UL Lafayette 2005 Season | Team Page	Select Conference ACC Big East Big Ten Big 12 Conference USA Independents MAC Mountain West Pac-10 SEC Sun Belt WAC Select Team

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The Lowdown 2006 Schedule Coach: Rickey Bustle (4th season, 11-24) 2005 record: 6-5 Sun Belt finish: 5-2 (t-1st) 2005 I-A offensive rankings: Rushing: 7th (254.3 ypg) Passing: 110th (132.4 ypg) 2005 I-A defensive rankings: Rushing: 91st (180.6 ypg) Passing: 23rd (190.2 ypg) Date Opponent Sept. 2 at LSU Sept. 9 at Texas A&M Sept. 16 McNeese State Sept. 30 Eastern Michigan Oct. 7 at Houston Oct. 18 at Florida Atlantic Oct. 28 Middle Tennessee Nov. 4 at Troy Nov. 11 North Texas Nov. 18 at Florida International Nov. 25 Arkansas State Dec. 2 UL Monroe Depth Chart: Offense 6 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. WR 18 Derrick Smith So. 84 Jordan Jackson Jr. WR 5 Jason Chery So. 16 Corey Fredrick Sr. LT 67 Jesse Newman Jr. 78 Kyle Pirtle Fr. LG 74 Tim Falter So. 79 Chris Fisher Fr. C 58 Junior Ramos Jr. 64 Ryan Gilles Sr. RG 56 William Chance Jr. 77 Lanier Coleman Jr. RT 72 Brandon Cox Sr. 70 Zach Leger Jr. TE 88 Erik Jones So. 87 Kevin Belton Sr. QB 15 Jerry Babb Sr. 6 Michael Desormeaux So. FB 25 Chester Johnson Sr. 22 Abdule Levier Jr. RB 32 Tyrell Fenroy So. 30 Deon Wallace Fr. Depth Chart: Defense 7 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. DE 91 Tony Hills Sr. 57 Joe Bradley Sr. DT 97 Travis Ferguson Sr. 94 Korey Raymond Jr. DT 65 Marshall Delesdernier Sr. 98 Lamarr Waiters Jr. DE 90 Rodney Hardeway Jr. 59 Keith Talamo Jr. SLB 4 Mark Risher Jr. 10 Mack Fair Sr. MLB 43 Brent Burkhalter So. 29 Jonathon Vance So. WLB 52 Tre’ Green Sr. 36 Wes Simon Sr. CB 26 Kyle Ward Sr. 27 Jemarcus Smith Jr. CB 2 Michael Adams Sr. 13 Jarrett Jones Sr. SS 23 Johnny Felders Sr. 20 Derik Keyes Jr. FS 8 Lamar Morgan Jr. 38 Michael Zatarain Sr. Special Teams Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr. K 48 Drew Edmiston So. KR 18 Derrick Smith So. P 17 Brit Framel Sr. PR 2 Michael Adams Sr.

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Ragin' Cajun fans were jumping off coach Rickey Bustle's bandwagon in droves at midseason last year, when UL Lafayette stumbled over its high expectations to a rocky 1-5 start. The last two of those losses were in conference play, including blowing a 15-point fourth-quarter lead at Arkansas State.

Bustle and his troops didn't panic, getting a turnaround win at Middle Tennessee, two wins by a field-goal margin and impressive victories in its last two outings, including a 54-21 dismantling of UL Monroe that created a three-way tie for the league title.

ASU took the league's bowl invitation by a complex tiebreaker, but there was little doubt that the Cajuns were playing the league's best football at season's end.

That should be the case again this year, since UL Lafayette is loaded offensively. The main cogs from the best ground attack in school history and the nation's seventh-most productive running game return.

In addition, seven starters return on a defense that ranked second in the league, and a defense-dominated recruiting class has two or three prospects who will play immediately.

"If we do what we're supposed to do, we could be pretty potent on offense," says Bustle. "And I think our defense is going to surprise some people."

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.

FINAL ANALYSIS

The Cajuns should have their best shot at a Sun Belt crown this year. Their option attack became the league's most feared weapon late last year, and they have the quarterbacks, the running back and most of the offensive line back to crank that attack up once again. Defensively, the linebacker corps is effective, and a secondary that has become a picking ground for NFL teams will be solid again. Depth in the trenches could be an issue, and the Cajuns need to stay relatively healthy there. If they do, the stars seem to be aligned for a trip to the New Orleans Bowl.

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