ULM Travels to Army for 2020 Season Opener

Football Sep 11

Game 1: ULM (0-0) vs. ARMY WEST POINT (1-0)
Saturday, Sept. 12 | 1:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. CT
West Point, N.Y. | Michie Stadium (38,000)
Watch: CBS Sports Network | Listen: KLIP 105.3FM

ULM Football Notes: Game 1 vs. Army

Video | Coach Viator Weekly Press Conference

FIRST-AND-10 –
• Saturday's game marks ULM's first game against one of the United States service academies.

• From 1968-72, ULM (then known as Northeast Louisiana) played eight games against teams representing military installations, posting a combined record of 5-3 against the Quantico Marines (3-2, 1968-72) and Pensacola Navy (2-1, 1968-70).

In 1968, Van Lambert and Joe Profit combined to rush for 195 yards and three touchdowns to lead Northeast Louisiana to a 31-14 win over Pensacola Navy in Brown Stadium. The NLU defense intercepted Pensacola Navy quarterback and 1963 Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach three times in the game. Staubach finished 19-of-35 passing for 342 yards and one score.

• In its 69-year football history (as a four-year college), ULM is 30-37-2 (.449) in season openers, including a 5-3 record (.625) in its last eight games.

• Fifth-year ULM head coach Matt Viator has compiled a 9-4 record (.692) in 13 season-opening games. Viator is 3-1 in season-opening games at ULM, including a 38-21 win over Southern in his Warhawk debut in 2016, a 37-29 loss at Memphis in 2017, a 34-31 victory over Southeastern Louisiana in 2018 and a 31-9 win over Grambling State in Malone Stadium in 2019.

• For the first time in 35 games, ULM will have a quarterback not named Caleb Evans start under center. Evans, who started 37 of 43 career games including 34 in a row from 2017-19, rewrote the Warhawk record book. He set ULM's career record for total offense per game (271.7 yards) and rushing touchdowns (36). In addition, Evans finished ranked among ULM's Top 10 all-time leaders in eight additional categories: second in total offense (11,681 yards), second in TDs responsible for (94), second in completion percentage (.605), second in passing yards (9,513), second in TD passes (58), third in pass attempts (1,252), third in pass completions (757) and sixth in rushing yards (2,168).

The last Warhawk to start at quarterback other than Evans was (current graduate assistant coach) Garrett Smith in Game 2 of the 2017 season against Southern Miss.

With Evans' departure, ULM is one of 18 schools in the country that enters the 2020 season with no starting experience at quarterback.

The Warhawks' most-experienced quarterback is sophomore Colby Suits, who has appeared in five games in the last two seasons. Suits has completed 12-of-29 career pass attempts for 160 yards, two interceptions and one TD. In his collegiate debut at Ole Miss in 2018, he hit 6-of-10 throws – all in the fourth quarter – for 91 yards, including an 8-yard TD toss to Zach Jackson.

• Another challenge for the Warhawks will be filling the holes left by four starters on the offensive line, including left tackle Eastwood Thomas (46 career starts), left guard Trace Ellison (29), center Bobby Reynolds (40) and right guard Brandon Jones (12). That quartet accounted for 127 combined starts.

ULM returns five lettermen upfront but only two of those linemen have starting experience, including right guard T.J. Fiailoa (23 career starts) and right tackle Samuel Williams, who started the last eight games of the 2019 season.

• Senior cornerback Corey Straughter, who ranked among the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision leaders in interceptions (tied for seventh with 5) and passes defended (tied for 14th with 15) last season, has been named to the preseason watch lists for three major national awards, including the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Football Writers Association of America National Defensive Player of the Year), Paycom Jim Thorpe Award (nation's best defensive back) and Bednarik Award (Maxwell Football Club defensive player of the year).

