Louisiana-Lafayette
Louisiana-Lafayette

Louisiana-Lafayette Team Report

Updated: April 26, 2012 03:09 EST

Nearly a month after the White beat the Red 25-19 in Louisiana-Lafayette's annual spring game, the Ragin' Cajuns received some eagerly awaited news concerning coach Mark Hudspeth.

The University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors approved a new five-year contract during its April 24 meeting for Hudspeth, who went 9-4 in 2011 after inheriting a program coming off a 3-9 season.

Hudspeth had been linked to job openings at Tulane, Ole Miss and Southern Miss after the 2011 season, but his new agreement will make him think twice about leaving the Cajuns despite having the same base salary ($175,000). His old contract paid him $350,000 a year, but the annual value of his new deal increases to $750,000 with $105,000 a year in potential incentive bonuses based on team performance, on the field and in the classroom, and game attendance.

With that new contract, Hudspeth is now the second-highest paid coach in the Sun Belt behind Arkansas State's Gus Malzahn, who will make a reported $850,000 a year after accepting the job last December. All of the money for Hudspeth's pay raise will come from private donations.

"Our goal when coach Hudspeth and I sat down was to put together a contract that would keep him here for a long time," Cajuns director of athletics Scott Farmer said. "And I believe that this contract gets that done."

The Cajuns believe Hudspeth is worth that investment after leading the Cajuns to a nine-win season last fall, including a win in the New Orleans Bowl -- their first bowl appearance since 1970 and first postseason victory in 67 years.

Those nine victories tied the school record for wins in a season. The Cajuns also set a program mark with six Sun Belt victories and went 5-0 at home while establishing league and Cajun Field records for average attendance (29,171) and total attendance (145,854). They also led the nation with an increased attendance of 11,788 from the previous season.

"I am very grateful to (university president) Dr. (E. Joseph) Savoie, Scott Farmer and the members of the Louisiana Board of Supervisors for the commitment that they have made to the Ragin' Cajuns program," Hudspeth said. "This shows the great trust that they have for the coaching staff and the belief that the program is headed in the right direction."

--NFL cornerback prospect Dwight Bentley is gone, so the Cajuns moved returning starting safety Jemarlous Moten to cornerback -- a position he played in junior college. Moten could move back to safety if answers aren't found at that spot prior to the start of the 2012 season given that the team has better depth at cornerback.

--The coaches want their top five linemen on the field at the same time, so they moved senior Leonardo Bates to left guard and put sophomore Jarad Martin in his old spot at left tackle. Bates played on the inside in 2010.

SPRING MOVERS:

WR Javone Lawson -- Lawson scored on all three of his catches in the spring game totaling 85 yards, finding the end zone on receptions of 6, 50 and 29 yards for the White team. After missing half of the 2010 season with a broken collarbone, Lawson rebounded with a breakout junior year to earn first-team all-conference honors. He was the third player at the school to reach the 1,000-yard receiving mark with 1,092 yards and eight TDs on 63 receptions (the fourth-most by a Cajun).

S Darius "Tig" Barksdale -- A former four-star recruit out of high school, Barksdale has impressed the coaches in the spring on defense after sitting out last season as a transfer from Jacksonville State. Barksdale has brought a much-needed physical presence to his position with several big hits this spring, but the redshirt junior must continue to make strides in coverage and adjust to playing college ball after sitting out a year.

RB/WR Montrel Carter -- Injuries gave Carter a chance to work at running back this spring, and the redshirt freshman has delivered with several big plays, including a 17-yard TD catch in the spring game. A native of nearby Cecilia, Carter sat out last season as a redshirt after accounting for 21 touchdowns and nearly 2,400 all-purpose yards during his senior season of high school. Look for Carter to earn some reps even with the return of last season's starting running back Alonzo Harris.

