ULM Warhawks

Game 12: ULM (2-9 overall, 0-7 Sun Belt Conference) at Ragin' Cajuns (5-6 overall, 2-5 Sun Belt Conference)
Saturday, Nov. 25 | 2:02 p.m.
Cajun Field (41,426) | Lafayette, La.
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2023 ULM Football Notes: Game 12 at Ragin' Cajuns
 
Terry Bowden Weekly Press Conference: Game 12 Preview vs. Ragin' Cajuns

FIRST-AND-10 –
• The ULM Warhawks (2-9 overall, 0-7 Sun Belt Conference) conclude the 2023 season at 2 p.m. Saturday when they take on in-state foe Ragin' Cajuns (5-6 overall, 2-5 SBC). ULM is coming off last Saturday's 35-3 loss at No. 13/14 Ole Miss, while the Ragin' Cajuns lost at Troy, 31-24.
• Saturday's game marks the 59th meeting between ULM and Ragin' Cajuns with the Ragin' Cajuns leading the series, 31-26. The Ragin' Cajuns vacated a victory in 2011 due to the use of ineligible players. ULM snapped a four-game skid in the series last season, 21-17, at Malone Stadium in Monroe. The Cajuns won the last meeting in Lafayette, 21-16, on Nov. 27, 2021. Five of the last six meetings have been decided by six points or less. The Warhawks last won in Lafayette, 56-50, on Sept. 23, 2016.
    Last year, ULM erased a 10-point fourth quarter deficit to pick up the 21-17 win over the Ragin' Cajuns in Monroe. Caleb Thomas and Fitzroy Gardner sacked Cajun quarterback Chandler Fields on the final play of the game at 50-yard line, forcing the game clock to roll as the Cajuns were unable to get another snap fired. Tyrone Howell had three catches for 124 yards, including an 89-yard reception in the fourth quarter that set up the go-ahead TD run by Malik Jackson.
•  ULM's 2023 roster features 32 players from the state of Louisiana, including five projected starters for Saturday's game: linebacker Carl Glass Jr. (Monroe/Ouachita Parish), punter Braxton Guilbeau (Lafayette/Southside), wide receiver Alred Luke (New Orleans/Warren Easton), cornerback Lu Tillery (New Orleans/St. Augustine) and safety Car'lin Vigers (Eunice).
• Saturday's game will be the final game of long snapper Trey Corley's ULM career. The Jackson, Tennessee, native has started all 58 games in which he has appeared in his career, setting the new career record at ULM. Corley first arrived at ULM in 2018. After transferring to Mississippi State, but not playing for the Bulldogs, in the 2019 season, he returned to ULM and the football team in 2020 and has held down the starting job since.
•  Running backs Isaiah Woullard and Hunter Smith continue to pick up a large number of their rushing yards after contact per PFF. Woullard has picked up an impressive 74 percent of his rushing yards after contact (316 of 426). Smith has gained 51 percent of his rushing yards after contact (251 of 497) after gaining 56 of his team-high 74 yards after contact last Saturday at Ole Miss.
• Biletnikoff Award candidate Tyrone Howell leads the Warhawks in receptions (47), receiving yards (550) and touchdown catches (seven). The 6-foot-3, 204-pound Howell is tied for fourth in the Sun Belt Conference with seven receiving TDs (37th in NCAA FBS) and is on the conference leaderboard for receptions per game (10th at 4.3 per game). His 27 first-down receptions also lead the Warhawks. He has led the team in receptions in eight of the first 11 games.
    Howell had three receptions, two for first downs, for 34 yards at Ole Miss last Saturday. He tied for the team lead with four receptions, all for first downs, and tallied a team-high 93 yards while adding his seventh TD catch of the season on Nov. 11 vs. Troy. He pulled in three passes for 48 yards and had a 9-yard TD catch on Oct. 21 at Georgia Southern. All three of his receptions resulted in first downs. He caught four passes for 41 yards and a touchdown on Oct. 7 against South Alabama. He hauled in eight passes for 62 yards against App State and matched his career high with three TD receptions, including scoring plays of 14, 3 and 8 yards from Jiya Wright. He had nine receptions for 67 yards against Army in the season opener, including his one-handed, game-winning 9-yard grab from Hunter Herring with 2:48 left in the fourth quarter.