In 2019, Straughter was named All-American by both USA TODAY (second team) and Pro Football Focus (third team) as well as First-Team All-Sun Belt Conference. His 15 passes defended led the Sun Belt and his five interceptions tied for the league lead. Straughter allowed the nation's lowest passer rating (13.5), lowest completion percentage (28.6) and fewest combined receptions for first downs and touchdowns (7). His 89.9 coverage grade ranked sixth-highest among all NCAA FBS cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus. He allowed only one touchdown reception in 2019 (came in the season finale at the Ragin' Cajuns) and one explosive pass play (20-plus yards; came on the opening drive of Game 11 vs. Coastal Carolina).

• Fifth-year senior Josh Johnson, who ranked second in the Sun Belt Conference and 13th in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing while averaging 108.2 yards per game last season, has been named to the preseason watch lists for the Maxwell Award (College Player of the Year) and Doak Walker Award (nation's top running back).

An All-Sun Belt Second-Team selection, Johnson also finished among the NCAA FBS Top 20 in yards per carry (10th at 6.46) and rushing yards (tied for 18th with 1,298). His 1,298 rushing yards ranked as the fourth-highest single-season total in ULM history. In addition, Johnson led the Warhawks in all-purpose yards (1,420) while ranking second in rushing touchdowns (11) and scoring (66 points). His eight runs of 30-plus yards ranked tied for eighth in the NCAA FBS. He also had 13 receptions for 122 yards (9.4 avg.).

Johnson, who became ULM's first 1,000-yard rusher since Frank Goodin in 2009, recorded seven 100-yard rushing games last season.

He was stopped for a loss only nine times in 201 rushing attempts in 2019. Johnson opened last season with 69 consecutive carries without being tackled in the backfield.

• Fifth-year senior tight end Josh Pederson, who set career highs for receptions (43), receiving yards (567) and touchdown receptions (9) last season, has been named to the 2021 Reese's Senior Bowl Top 250.

The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Pederson was named Pro Football Focus honorable mention All-American and All-Sun Belt First Team in 2019 after leading ULM in touchdown receptions while ranking second in receptions and receiving yards. Thirty of his 43 receptions (70 percent) resulted in either a first down or a TD. His nine TD receptions tied for first among NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision tight ends (with SMU's Kylen Granson) during the regular season. In addition, his receptions (12th) and receiving yards (13th) also ranked among the top regular-season totals produced by FBS tight ends.

• In 2019, ULM finished fifth in the Sun Belt Conference with 18 takeaways (10 interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries) – the program's highest total in six seasons (19 in 2013). The Warhawks recorded at least one takeaway in 10 of their 12 games, including the first nine in a row. ULM forced multiple turnovers in seven games, including a season-high three takeaways at Florida State (two interceptions and one fumble recovery). The Warhawks' best defensive effort came in a 24-14 win at Texas State, limiting the Bobcats to 92 rushing yards and 338 yards total offense.

CLASS BREAKDOWN (STARTERS) –
ULM Offense: 4 seniors, 3 juniors, 4 sophomores
ULM Defense: 5 seniors, 5 sophomores, 1 freshman
Army Offense: 5 seniors, 5 juniors, 1 sophomore
Army Defense: 3 seniors, 7 juniors, 1 sophomore

STAT LEADERS –
ULM (top returnees/2019 statistics):
Rushing – Josh Johnson (201 carries for 1,298 yards, 6.5 avg., 11 TDs)
Passing – Colby Suits (6 of 19 for 69 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs)
Receiving – Josh Pederson (43 catches for 567 yards, 13.2 avg., 9 TDs)
Tackles – Tyler Glass (76 tackles, 40 solos, 36 assists, 2 PBUs)

Army (after one game):
Rushing – Tyrell Robinson (9 carries for 94 yards, 10.4 avg., 0 TDs)
Passing – Christian Anderson (2 of 4 for 28 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs)
Receiving – Isaiah Alston (1 catch for 18 yards, 18.0 avg., 0 TDs) and Michael Roberts (1 for 10 yards, 10.0 avg., 0 TDs)
Tackles – Cedrick Cunningham (7 tackles, 5 solos, 2 assists, 2.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, 1 FF)

ULM/ARMY SERIES NOTES –
Saturday's game marks ULM's first game against one of the United States service academies.

