting 12 games at nose tackle as a sophomore last year.
ULM looks to be able to move the football because of its
depth and talent at the skill positions on offense.
Spring Game Highlights:
In the spring game the Gold downs the Maroon 21-14, Maroon stalled the opening Gold drive after a fumble by running back Mitchell Bailey was recovered by Maroon's Khairi Usher and returned to the Gold 32 yard line. Gold held strong on defense, knocking down a pass from Maroon quarterback Ian McCoig on fourth-and-five inside the red zone.
Gold scored the first points of the game on a 78-yard
touchdown pass from quarterback Brayle Brown to Bailey down the far sideline.
Maroon kept the chains moving on a
third-and-14 play two possessions later. Quarterback Earnest Carrington hooked
up with receiver Je'Ron Hamm on a 15-yard out route for the first down. Gold
stopped Maroon on a fourth-and-three play from its own 41-yard line when
linebacker Michael Johnson burst through the line to sack Carrington to end the
drive.
An 8-yard completion to Trevor Lowery on
fourth-and-three gave Gold first-and-goal at the Maroon 10-yard line. Two plays
later, DeVontae McNeal burst up the middle to pay dirt from five yards out. A
Justin Manton extra point extended the Gold advantage to 14-0.
Maroon quarterback Cody Wells connected
with wide receiver Colby Harper on a 25-yard post completion to open the fourth
quarter. Harper then hauled in a beautiful fade toss from Wells the very next
play for a 20-yard touchdown to close the Maroon deficit to 14-7.
Defensive end Darius Lively intercepted a
Kolton Browning pass and raced 25 yards for a Maroon touchdown the next
defensive series. Conner Fryoux's extra point tied the game at 14-all. The tie
lasted all of one play, as Browning responded with a 70-yard scoring heave to
wide receiver Brent Leonard to give Gold the 21-14 lead.
Maroon had a chance to tie the game as
time expired, but a deep pass from Wells was knocked down by Gold's Vincent
Eddie to preserve the victory.