• The Warhawks are among the top teams in the Sun Belt Conference in turnover margin and takeaways. ULM is third in the SBC with 18 takeaways (including 11 interceptions and seven fumble recoveries), which ranks 30th in NCAA FBS. ULM is fourth in the SBC with a turnover margin of +0.18 per game, which ranks 44th in NCAA FBS. With 18 takeaways in 11 games, the ULM defense has surpassed its 2022 12-game total of eight (six interceptions and two fumble recoveries). By contrast in 2022, ULM finished 130th in takeaways and 114th in turnover margin (-0.58 pg.) in the NCAA FBS.
    The Warhawks recorded multiple takeaways for the fourth time this season with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries in the Oct. 21 38-28 loss at Georgia Southern. The other three such performances came at home (five vs. Army, two vs. Lamar and four vs. App State).
• Outside linebacker Ja'Terious Evans, cornerback David Godsey Jr. and safety AJ Watts have been the biggest ball hawks for ULM. Evans and Godsey are part of a tie for third in the Sun Belt Conference with three interceptions each, one behind Troy's Reddy Steward and South Alabama's Jaden Voisin. Evans and Godsey are part of a pack tied for 37th in NCAA FBS in interceptions. Watts has two picks.
    Evans' third interception of the season resulted in a 76-yard return for a touchdown on Oct. 14 against Texas State, putting ULM on top 20-9 with 8:57 to play. It was the first pick six for ULM since Quae Drake's interception return for TD at Georgia State on Nov. 12, 2022. It capped a 14-play drive for Texas State. Evans also has recorded interceptions against App State and Army. He also ranks second on the team in tackles with 51 (20 solos, 31 assists), has 3.5 tackles for loss for eight yards, a pass break-up and a quarterback hurry.
    Godsey Jr. enters Saturday's game at the Ragin' Cajuns with interceptions in three of the last five games, the first picks of his career. All three interceptions have come in the red zone. Godsey set up ULM with a chance to complete an improbable rally at Georgia Southern with his first career interception on Oct. 21, and then ended Arkansas State's final drive of the first half with a pick on Oct. 28. With Southern Miss up 17-0 and driving late in the first half on Nov. 4, Godsey picked off Billy Wiles' pass in the end zone to keep the deficit at 17.
    Watts has eight passes defended this season, including six pass break ups and two interceptions. He is tied for 13th in the Sun Belt Conference in passes defended per game at 0.73 per game. Watts' two interceptions came against App State and Army.
• After picking up a sack for a one-yard loss last Saturday at No. 13/14 Ole Miss, defensive tackle Adin Huntington sits ninth in the Sun Belt Conference with 0.59 sacks per game. Inside SBC games, he is eighth in the conference with five of his sacks, good for 0.71 sacks per game. Huntington, a transfer from Kent State, has 6.5 sacks on the season, with six of them coming in the last six games. He had two sacks each at Texas State on Oct. 14 and at Georgia Southern on Oct. 21. ULM has totaled 22 sacks for 141 yards this season. Huntington totaled two tackles (both solos) with a tackle for loss and a sack last Saturday at Ole Miss.
• Defensive end Kenard Snyder leads ULM with 13.5 tackles for loss for 41 yards while adding 5.5 sacks for 27 yards. Snyder has 4.5 of his 5.5 sacks over the last five games, including a sack for a 1-yard loss last Saturday at No. 13/14 Ole Miss. He has at least one tackle for loss in each of the last six games, and multiple tackles for loss in four of the last six contests. Inside SBC play, Snyder has 10 of his 13.5 tackles for loss, which ranks eighth in the league (1.43 per game). He has 4.5 of his 5.5 sacks in conference games, which ranks him tied for 10th in the SBC in conference play (0.64 per game).
 
