RUSTON, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — This is a big year for Louisiana Tech football head coach Sonny Cumbie. The second-year head coach has a 6-18 record after two seasons at the helm at Ruston.
After coming off a 3-9 season, you can assume they will have to do a fair amount of rebuilding or turnover on both sides of the ball during the offseason.
One of the biggest holes to fill on offense for the Bulldogs was at the quarterback position.
Former starting QB Hank Bachmeyer is transferred to Wake Forest. It's up to Jack Turner to assume the starting role.
“Experience as a quarterback is really important,” Coach Cumby explained. “He earned it last year by the four games he started and the moments he played. Now he has the confidence he got from that experience and preparation. There's no one more prepared.”
Turner completed 84 of 148 pass attempts last season, scoring five touchdowns. The redshirt junior threw five interceptions.
Star wide receiver Smoke Harris, a Los Angeles Tech graduate, leaves big shoes to fill in the wideout room.
DeCordeste Crawford is fully committed and ready to step up as the leading receiver.
“I just want to be on the field,” the former Green Oaks giant said. “I want to show them what I can do and be a great player in every way.”
On the other side of the ball, the Bulldogs' defense is radically different than last year.
In 2023, La Polytechnic ranked 114th in scoring defense, allowing an average of 33 points per game. The Bulldogs ranked 107th in total defense, giving up an average of 418 yards per game.
This season, new defensive coordinator Jeremiah Johnson is taking a unique approach to building connections with his players.
“One of the things we are really focused on as a staff is improving our coaching,” Coach Johnson said. “We're always going to try to stay positive. We celebrate when they do good things and we coach them. We don't have to put down kids to make them better.”
Defensive back Michael Richard was the leader of the Bulldogs' defense that had an outstanding 2023 season.
The true freshman was named Conference USA Freshman of the Year and was named a Second Team Freshman All-American by The Athletic.
Richard feels that Coach Johnson has built a trust between his players that is already reflected on the field.
“He is happy to contact us before teaching us,” Richard added. “Off the field, he's going to have the tough conversations. He wants to build trust with us and learn about us off the field. So when we're on the field, he's going to have the tough conversations with us. We are willing to do whatever he asks.”
Louisiana Tech's spring football game will be held on Saturday, April 27th at 11 a.m. at Joe Ilett Stadium.