ULM vs. MILITARY INSTALLATIONS –
From 1968-72, ULM (then known as Northeast Louisiana) played eight games against teams representing military installations, posting a combined record of 5-3 against the Quantico Marines (3-2, 1968-72) and Pensacola Navy (2-1, 1968-70).

In 1968, Van Lambert and Joe Profit combined to rush for 195 yards and three touchdowns to lead Northeast Louisiana to a 31-14 win over Pensacola Navy in Brown Stadium. The NLU defense intercepted Pensacola Navy quarterback and 1963 Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach three times in the game. Staubach finished 19-of-35 passing for 342 yards and one score.

SEASON OPENERS –
In its 69-year football history (as a four-year college), ULM is 30-37-2 (.449) in season openers, including a 5-3 record (.625) in its last eight games.

MATT VIATOR'S RECORD IN SEASON OPENERS –
Fifth-year ULM head coach Matt Viator has compiled a 9-4 record (.692) in 13 season-opening games. Viator is 3-1 in season-opening games at ULM, including a 38-21 win over Southern in his Warhawk debut in 2016, a 37-29 loss at Memphis in 2017, a 34-31 victory over Southeastern Louisiana in 2018 and a 31-9 win over Grambling State in Malone Stadium in 2019.

STRAUGHTER NAMED TO PRESEASON WATCH LIST FOR THREE MAJOR NATIONAL AWARDS –
ULM senior cornerback Corey Straughter, who ranked among the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision leaders in interceptions (tied for seventh with 5) and passes defended (tied for 14th with 15) last season, has been named to the preseason watch lists for three major national awards, including the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Football Writers Association of America National Defensive Player of the Year), Paycom Jim Thorpe Award (nation's best defensive back) and Bednarik Award (Maxwell Football Club defensive player of the year).

In 2019, Straughter was named All-American by both USA TODAY (second team) and Pro Football Focus (third team) as well as First-Team All-Sun Belt Conference. His 15 passes defended led the Sun Belt and his five interceptions tied for the league lead. Straughter allowed the nation's lowest passer rating (13.5), lowest completion percentage (28.6) and fewest combined receptions for first downs and touchdowns (7). His 89.9 coverage grade ranked sixth-highest among all NCAA FBS cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus. He allowed only one touchdown reception in 2019 (came in the season finale at the Ragin' Cajuns) and one explosive pass play (20-plus yards; came on the opening drive of Game 11 vs. Coastal Carolina).

The Monroe, Louisiana, native also contributed 23 tackles (18 solos, 5 assists).
The 5-foot-10, 183-pound Straughter registered three tackles and a pass break-up in the home finale against Coastal Carolina.

He was selected to the PFF Sun Belt Conference Defensive Team of the Week three times last season: against South Alabama, at Texas State and against Georgia State.

Straughter intercepted Arkansas State's Layne Hatcher's third-down pass attempt at the Warhawk 36 and returned it 22 yards to set up ULM's game-tying touchdown (34-34) late in the third quarter. He also contributed three tackles and a pass break-up against the Red Wolves.

Early last season, Straughter recorded an interception in three consecutive games (back-to-back road games at Florida State and Iowa State and the Sun Belt opener against South Alabama).

His interception and 25-yard return to the Texas State 2-yard line in the final 90 seconds iced ULM's 24-14 win over the Bobcats. Straughter also recorded a career-high four pass break-ups and a solo tackle at Texas State.

He limited Memphis' leading receiver Damonte Coxie (entered the game with 18 catches for 278 yards and TD) to just two receptions for 18 yards.

