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Athlon Sports
Louisiana Tech Football: 2024 Bulldogs Season Preview and Prediction
By Athlon Sports,
6 hours ago
Louisiana Tech has regressed since the Skip Holtz era. Coach Sonny Cumbie’s staff needs a step forward this season. A third consecutive 3-9 season likely will not cut it, especially since athletic director Ryan Ivey has an excellent track record when it comes to hiring football coaches at Stephen F. Austin, Austin Peay and Texas A&M-Commerce.
Bulldogs quarterback Jack Turner showed potential last season, playing in eight games in relief of Hank Bachmeier and throwing five touchdowns and five interceptions. If Turner becomes the full-time starter, which he likely will based on his performance in the spring, the 6-foot-5 signal-caller will have to show just how much he’s developed.
Turner will be throwing the ball to a few new faces. Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim was a three-time first-team SWAC performer at FCS Alabama A&M before spending last season at Bowling Green. Head coach Sonny Cumbie has expressed higher expectations for Marlion Jackson after a 12-catch season last year. Departures in the wide receiver room open the possibility for younger players like Jackson to see their roles increase significantly.
Running back Marquis Crosby missed most of last season with injury, but he rushed for 918 yards and nine touchdowns in 2022.
Tech had the No. 114 scoring defense in FBS last season, allowing 33.4 points per game. The Bulldogs allowed 40 or more points in four losses during their 3-9 campaign, finishing with six straight defeats.
Defensive lineman Mykol Clark should be an important piece of correcting that. The Bulldogs need a spark in the pass rush after picking up only 16 sacks as a team last season. Also assisting in that effort, theoretically, will be North Texas transfer outside linebacker Sifa Leota. Leota had 23 tackles with 4.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks with a forced fumble in 2022, the last season in which he saw action.
The biggest defensive bright spot in 2023 was CUSA Freshman of the Year Michael Richard, who broke up seven passes at his cornerback spot.
The Bulldogs are hoping for better depth at just about every defensive position, thanks largely to an aggressive push in the portal. At safety, the additions of Jordyn Morgan (UNLV) and Blake Thompson (Iowa State) should help a unit that allowed 67 plays of 20 yards or more last season.
Junior kicker Buck Buchanan will try to replace former All-CUSA performer Jacob Barnes. Buchanan handled kickoff duties last season and did hit two field goals, including a 53-yarder against Sam Houston. At punter, Australian Patrick Rea will take over after being the holder last season. Kick return duties will likely be a split job to replace longtime standout Smoke Harris.
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