ULM/RAGIN' CAJUNS SERIES NOTES –
Saturday's game marks the 59th meeting between ULM and Ragin' Cajuns with the Ragin' Cajuns leading the series, 31-26. The Ragin' Cajuns vacated a victory in 2011 due to the use of ineligible players. ULM snapped a four-game skid in the series last season, 21-17, at Malone Stadium in Monroe. The Cajuns won the last meeting in Lafayette, 21-16, on Nov. 27, 2021. Five of the last six meetings have been decided by six points or less. The Warhawks last won in Lafayette, 56-50, on Sept. 23, 2016.
                   
Last year, ULM erased a 10-point fourth quarter deficit to pick up the 21-17 win over the Ragin' Cajuns in Monroe. Caleb Thomas and Fitzroy Gardner sacked Cajun quarterback Chandler Fields on the final play of the game at 50-yard line, forcing the game clock to roll as the Cajuns were unable to get another snap fired. Tyrone Howell had three catches for 124 yards, including an 89-yard reception in the fourth quarter that set up the go-ahead TD run by Malik Jackson.
                                             
THE LAST MEETING –
ULM 21, Ragin' Cajuns 17 (Sept. 24, 2022, in Monroe, La.): Some wins just mean more.
 
Basking in the glow of ULM's 21-17 win over the Ragin' Cajuns Saturday night at Malone Stadium, head coach Terry Bowden made that point perfectly clear.
 
"I told our players last night, some Ws are more important than other Ws," Bowden said. "There are several reasons why Lafayette is more important. Obviously, it's a rival. Our school, our alumni, our town, our fans, they have a special feeling when we win that game. Our players will learn to understand that. I do (understand) how important a rival is, especially one that our fans are passionate about."
 
On a night when ULM's defense held the line, it was fitting that the final play was a sack by Caleb Thomas and Fitzroy Gardner. The two Warhawks dropped Ragin' Cajun quarterback Chandler Fields for an 8-yard loss at the 50 as time expired.
 
The Warhawks (2-2, 1-0 Sun Belt) trailed by 10 at the half but pitched a second-half shutout. The offense scuffled at times, but dialed up just enough big plays to turn the tide.
 
With ULM trailing by three points with 8:11 left in the game, Rogers hit Tyrone Howell for an 89-yard pass play that took the ball to the Cajun 1. Two plays later, Malik Jackson powered in for a 2-yard touchdown that gave the Warhawks their first lead at 21-17 with 6:51 left in the game.
 
After Jackson's score gave ULM its four-point lead, the Cajuns took over at their 20 with 6:51 remaining. Facing fourth-and-4 from the Cajun 46 with 4:19 left, Fields scrambled 12 yards to keep the chains moving.
 
Then on third-and-10 from the ULM 42, Car'lin Vigers intercepted Fields at the 26 and returned the takeaway to the ULM 35 with 3:36 showing.
 
The Ragin' Cajuns (2-2, 0-1 Sun Belt) had one final chance after its turnover but saw the final drive expire at midfield. The win was ULM's first over the Cajuns since a 56-50 decision in Lafayette in 2017, ending a four-game losing streak to the Cajuns.
 
The Cajuns, who saw a 15-game winning streak end last week at Rice, had their 13-game Sun Belt Conference winning streak end at Malone Stadium.
 
Running back Andrew Henry was one of ULM's top offensive performers with a career-high 123 yards on 11 carries. His 75-yard touchdown run in the first quarter was the first sign of life for the Warhawks.
 
A Kansas State transfer, Howell caught three balls for 124 yards in his breakout game. The Warhawks finished with 419 yards of total offense while holding the Cajuns to 354.
 
ULM took the opening kickoff and drove 51 yards on nine plays but came away with no points when Calum Sutherland missed wide left on a 41-yard field-goal attempt.
 
The Cajuns came back with a more fruitful march, gobbling up 76 yards on six plays and scoring on a 9-yard touchdown run by Fields to go up 7-0 with 7:56 showing in the first.
 
Henry provided a rapid response, bolting 75 yards on the second play of ULM's next drive to tie the score at 7 with 7:02 left in the quarter.
 
The Ragin' Cajuns led 14-7 with 5:11 remaining in the first period after Fields found Michael Jefferson on a 50-yard touchdown pass. Jefferson caught the ball in traffic at the ULM 24 and ran untouched to the end zone.
 
ULM's defense settled in after a shaky start. Zack Woodard recovered a fumble early in the second quarter, then registered a quarterback sack at the ULL 2 on the Cajuns' second series that led to a punt. Woodard led ULM with eight tackles.
 
Taking over at its own 47, the Warhawks didn't take advantage as Rogers tossed an interception that the Ragin' Cajuns' Courtland Flowers returned to the ULM 20. The Warhawks made a nice stand though, limiting the Cajuns to 28-yard field goal by Preston Stafford. The Cajuns led 17-7 with 7:25 to go before halftime.
 
ULM trailed by 10 at the half despite outgaining the Cajuns, 226 to 184. The Warhawks punted five times, made one turnover and missed a field goal.
 
A scoreless third quarter still provided plenty of action.
 
The Warhawks fumbled away a promising drive on their first series of the third. The possession started with 10-straight rushes for 49 yards but fizzled when Boogie Knight fumbled at the Cajun 28 after making a 10-yard catch.
 
