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ULM Spring Football Gleaning: Final Musings from Malone Stadium

ULM Spring Football Gleaning: Final Musings from Malone Stadium

Football Apr 20
By Paul Letlow, ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist
 
MONROE, La. – ULM coaches stayed on point with their message throughout spring drills and the football team was clearly dialed in. 

Members of the defensive squad talked up turnovers like it was a trending topic on Twitter. The offense rallied around the cause to run the ball with authority and make life easier on senior playmaking quarterback Caleb Evans. 

With 15 practices including the spring game completed, the Warhawks believe they executed their mission the past few weeks. 

"The consistency was a little better each and every day," ULM head coach Matt Viator said after directing his team's final workout on a cool, rainy night. "When you look at the totality of the spring, there weren't a lot of ups and downs. Every day, the kids came out and you hope at this point, you're going to get that. They understand what we expect and what we want to do." 

All that focus was on display in the final scrimmage on April 12 that concluded spring ball. The offense moved the football on the ground and punched in three touchdowns. The defense swarmed to the football, recovered a fumble and picked off a pass in the end zone. It was a promising peek at a team hoping to advance after finishing 6-6 and bowl eligible in 2018.       

"I thought it was pretty clean," Viator said. "I guess it depends on what side of the ball you're looking at in perspective, but I thought it was clean.
 
"The execution was good. Good interception. Good strip on the fumble. Both turnovers were good plays by the defense. It wasn't sloppy. We started out with a couple of penalties and it was kind of drizzling. But after that everybody settled down, and I thought it was good football."
  
Here are a few more musings from Malone Stadium, highlighting what the Warhawks showed us this spring:
 
• Offensive line play is a plus for ULM and a big key in becoming better in the run game. It's a veteran group but also features underlying layers of rising talent that should provide stability for years to come.

"We have five guys back and that's always fun," Viator said. "We have Sam Williams, and I know he got hurt (in the spring game), but he's really taken another step forward. Brandon Jones, we feel like has really stepped up because Devin Jackson has missed some time this spring. He's really done well. Dakota Tolbert has stepped in and done some really good things too."
 
Viator believes the staff hit on all four red-shirt linemen who joined the fray this spring. The foursome includes guard Zach Breaux (6-3, 305), tackle Blake Lodes (6-7, 310), tackle Conner Parsons (6-3, 295) and center John Bolding (6-3, 306).

"Those four guys we redshirted last year, we're really excited about them because they are in there too," Viator said. "They're mixing and matching against the ones, the twos and everyone else. When you look at Bolding and Breaux and Parsons and Lodes, we're really excited about those guys. They stepped in this spring and they haven't missed a beat when they are in there."
 
• Quarterback Caleb Evans returns as the unquestioned starter heading into his senior season and delivered a solid spring. No surprise there. 

But the competition for back-up quarterback definitely heated up. 

JT Jackson had the biggest play in the spring game with a 79-yard touchdown pass to Perry Carter. Overall, Colby Suits didn't post big passing numbers, but Viator was encouraged after seeing the big red-shirt freshman showcase some of his mobility in the spring game. 

"JT is going to be JT, and he's going to do the things you know he can do," Viator said. "The spring game was really the first time I've seen Suits run since we recruited him. He tucked it a few times in the game and he's 235, 240 pounds running the football like that. But that's how he ran it in high school."  
 
• With former place-kicker Craig Ford finishing his career in 2018, the battle to replace him will continue into the fall.

Big-legged lefty Jacob Meeks handled kickoff duties last year and has announced his candidacy to try field goals and PATs this spring. He banged a wind-aided 61-yarder in the final practice and hit field goals of 27 and 43 yards in the spring game. 

Viator said the 61-yard kick by Meeks electrified the team (even though it was down wind) and was one of the spring practice highlights. 

"He's talented," Viator said. "Y'all saw him kick off last year. The transition and getting the ball up a little quicker, he's worked on that. But he has a lot of leg talent." 

Jared Porter is back as the punter and could pull double duty if he emerges as the regular kicker. Porter missed some time with a leg injury this spring and didn't get to compete daily. Devin Parker, another kicker/punter, is also in the mix.       

• A defense that played well at times last year added reinforcements this spring and they should be immediate help.   

"Down the stretch last year, I thought we started to play good defense," Viator said. "Coastal, Georgia Southern, we really started to do some good stuff, and it's carried over to the spring. We've added some guys who are good football players." 

With three sacks in the spring game and consistent praise all spring from Viator, Ivin White Jr. has been a productive new addition. 

"Ivin White, he's really done some great things at defensive end if you look at him," Viator said. "(Defensive lineman) Edward Haralson missed the first week, week and a half with pneumonia, so he came back and worked himself in. (Safety) Keilos Swinney, we think is going to be really good. We're excited about the additions on that side of the ball too."

• The receiving corps has a fresh look as the next generation takes hold. 

Zach Jackson made six catches for 89 yards in the spring game and is a sturdy and dependable target. Perry Carter hauled in 79-yarder from JT Jackson

Evans said his job is to put the ball in a position where the receivers can do their thing. 

"Just give them a chance to high point it and go up and make a play," Evans said. 

Markis McCray, the fifth-year senior, can fly and was also a playmaker throughout the spring. McCray is the presumptive favorite to help replace former star Marcus Green in the passing game and as a return specialist.  

• Injuries are the scary part of spring drills and ULM seems to have emerged relatively unscathed. The last thing a coach wants to do is lose talent when the focus is on improvement. 

"I get anxious because I really don't want to get anybody hurt," Viator said. "You have to play physical, you have to practice physical, but by the same token, I've had guys hurt in the spring game and that's no fun either."

ULM opens the 2019 season against Grambling State Aug. 31 at Malone Stadium. ULM's 2019 12-game football schedule features six home games for the first time since 1998 and just the fourth time since joining the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-A). 

For information on season tickets, call the ULM Ticket Office at (318) 342-4295. Order season tickets online here.
 
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