WR Bradley Brown -- Brown has opened some eyes in the spring with his playmaking skills and nice hands after sitting out last season as a transfer from Northwestern State. In 2010, Brown led NSU in receptions (48) and receiving yards (454) as a sophomore and averaged 22.3 yards on kickoff returns and 9.2 yards on punt returns.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'd put our receiving corps up with anybody in the country. They're fast, talented and we've got some depth now." -- Cajuns coach Mark Hudspeth on his receivers

2012 OUTLOOK: Coach Mark Hudspeth has helped turn around the program rather quickly in his first year after a 3-9 season in 2010. While the Cajuns finished third in the Sun Belt last season, they won nine games and clinched their first bowl win since 1944. The Cajuns return the bulk of their offense and have some talented options for a defense that must replace seven starters. Hudspeth has positioned this program to make another run at the conference championship and another bowl berth this season, and his players believe that it will happen.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: The Cajuns put up some big offensive numbers last season and could be even better this year with nine returning starters. Quarterback Blaine Gautier had a memorable junior year (2,958 passing yards and 23 TD passes -- both school records), but Houston transfer Terrance Broadway also figures to get some reps after a strong spring. Alonzo Harris, the 2011 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year, will be the feature back again after rushing for 700 yards and eight TDs last season.

All-world tight end Ladarius Green is out of eligibility, but the Cajuns have some capable talent at that position. It also helps that they have perhaps the best group of receivers in the Sun Belt, led by seniors Javone Lawson (63 catches for 1,092 yards and eight TDs) and Harry Peoples (58 catches for 697 yards and one score). The main concern is to continue to develop more depth on the offensive line.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: The defense will have some new faces in the starting lineup next season after losing three starters on the line, two at linebacker, one at cornerback and one at safety. In fact, four of the team's top five tacklers from 2011 are gone. The coaches want their players to continue to compete over the summer for those open positions.

Things are still a bit unsettled in the secondary, but it appears to be the unit with the top playmakers. CB/S Jemarlous Moten (80 tackles, 10 passes defended, three interceptions) and CB Melvin White (64 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, nine passes defended) have the talent to be all-conference players. Several newcomers will compete for playing time on the line, at linebacker and in the secondary.

SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS: One of the nation's top kicking weapons is back for the Cajuns in senior K/P Brett Baer, who made game-winning field goals to beat Florida Atlantic and San Diego State in 2011. Last season he was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist after making 18-of-20 field goals and 46-of-50 extra points and also averaged 40.3 yards per punt. WR Darryl Surgent was the team's top return man on kickoffs (20.9 yards per return) and punts (12 yards per return). The Cajuns must have longer kickoffs, a role that will involve sophomore Carlos Alvarez, who averaged 63.2 yards on 15 kickoffs last season.

TOP NEWCOMERS

DL Jalen Fields -- A four-star prospect out of high school and a SuperPrep All-American, Fields originally signed with Georgia but did not qualify academically and attended Georgia Military College. Marshall also pushed hard for the 6-foot-5, 280-pound Fields, who has two years of eligibility left and is expected to make an immediate impact in the Sun Belt.

LB Delvin Jones -- Jones was a four-star recruit out of high school and had pledged to Tennessee before signing with Ole Miss. The 6-5, 230-pound Jones was dismissed from Ole Miss for violating team rules and landed at Coffeyville Community College and now is getting another chance at the FBS level with the Cajuns. He has two years left to play.

S Darius "Tig" Barksdale -- Another four-star recruit out of high school, Barksdale was the nation's No. 3 prep school safety according to Scout.com. Barksdale signed with Ole Miss over several SEC and ACC schools but transferred because of legal problems to Jacksonville State, where he rushed for nearly 400 yards in 2010 before joining the Cajuns last fall.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Senior LB Le'Marcus Gibson (leg) did not participate in spring drills after undergoing surgery but will be back in 2012 after receiving another year of eligibility from the NCAA. Gibson, a converted safety, made 45 tackles in 11 games last season and was a starter before getting injured.

--Redshirt freshman RB Effrem Reed (shoulder) missed the spring after needing surgery. Once healthy, Reed is expected to see some playing time in the fall. He was first-team all-state and the Baton Rouge metro-area MVP after rushing for 1,926 yards and 32 TDs as a senior at Dutchtown High.

--LB Kevin Fouquier graduated from Lafayette's Comeaux High School in December and enrolled in classes to participate in spring drills. Despite being only a freshman, Fouquier has already caught the attention of his coaches and could see the field in the fall.

--The Cajuns moved junior Andrew Hebert from linebacker to tight end in the spring. Hebert had seven tackles in seven games at linebacker last season. He was first-team all-state as a sophomore at Lafayette's Teurlings Catholic High, finishing with 58 catches for 930 yards and eight TDs.