The Cajuns drove into scoring position at the ULM 6 after the takeaway but came up empty on a bad snap and incomplete pass while lining up for a field-goal attempt.
 
The defense continued to make plays to keep ULM within striking distance in the fourth quarter. Cornerback David Godsey sacked Fields to force a punt, then an errant snap lost 23 yards and set the Warhawks up at the ULL 8 after the turnover on downs.
 
Two plays later, Rogers rushed in for a 5-yard touchdown to narrow the deficit to 17-14 with 11:07 left in the game to put the Warhawks back in business.
 
The comeback win improved ULM's record to 4-10 under Bowden when trailing at halftime and 6-2 at Malone Stadium under the second-year coach.
 
THE LAST MEETING AT CAJUN FIELD –
Ragin' Cajuns 21, ULM 16  (Nov. 27, 2021 in Lafayette, Louisiana): ULM couldn't find the firepower to upset the No. 23 Ragin' Cajuns in the season finale but the Warhawks made it interesting until the end.
 
The Warhawks were on the wrong side of a defensive struggle, falling 21-16 on Saturday afternoon at Cajun Field.
 
All season, coaches asked the team the question "Will you fight or will you quit?" ULM's answer was evident on the final offensive series for the Warhawks, who drove 71 yards on 11 plays to cut the score to 21-16. Malik Jackson scored on a 12-yard run with 1:35 left but the 2-point conversion pass was incomplete.
 
An onside kick attempt was recovered by the Cajuns, who escaped with the win.
 
In the first year under Bowden, ULM finished 4-8 overall and 2-6 in the Sun Belt Conference. The Cajuns concluded the regular season 11-1 and 8-0, securing a perfect conference record for the first time in school history.
 
Coming in as three-touchdown underdogs, ULM trailed by just four at halftime and stayed within striking distance of the Cajuns into the waning minutes. But the offense, limited to just 325 yards, was unable to sustain enough drives to get over the hump. ULM was 4-of-14 on third-down conversions and 2-of-5 on fourth down.
 
Jackson was a bright spot for the ULM offense, rushing for 122 yards and the touchdown on 22 carries. The Warhawks couldn't find enough consistent success in the passing game as Rhett Rodriguez completed 11-of-24 attempts for 145 yards and one score.
 
The Warhawks limited Cajun quarterback Levi Lewis to 163 passing yards. The Cajuns gained 382 total yards, with 165 rushing.
 
The Cajuns needed two plays to go 75 yards for a touchdown on the game's opening drive. Lewis ran 20 yards for the score after completing a 55-yard pass to Neal Johnson on the first play from scrimmage.
 
Calum Sutherland kicked a 26-yard field goal with 7:33 left in the first quarter to cut the score to 7-3. ULM mounted a 15-play, 66-yard drive on its first offensive turn, picking up four first downs including a fourth-down conversion.
 
The Ragin' Cajuns extended the lead to 14-3 with 3:48 left in the first quarter on a fourth-down touchdown pass from Chris Smith to Kyren Lacy. Smith took the direct snap on fourth-and-2 from the ULM 37 and connected with the receiver to finish the eight-play, 75-yard drive.
 
After giving up a pair of touchdowns on ULL's first two drives, the Warhawks settled in.
 
Following ULM's fourth-down stop against the Cajuns on a tackle by Nick Roberts, the Warhawks scored five plays later on a 46-yard pass down the middle from Rodriguez to Boogie Knight. The Warhawks drove 62 yards to narrow the margin to 14-10 with 12:29 left in the second quarter.
 
On the ensuing series, Sir'Darrius Ellis and Myles Cole combined to sack Lewis for a loss of 8 yards on first down and the Cajuns went three-and-out. Back on offense, ULM benefitted from a roughing-the-passer penalty that wiped out a ULL interception but gave it back with a turnover on downs at the Cajuns' 38.
 
ULM forced another three-and-out late in the half and but was fortunate to go to the locker room down just four after Andrew Henry's untimely fumble with 11 seconds remaining. ULL recovered at the ULM 22 and attempted a pass into the end zone before Nate Snyder missed a 39-yard field-goal attempt as time expired.
 
ULM gained 176 yards on 37 plays in the first half, with 95 rushing and 81 passing. The Cajuns accumulated 211 yards on 29 plays, with 156 through the air and 55 on the ground.
 
The Warhawks went three-and-out to start the third quarter, but the ULM defense would force another turnover on downs as the Cajuns stalled at the 31.
 