With the score tied at 7-7 early in the second quarter of ULM's Sun Belt Conference opener against South Alabama, Straughter ended an 11-play, 62-yard drive to the Warhawk 13 by intercepting Cephus Johnson's third-and-goal pass attempt into the end zone. He added two tackles against the Jaguars.

He matched his season high with four tackles (all solo hits) to go along with an interception at Iowa State.

With ULM trailing Florida State 24-7 midway through the third quarter, the complexion of the game changed when Straughter intercepted James Blackman's first-down pass attempt along the sideline and returned it 57 yards for a touchdown. It marked his second career interception return for a score. Straughter also tallied four stops against the Seminoles.

His career totals include nine career interceptions and 19 career pass break-ups. Straughter already ranks among ULM's all-time Top 20 in interception return yards (second at 250), pass break-ups (ninth) and interceptions (tied for 15th).

JOHNSON FEATURED ON WATCH LISTS FOR MAXWELL & DOAK WALKER AWARDS –
ULM fifth-year senior Josh Johnson, who ranked second in the Sun Belt Conference and 13th in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing while averaging 108.2 yards per game last season, has been named to the preseason watch lists for the Maxwell Award (College Player of the Year) and Doak Walker Award (nation's top running back).

An All-Sun Belt Second-Team selection, Johnson also finished among the NCAA FBS Top 20 in yards per carry (10th at 6.46) and rushing yards (tied for 18th with 1,298). His 1,298 rushing yards ranked as the fourth-highest single-season total in ULM history. In addition, Johnson led the Warhawks in all-purpose yards (1,420) while ranking second in rushing touchdowns (11) and scoring (66 points). His eight runs of 30-plus yards ranked tied for eighth in the NCAA FBS. He also had 13 receptions for 122 yards (9.4 avg.).

Johnson was stopped for a loss only nine times in 201 rushing attempts in 2019. He opened last season with 69 consecutive carries without being tackled in the backfield.

He recorded his seventh 100-yard game in the season finale at the Ragin' Cajuns, finishing with 13 carries for 109 yards. His career-long 53-yard run set up ULM's fourth touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

Johnson ran 19 times for 129 yards and two TDs in ULM's 45-42 win over Coastal Carolina in the home finale. He broke five runs of 10-plus yards, including a pair of 12-yarders that resulted in TDs.

With 20 rushes for 168 yards and two touchdowns in ULM's 45-31 win over Georgia State, Johnson became ULM's first 1,000-yard rusher since Frank Goodin (219 rushes for 1,126 yards and 13 TDs) in 2009. His two rushing TDs matched his career high, scoring on runs of 10 and 30 yards against the Panthers. His 36-yard gain around right end late in the first quarter set up ULM's second touchdown.

Johnson led the Warhawks in rushing for the sixth time in seven games with 77 yards on 13 attempts at No. 24 Appalachian State. He broke runs of 15 and 18 yards against the Mountaineers.

Johnson carried 22 times for 114 yards and two touchdowns in ULM's 24-14 victory at Texas State. He scored on runs of 1 and 8 yards as the Warhawks built a 14-0 advantage. His two rushing TDs matched his career high. He had five gains of 10 or more yards, including a 21-yard burst in the third quarter.

Against No. 23 Memphis, Johnson gained 119 yards on 19 carries, including a 31-yard run around right end on ULM's second offensive series that helped set up a field goal.

He rushed 15 times for 93 yards in the Sun Belt opener against South Alabama. His 49-yard run around right end midway through the first quarter set up ULM's first touchdown.

Johnson gained 87 yards on 14 attempts (6.2 avg.) at Iowa State, which entered the game with the nation's 10th-ranked rushing defense, allowing just 73.0 yards per game. He opened ULM's fifth offensive series with a 46-yard run around left end and later capped off a 12-play, 87-yard drive with a 1-yard TD run late in the second quarter.

In his first career start, Johnson carried a career-high 26 times for 126 yards at Florida State, including a 1-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter. He broke runs of 22, 14 and 19 yards against the Seminoles.

