ULM Warhawks

By Paul Letlow, ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist

MONROE, La. – ULM wide receiver Jonathan Hodoh made several highlight catches during Saturday's second preseason scrimmage at Malone Stadium.

The 6-0, 205-pound junior from Dutchtown made himself known early with a leaping 33-yard catch from reserve quarterback JT Jackson. Hodoh later snared a 16-yard touchdown from Matt Gardner and had a short score from Jackson in a goal-line situation.

"It's a really humbling experience to go out and put it all together," Hodoh said. "It feels good and I just want to keep doing it."

Hodoh's own personal highlight came a few weeks back when head coach Matt Viator brought him in and awarded the former walk-on player a scholarship.

"It happened right before camp," Hodoh said. "Coach V said he loves what I've been doing. He said I've been consistent with it. He's seen me get great grades, a great GPA and I've just been humble, diligent and gone to work.

"I was blessed to receive the offer from him. I feel like he's been by my side through the whole process."

Originally from Ohio, Hodoh joined the program under the previous coaching staff but never lost sight of his goals.
 
"I played my first few years of high school ball in Ohio," Hodoh said. "I moved to Dutchtown High in Baton Rouge for my junior and senior years. I had to get used to the system and how they played down south. ULM had offered me, but by the time I was ready to commit, it was too late and the roster was full. But I came here because I loved it. This place felt like home. Even through the coaching changes, the school and community around it and even the major I'm in, it always felt like I'm supposed to be here. I'm just making it happen."

The exercise science and pre-physical therapy student is on pace to graduate next spring.

"I've always carried myself like a scholarship player," Hodoh said. "Coach V and the coaches, the players and the staff have treated me like a scholarship player."

Coach V's take: Viator was encouraged by what he saw in ULM's final preseason scrimmage, particularly from his quarterbacks and receivers 

 "We had a few really good throws that I could see," Viator said. "I thought they were a lot more productive."

The first-team offense led by quarterback Caleb Evans scored its first preseason touchdown on a 39-yard pass to R.J. Turner, who went high over the defender for the catch.

"I think we've done some good things and moved the ball good," Viator said. "Caleb has looked really good in camp. He's gotten the majority of the first-team reps in practice and we've had some really good two-minute drills with him at quarterback. We kind of wanted to see some other guys and how they could handle it."

The biggest play of the day was a 75-yard touchdown from quarterback Brennen Wooten to Brandius Batiste.

"It's great to see Brandius Batiste and Jonathan Hodoh," Viator said. "We need some depth and we need some guys who can come in there and give us great reps."  

Evans gave the offense and his fellow quarterbacks a thumbs up.

"I was very impressed with the way the offense did, especially the back-up QBs, receivers and tight ends," Evans said. "There's improvement and consistency and that's always good to see."

Keep it tight: Tight ends received numerous targets during the scrimmage, highlighted by two touchdown catches from Tyler Lamm.

"It's great to see a guy like Tyler Lamm come out here and have a couple of touchdowns," Viator said. "He hasn't been healthy since he's been here. But if he can stay healthy, he can help us."

The 6-5, 233-pound Lamm snared a 14-yard bullet from freshman Colby Suits and grabbed an 8-yard score from Jackson.

"We make plays in practice all the time," Lamm said. "We just want our shot during the games. We make 'em when we get 'em. It's fun."

Lamm tore his ACL as a freshman and then fractured his fibula last season limiting him to six games. But he noted Saturday that he's completed fall camp unscathed and is ready to contribute.

"I finally feel my rhythm coming back to me," Lamm said. "That's always good."

Even with presumptive starter Josh Pederson out with an illness, the tight ends have something to offer. Running with the ones, senior Sloan Spiller made Saturday's first catch from Evans. Reagan Heddins also had several catches throughout the day.   

"We've tried in the offseason to expand that role," Viator said. "We'll see what happens."

Evans has plenty of mouths to feed in the offense but is willing to work the big tight ends in too.

"It's always nice as a quarterback to have weapons around you to make your job easier going through the reads," Evans said. "Sometimes you just check it down to a receiver or a running back or a tight end and they make a play."

Punter watch: Mark Deaves made his preseason scrimmage debut and boomed punts of 50 and 45 yards.

Deaves missed practice time allowing others to join the competition for the punting job.

"We've got some pretty good competition," Viator said. "(Craig Walker) and (Devin Parker) and then Deaves. We have really good competition for kickoffs. (Matt Wylie) did a good job for us last year but the Meeks kid (Jacob Meeks), the lefty can pop it. Competition is a good thing."

Shelby shows out: Defensive end Tyler Shelby registered two sacks and caught Viator's attention too.

"I think Ty is coming on," Viator said. "This is going to be the start of his third year. He played some last year, but you're talking about a 6-4, 250-pound guy who's a phenomenal kid. We're ready for him to go."