After another ULM punt continued the uneventful start to the third, the Cajuns rediscovered the big plays in their offense. Montrell Johnson popped a 42-yard run and Lewis passed 27 yards to Peter LeBlanc to jumpstart a four-play, 85-yard drive. Emani Bailey's 2-yard touchdown run with 5:01 left in the third quarter gave ULL a 21-10 lead.
 
On fourth-and-7 from the ULM 39 with 2:06 left in the third, the Warhawks attempted a fake punt by Devyn McCormick's pass toward Ty Shelby fell incomplete.
 
After ULM's turnover on downs, the Cajuns faced fourth-and-1 from the 3 with 13:13 remaining in the game. But the Quae Drake flushed Lewis out of the pocket and he fired incomplete.
 
With Chandler Rogers in at quarterback, ULM took over moved past midfield but turned the ball over 11 plays later on downs at the ULL 40.
 
WARHAWKS FROM THE BAYOU STATE –
ULM's 2023 roster features 32 players from the state of Louisiana, including five projected starters for Saturday's game: linebacker Carl Glass Jr. (Monroe/Ouachita Parish), punter Braxton Guilbeau (Lafayette/Southside), wide receiver Alred Luke (New Orleans/Warren Easton), cornerback Lu Tillery (New Orleans/St. Augustine) and safety Car'lin Vigers (Eunice).
 
THE LAST TIME OUT  –
No. 13/14 Ole Miss 35, ULM 3 (Nov. 18, 2023, in Oxford, Mississippi): The crowd at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium was unusually quiet as ULM and Ole Miss trotted to the locker room at halftime Saturday.
 
Maybe it was the 11 a.m. kickoff that had them feeling foggy. Or maybe it was the slender four-point lead the highly-favored Rebels held over ULM through two quarters.
 
No. 13/14 Ole Miss (9-2) pulled away in the second half for a 35-3 win over ULM. But for two quarters at least, the Warhawks were in it.
 
Ole Miss extended ULM's losing streak to nine games. The Warhawks (2-9) fell to 0-5 on the road this season.
 
Hunter Smith rushed for 74 yards on 17 attempts as the Warhawks gained an impressive 192 yards on the ground. Jiya Wright completed 7-of-19 passes for 56 yards and one interception.
 
ULM registered three sacks (Adin Huntington, Kenard Snyder and Dylan Howell), 11 tackles for loss and five quarterback hurries in the contest. Max Harris and JaTerious Evans led the Warhawks with eight tackles each.
 
Jaxson Dart completed 24-of-31 passes for 310 yards and three touchdowns to pace an Ole Miss offense that gained 498 yards with 26 first downs.
 
Defensively, the Warhawks enjoyed several notable stops early in the game and kept the score close throughout the first half.
 
ULM's defense held on the opening drive as Ole Miss kicker Caden Davis missed wide right on a 50-yard field goal attempt. The Warhawks also stuffed the Rebels on fourth-and-2 at the Ole Miss 27 on the second defensive series, but couldn't convert the turnover on downs into points and settled for a punt.
 
After a pair of fruitless Ole Miss drives, Ulysses Bentley IV scored on a 14-yard touchdown run with 4:26 to go in the first quarter to give the Rebels a 7-0 lead. The scoring drive covered 85 yards in 10 plays.
 
After a Wright interception with 9:40 left before the half, ULM's defense rose to the challenge once again. A third-down sack by Dylan Howell cost the Rebels 9 yards and brought the Ole Miss punt team out with 6:25 left in the second quarter.
 
After regaining possession, ULM drove to the Ole Miss 9 with one second remaining. Braxton Guilbeau booted the 26-yard field goal for a 7-3 halftime score.
 
Ole Miss held ULM to 1 yard in the first quarter but the Warhawks outgained their host 102-27 in the second quarter.  In the first half, Wright was 4-for-10 passing for 16 yards while Smith led the running game with 61 yards on 11 carries.
 
Meanwhile, the ULM defense had three sacks six tackles for losses and four quarterback hurries through two quarters.
 
The second half saw Ole Miss pull away as the starters flexed their muscle in a 21-0 third quarter. Dart completed 8-of-9 passes for 159 yards and three touchdowns in the game-changing quarter.
 
Dart tossed a 13-yard touchdown pass to Tre Harris on the first Ole Miss drive of the third quarter. The Rebels led 14-3 after the nine-play, 78-yard march.
 