In the 2019 season opener against Grambling, he rushed 10 times for 173 yards, including TD runs of 51 and 37 yards. On his first carry of the season, Johnson scored on a 51-yard run up the middle as the Warhawks jumped out to a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter. He iced the game with a 37-yard TD run around left end early in the third quarter. Six of his 10 carries against the Tigers resulted in either a TD or first down.

PEDERSON EMERGES AS ONE OF NATION'S ELITE TIGHT ENDS –
ULM fifth-year senior tight end Josh Pederson, who set career highs for receptions (43), receiving yards (567) and touchdown receptions (9) last season, has been named to the 2021 Reese's Senior Bowl Top 250.

The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Pederson was named Pro Football Focus honorable mention All-American and All-Sun Belt First Team in 2019 after leading ULM in touchdown receptions while ranking second in receptions and receiving yards. Thirty of his 43 receptions (70 percent) resulted in either a first down or a TD. His nine TD receptions tied for first among NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision tight ends (with SMU's Kylen Granson) during the regular season. In addition, his receptions (12th) and receiving yards (13th) also ranked among the top regular-season totals produced by FBS tight ends.

He caught at least one pass in each of the 12 regular-season games in 2019.

Pederson had six receptions for a career-best 92 yards in the season finale at the Ragin' Cajuns, including a career-long 47-yard TD grab from Caleb Evans in the second quarter.

All three of his receptions (for 60 yards) against Coastal Carolina resulted in first downs. His 30-yard grab from Evans opened ULM's game-winning TD drive midway through the fourth quarter.

Pederson scored on a 16-yard grab from Evans and caught a 2-point pass in the fourth quarter at Georgia Southern.

He caught two passes for 48 yards in ULM's 45-31 victory over Georgia State, including a career-long 43-yard TD reception from Evans on a third-and-1 play late in the first quarter. For his performance against the Panthers, Pederson was named to the Pro Football Focus Sun Belt Conference Offensive Team of the Week for the fourth time last season.

Pederson had five catches for 57 yards against Arkansas State, including an 11-yard TD grab from Evans late in the fourth quarter. Four of his five receptions against the Red Wolves produced either a first down or a TD.

Pederson caught a TD pass in four consecutive games during one stretch (at Florida State, at Iowa State, vs. South Alabama and vs. Memphis).

He had a career-high seven receptions for 82 yards against No. 23 Memphis, including TD catches of 6 and 36 yards from Evans. Six of his seven receptions resulted in either a first down or a score. Pederson also completed a 33-yard pass to Zach Jackson on ULM's final scoring drive against the Tigers.

The Morristown, New Jersey, native had a team-high four receptions for 55 yards in the Sun Belt Conference opener against South Alabama, including a 20-yard TD grab from Evans that tied the score at 7-7 in the first quarter.

Pederson was named to the Pro Football Focus Sun Belt Conference Offensive Team of the Week following back-to-back games at Florida State and Iowa State. He hauled in three passes for 40 yards at Iowa State, including a 19-yard TD grab from Evans to put ULM on the scoreboard early in the second quarter.

Pederson had six receptions for 85 receiving yards at Florida State, including a 33-yard TD catch from Evans late in the first half.

He heads into the 2020 season with 67 career receptions for 824 yards (12.3 avg.) and 11 TDs.

ULM SEEKS TO PLAY FULL 12-GAME SLATE IN 2020 –
ULM is one of nine NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision teams scheduled to play 12-games in 2020, joining Arkansas State, Army, SMU, Southern Miss, Texas State, Troy, UTEP and UTSA.

WARHAWKS FROM THE NORTHEAST –
ULM's 2020 roster features two players from the Northeast, including wide receiver Jevin Frett (Manchester, Conn./Monroe College [N.Y.]) and tight end Josh Pederson (adopted hometown: Moorestown, N.J.).

