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Athlon Sports
ULM Football: 2024 Warhawks Season Preview and Prediction
By Athlon Sports,
1 day ago
It’s the first year of a rebuild after the last rebuild never really got off of the ground. As a result, expectations for 2024 should be fairly low as new head coach Bryant Vincent remolds things in his own vision. Vincent has stated his confidence in what ULM can be long term, but in the short term, they’ll need to put one foot in front of the other and try to exceed their two-win total from last year.
Former New Mexico offensive coordinator Bryant Vincent takes over a program that went 10-26 in three seasons under Terry Bowden, including a 2-10 season in 2023, when the Warhawks won their first two games but lost their final 10. ULM struggled in just about every offensive category last season, finishing outside the top 100 in points per game (17.3), yards per game (321.1), yards per play (5.1), third-down percentage (32.4) and red-zone scoring percentage (62.2).
With only one returning starter (guard Elijah Fisher), the offensive personnel will be an interesting tapestry of newly acquired portal players. Nevertheless, the Warhawks are fortunate to have several useful veterans on offense, notably on the offensive line. Fisher was an All-Sun Belt honorable mention performer last season blocking for leading rusher Hunter Smith, who averaged 5.4 yards per carry as a freshman.
Elijah Fisher has developed into ULM’s top offensive lineman after beginning his college career at defensive end.
Michael Wade&solIcon Sportswire via Getty Images
Previewing ULM’s Defense for 2024
Once again, by just about every metric, ULM fielded just about the worst defense in college football last season, so improvement is a reasonable expectation.
ULM’s secondary will be filled with new and largely unproven faces, although both starting cornerbacks — David Godsey Jr. and Car’lin Vigers — return. The Warhawks were one of the 10 worst passing defenses in the FBS last season, allowing 275 yards per game. Getting off of the field also has to be a bigger priority for ULM in 2024. They allowed opponents to convert 51 percent of third downs and 57 percent of fourth downs.
The Warhawks saw a slightly more encouraging performance in the early part of the season, starting with a win over Army in which they were the better team in the trenches. They’ll need more performances like that one on a consistent basis after posting 24 sacks and 12 forced fumbles last season.
Cornerback David Godsey Jr. tied for the UL Monroe lead with three interceptions in 2023.
Troy Taormina&solUSA TODAY Sports
Previewing ULM’s Specialists for 2024
ULM punter Braxton Guilbeau booted it 61 times last season with eight of them traveling 50-plus yards. He tied for the longest punt in the league last season with a 74-yard rocket. Placekicking duties are up for grabs, and kick return duties are also a tossup, although Smith is more than capable in that department. However, it’s questionable whether putting your most talented running back at that spot is the best strategy.
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