The Rebels extended their lead to 21-3 on Dart's 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Caden Prieskorn with 4:15 remaining in the third quarter. The Ole Miss scoring drive covered 60 yards in eight plays.
 
Ole Miss kept coming in the third quarter, as Dart's 58-yard touchdown pass to Dayton Wade pushed the lead to 28-3 after a swift three-play, 60-yard drive.
 
ULM reached the red zone in the fourth quarter but turned it over on downs at the Ole Miss 19 after a nine-play, 55-yard drive came up empty.
 
Ole Miss freshman Cayden Lee popped loose for a 51-yard touchdown catch and run from Spencer Sanders with 6:12 left in the contest for a 35-3 lead. The six-play, 81-yard drive stayed alive after a roughing the punter penalty call against ULM.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS –
• The Warhawks are among the top teams in the Sun Belt Conference in turnover margin and takeaways. ULM is third in the SBC with 18 takeaways (including 11 interceptions and seven fumble recoveries), which ranks 30th in NCAA FBS. ULM is fourth in the SBC with a turnover margin of +0.18 per game, which ranks 44th in NCAA FBS. With 18 takeaways in 11 games, the ULM defense has surpassed its 2022 12-game total of eight (six interceptions and two fumble recoveries). By contrast in 2022, ULM finished 130th in takeaways and 114th in turnover margin (-0.58 pg.) in the NCAA FBS.
 
The Warhawks recorded multiple takeaways for the fourth time this season with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries in the Oct. 21 38-28 loss at Georgia Southern. The other three such performances came at home (five vs. Army, two vs. Lamar and four vs. App State).
 
• Outside linebacker Ja'Terious Evans, cornerback David Godsey Jr. and safety AJ Watts have been the biggest ball hawks for ULM. Evans and Godsey are part of a tie for third in the Sun Belt Conference with three interceptions each, one behind Troy's Reddy Steward and South Alabama's Jaden Voisin. Evans and Godsey are part of a pack tied for 37th in NCAA FBS in interceptions. Watts has two picks.
                                                      
Evans' third interception of the season resulted in a 76-yard return for a touchdown on Oct. 14 against Texas State, putting ULM on top 20-9 with 8:57 to play. It was the first pick six for ULM since Quae Drake's interception return for TD at Georgia State on Nov. 12, 2022. It capped a 14-play drive for Texas State. Evans also has recorded interceptions against App State and Army. He also ranks second on the team in tackles with 51 (20 solos, 31 assists), has 3.5 tackles for loss for eight yards, a pass break-up and a quarterback hurry.
 
Godsey Jr. enters Saturday's game at the Ragin' Cajuns with interceptions in three of the last five games, the first picks of his career. All three interceptions have come in the red zone. Godsey set up ULM with a chance to complete an improbable rally at Georgia Southern with his first career interception on Oct. 21, and then ended Arkansas State's final drive of the first half with a pick on Oct. 28. With Southern Miss up 17-0 and driving late in the first half on Nov. 4, Godsey picked off Billy Wiles' pass in the end zone to keep the deficit at 17.
 
Watts has eight passes defended this season, including six pass break ups and two interceptions. He is tied for 13th in the Sun Belt Conference in passes defended per game at 0.73 per game. Watts' two interceptions came against App State and Army.
 
MURPHY MAKES DEBUT –
Freshman quarterback Blake Murphy made his first collegiate start on Oct. 28 against Arkansas State, becoming the first true freshman to start at quarterback for ULM since Caleb Evans in 2016. He threw for 300 yards, marking his second-straight 300 yard passing game, on 25 of 44 attempts with two touchdowns against the Red Wolves. He threw scoring strikes of 32 yards to Nolan Quinlan and 12 yards to NyNy Davis.
 
Murphy is the first ULM quarterback to throw for 300 yards in consecutive games since Evans did so in his final two starts of the 2019, passing for 346 yards vs. Coastal Carolina on Nov. 23, 2019, and 330 yards at the Ragin' Cajuns on Nov. 30, 2019. Murphy's back-to-back 300 yard performances are the first by a ULM true freshman since at least 1977.
 
He made his collegiate debut on Oct. 21 at Georgia Southern, completing 18-of-33 passes for 320 yards, one TD and one interception. His 320 passing yards were the most by a ULM freshman quarterback since Evans threw for 279 in his starting debut against South Alabama on Nov. 5, 2016. He threw a 51-yard TD pass to Davis in the second quarter for his first career score.
 