WARHAWKS RETOOL OFFENSIVE LINE –
Another challenge for the Warhawks will be filling the holes left by four starters on the offensive line, including left tackle Eastwood Thomas (46 career starts), left guard Trace Ellison (29), center Bobby Reynolds (40) and right guard Brandon Jones (12). That quartet accounted for 127 combined starts.

ULM returns five lettermen upfront but only two of those linemen have starting experience, including right guard T.J. Fiailoa (23 career starts) and right tackle Samuel Williams, who started the last eight games of the 2019 season.

SEASON-OPENING STARTING LINEUP FEATURES 14 FIRST-TIME STARTERS –
ULM's probable starting lineup for the 2020 season opener at Army features 14 first-time starters, including one on the offensive side of the football, two on defense and one specialist.

The projected first-time starters on offense are left tackle Blake Lodes (6-7,315, So.), left guard Dakota Torbert (6-5, 305, Jr.), center Zach Breaux (6-3, 306, So.), flanker Perry Carter (5-8, 172, Jr.), inside (Y) receiver Malik Jackson (5-8, 175, So.), quarterback Colby Suits (6-3, 240, So.) and outside (W) receiver Jahquan Bloomfield (6-1, 190, So.). The probable first-time starters on defense include defensive ends Myles Cole (6-6, 248, So.) and Brandon Nettles (6-1, 250, So.), defensive tackle Kevin Pointer (6-1, 287, R-Fr.), Will linebacker Traveion Webster (5-11, 209, Sr.) and Mike linebacker KeyShawn Johnson (6-0, 223, So.). Kickoff specialist Daniel Sparks (6-6, 188, Fr.) and placekicker Davis Hughes (6-1, 167, Jr.) also are expected to make their debuts in the starting lineup.

By comparison, ULM's 2019 opening-game lineup against Grambling State included just four first-time starters.

EIGHT GRADUATES LISTED ON 2020 ULM FOOTBALL ROSTER –
Eight members of the 2020 ULM football team already have earned their bachelor's degrees: kicker Zach Elder, center Garrett Hirsch, wide receiver Jonathan Hodoh, defensive lineman Mason Husmann, running back Josh Johnson, tight end Josh Pederson, defensive end Ty Shelby and offensive tackle Samuel Williams.

Those eight student-athletes wear a Sun Belt Conference graduate patch on their jersey.

SUN BELT "BE THE CHANGE" INITIATIVE –
In his "I have a Dream" speech made 57 years ago on Aug. 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. declared, "Now is the time to rise from the dark … to the sunlit path of racial justice." The Sun Belt Conference is providing its student-athletes, coaches, and staff with a path for promoting racial equity through its "BE THE CHANGE" initiative.

The SBC's initiative will include educational webinars, visits to sites on the Sun Belt Conference Civil Rights Trail, and "BE THE CHANGE" emblems to remind each individual that they have the ability to make a difference. Our members will take the day off from athletics activity on Election Day. And leading up to Nov. 3, our members will also compete in a voter registration drive.

"We responded to events last June with a racial equity call to action. Our goal is to help educate our Sun Belt Conference student-athletes, staff and communities as they engage in racial justice issues,'" Commissioner Keith Gill said. "Their participation in our 'BE THE CHANGE' initiative will help them to become civically-minded now as students and throughout their lives following college athletics."

All of these efforts support the Sun Belt Conference's racial equity call to action made in June. The statement referred to three pillars: education of American history including the fight for civil rights, civic engagement around voting and creating dialog with law enforcement in each community.

The Sun Belt Conference has partnered with Secure the Ballot to create dashboards to assist student-athletes, coaches, administrators and entire campuses with voter registration, requesting absentee ballots and confirming registration status.

SAAC members at each institution are competing in registration drives to generate a critical mass of voters. The Secure the Ballot voter registration competition among Sun Belt Conference members began on Wednesday, Aug. 26 and ends on Monday, Oct. 26.

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