Louisiana Tech Football: Can the Bulldogs Win Conference USA in 2019?
Written by Charlie Beuttel
Twitter: @charlie_cds3
Louisiana Tech has had a stellar six year run under Head Coach Skip Holtz who has led the Bulldogs to a 46-33 record in that span. The 2018 season was no different as the Bulldogs finished 8-5 (5-3 CUSA) including a 31-14 victory in the Hawaii Bowl over host school Hawaii. Despite the success, Bulldog fans are longing to see more out of their team. The 2019 team is loaded with returning talent and stardom so the only question remaining is can Coach Holtz and Louisiana Tech hoist up the Conference USA championship trophy in December?
The Bulldogs are solid under center with senior quarterback J’Mar Smith returning for his third season as a starter. Smith has already established himself as one of the best in program’s history as he currently ranks fourth in school history in passing yards. In his junior campaign, Smith threw for 3,160 yards and 15 touchdowns earning All-Conference USA honorable mention. Smith’s favorite target is wide receiver Adrian Hardy who snagged 75 balls for 1,145 yards and six touchdowns. Hardy’s 1,145 receiving yards ranked him 20th in the nation. Running back Jaqwis Dancy will also return for his senior season after rushing for 667 yards on 124 carries and nine touchdowns. Senior right guard Ethan Reed is the anchor of the Bulldog offensive line.
On the defensive side of the ball, Louisiana Tech will need to recover after their star Jaylon Ferguson headed to the NFL. The defensive front will be led by junior defensive end Willie Baker and senior defensive tackle Ka’Derrion Mason. The key linebacker will be senior Collin Scott who had 87 total tackles including 9.5 for a loss, four sacks and two interceptions in 2018. Louisiana Tech’s secondary is loaded with stars in defensive backs junior Amik Robertson and senior L’Jarius Sneed. This dynamic duo combined for seven interceptions last season and look to make even more plays as their college careers come to an end.
Louisiana Tech definitely has the talent, experience and potential to finally win the conference. Another benefit that favors the Bulldogs is their schedule. Two division rivals in Southern Miss and North Texas make the trip to Ruston. The only two big road tests for this team will be opening the season in Austin to face the Longhorns and then a late season battle at UAB, who won the conference in 2018. The window for this group of Bulldogs to finally win the conference is closing and if they fail, the tenure of Skip Holtz as head coach could be closing as well. Failure is not an option.
Louisiana Tech’s 2019 Schedule
Week 1 – Aug. 31 at Texas – Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin)
Week 2 – Sept. 7 vs. Grambling State – Joe Aillet Stadium (Ruston)
Week 3 – Sept. 14 at Bowling Green – Doyt Perry Stadium (Bowling Green)
Week 4 – Sept. 20 vs. Florida International – Joe Aillet Stadium (Ruston)
Week 5 – Sept. 28 at Rice – Rice Stadium (Houston)
Week 6 – Bye
Week 7 – Oct. 12 vs. Massachusetts (UMass) – Joe Aillet Stadium (Ruston)
Week 8 – Oct. 19 vs. Southern Miss – Joe Aillet Stadium (Ruston)
Week 9 – Oct. 26 at Texas-El Paso (UTEP) – Sun Bowl (El Paso)
Week 10 – Bye
Week 11 – Nov. 9 vs. North Texas – Joe Aillet Stadium (Ruston)
Week 12 – No. 15 at Marshall – Joan C. Edwards Stadium (Huntington)
Week 13 – Nov. 23 at Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) – Legion Field (Birmingham)
Week 14 – Nov. 30 vs. Texas-San Antonio (UTSA) – Joe Aillet Stadium (Ruston)
Season Prediction: 9-3, 6-2 Conference USA
Only time will tell if a conference championship trophy will come to Ruston and make Louisiana Tech’s campus it’s home.
Photo credit: SI.com; Louisiana Tech QB J’Mar Smith