Murphy ranked among the nation's top dual-threat quarterbacks (No. 29) by ESPN after playing four years of varsity football at American Heritage High School in Plantation, Florida. He accounted for 4,752 yards of total offense and 53 touchdowns in his prep career.
 
THE WRIGHT STUFF –
ULM graduate quarterback Jiya Wright reclaimed his starting spot ahead of the Nov. 11 game against Troy. Wright has played in all 11 games with eight starts in 2023, completing 52% (101-of-194) of his passes for 1,180 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He has rushed for 248 yards on 92 carries and one TD.
 
Wright set career highs in pass completions and attempts, going 20-of-36 for 243 yards and two TDs on Nov. 11 vs. Troy. It marked his second 200-plus yard passing day in 2023, after throwing for a career-high 268 yards and 4 TDs while rushing for 74 yards and another score vs. App State on Sept. 30.
 
Wright, a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, in his third season at ULM and his sixth season playing college football. He opened his career at Northern Illinois before transferring to NCAA Division II Florida Tech, but the Panthers shut their football program down with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. After playing in three games at Fort Scott (Kansas) Community College in the spring of 2021, Wright transferred to ULM, where he was a backup quarterback for the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
 
SMITH, WOULLARD LEAD RUSHING ATTACK –
Running backs Isaiah Woullard and Hunter Smith continue to pick up a large number of their rushing yards after contact. The duo have posted 923 of ULM's 1,600 rushing yards (58 percent) and four of the six rushing touchdowns through the first 11 games of the season. Smith has 90 carries for 497 yards and three TDs while Woullard has 93 carries for 426 yards and one TD.
 
The 5-foot-11, 181-pound Smith is averaging 5.5 yards per carry after rushing for 497 yards on 90 carries. He leads the team in rushing TDs (3), gains of 15 or more yards (8) and first down runs (20). He has gained 251 of his 497 yards after contact (51 percent). Smith opened with season with consecutive 100-yard games in wins over Army (seven rushes for 103 yards, including a 62-yard TD run in the fourth quarter) and Lamar (13 for 101, including a 27-yard TD run to open the scoring). His rushing TD on Oct. 21 against Georgia Southern brought ULM within three points, 31-28, after trailing 31-7 in the second quarter. Smith hurdled a defender early in his run and knocked an Eagle defender into the end zone to finish the score. He rushed for a team-high 60 yards on 13 carries with a long of 24 yards on Oct. 28 against Arkansas State. He led a strong rushing attack against No. 13/14 Ole Miss last Saturday, gaining 74 yards on 17 carries, including 56 yards after contact.
 
The 5-9, 215-pound Woullard has picked up an impressive 74 percent of his rushing yards after contact (316 of 426), including 30 of his 43 yards on Oct. 28 against Arkansas State, while forcing 13 missed tackles and has 15 first down runs. He scored his first rushing TD as a Warhawk on a 7-yard burst up the middle in the first quarter against App State. Woullard posted his second career 100-yard rushing game against Lamar, finishing with a team-leading 113 yards on 14 attempts. It marked his first since 100-yard performance since 2018 as a true freshman at Ole Miss (107 at Vanderbilt). On Oct. 28, Woullard rushed for 43 yards on 11 carries against Arkansas State.
 
Woullard played five seasons at Ole Miss, playing in 46 games. His best season came as a true freshman in 2018, when he rushed for 428 yards and four touchdowns.
 
ULM lost 87 percent of its ground production (1,258 of 1,448 rushing yards). Gone are the top three rushers from a year ago, who combined for 1,183 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns.
 
HOWELL BUILDING OFF BREAKOUT 2022 CAMPAIGN –
Biletnikoff Award candidate Tyrone Howell leads the Warhawks in receptions (47), receiving yards (550) and touchdown catches (seven). The 6-foot-3, 204-pound Howell is tied for fourth in the Sun Belt Conference with seven receiving TDs (37th in NCAA FBS) and is on the conference leaderboard for receptions per game (10th at 4.3 per game). His 27 first-down receptions also lead the Warhawks. He has led the team in receptions in eight of the first 11 games.
                   
Howell had three receptions, two for first downs, for 34 yards at Ole Miss last Saturday. He tied for the team lead with four receptions, all for first downs, and tallied a team-high 93 yards while adding his seventh TD catch of the season on Nov. 11 vs. Troy. He pulled in three passes for 48 yards and had a 9-yard TD catch on Oct. 21 at Georgia Southern. All three of his receptions resulted in first downs. He caught four passes for 41 yards and a touchdown on Oct. 7 against South Alabama. He hauled in eight passes for 62 yards against App State and matched his career high with three TD receptions, including scoring plays of 14, 3 and 8 yards from Jiya Wright. He had nine receptions for 67 yards against Army in the season opener, including his one-handed, game-winning 9-yard grab from Hunter Herring with 2:48 left in the fourth quarter.
 
WILEY COMING ON STRONG DOWN STRETCH –
Senior wide receiver Dariyan Wiley has started 10 out of 11 games in the 2023 season and is second on the team with 23 receptions for 397 yards. He is averaging a team-high 17.3 yards per catch, and his 68-yard TD reception on Nov. 4 at Southern Miss is the longest passing play of the season for ULM.
 
Over the last five games, Wiley has 13 receptions for 255 yards (19.6 yards per catch). He has five explosive plays (20-plus yards) over the last three games, covering all three of his receptions on Nov. 4 at Southern Miss (three receptions, 137 yards) and his first two catches on Nov. 11 vs. Troy. He has six games with multiple receptions this season, including a four catch, 80-yard effort with a receiving TD vs. App State on Sept. 30.
 
Wiley has played in 30 games over three seasons at ULM, posting 39 catches for 561 yards and 3 TDs.
 
COOL HAND LUKE –
Sophomore wide receiver Alred Luke posted his first 100 all-purpose yard game of the 2023 season and the third such game of his career with 109 all-purpose yards on Oct. 21 at Georgia Southern.
 
The 5-foot-8, 180-pound Luke led ULM with a career-high seven receptions while adding career bests with 76 receiving yards and 109 all-purpose yards at Georgia Southern. He had a hand in four explosive plays (20-plus yards) against the Eagles, catching passes for 24, 24 and 20 yards while adding a 20-yard kickoff return. Luke now has 10 receptions for 126 yards (12.6 yards per reception) in five games in 2023.
 
Luke posted a career-high 135 all-purpose yards in ULM's 31-30 win over Texas State on Nov. 3, 2022, posting a career-best 111 kickoff return yards on six attempts while adding 24 receiving yards.
 
The New Orleans native recorded his first career game with more than 100 all-purpose yards on Oct. 8, 2022, against Coastal Carolina. Luke caught a team-best six passes for 55 yards, added three carries for 26 yards and tacked on one kickoff return for 21 yards to total 102 all-purpose yards.
 
Luke added two catches for 23 yards, including 22 yards after the catch, on Oct. 23 against A-State. He now has 15 receptions for 168 yards (11.2 yards per reception) in eight games in 2023. He has 13 kickoff returns for 267 yards (20.5 yards per return) with a long of 53 yards, set on Nov. 11 vs. Troy.
 
Luke played in all 12 games in 2022 as a redshirt freshman, catching 23 passes for 293 yards and one touchdown, coming at Arkansas State. He added a team-high 396 kickoff return yards.
 
He played in four games as a true freshman in 2021, seeing time against South Alabama, Arkansas State, at LSU and at the Ragin' Cajuns.
 
WARHAWK OFFENSIVE LINE LEADS WAY ON COLLEGE FOOTBALL NETWORK MIDSEASON HONORS  –
The ULM offensive line was recognized as the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Line of the Year in the College Football Network's midseason SBC honors, presented Oct. 9. Right tackle Keydrell Lewis was named CFN's Midseason Offensive Lineman of the Year and earned First-Team All-SBC honors, while right guard Tellek Lockette and center Zarian McGill also earned First-Team honors.
 
Also on the offensive side of the ball, running back Hunter Smith and wide receiver Tyrone Howell earned honorable mention selections to the CFN midseason All-SBC team.
 
Defensively, safety A.J. Watts earned First-Team recognition, while defensive tackle Adin Huntington was named to the Second Team. On special teams, Carl Glass earned Second-Team recognition.
 
FIVE WARHAWKS WITH STARTING EXPERIENCE ON OFFENSIVE LINE  –
ULM will rebuild its offensive line around three veterans, in right tackle Keydrell Lewis (31 career starts), center Zarian McGill (23) and left guard (moving from right guard) Elijah Fisher (21), who have combined for 69 career starts. In addition, left tackle Stacey Wilkins (13) and right guard Tellek Lockette (13) also have starting experience.
 
The Warhawks added depth by going to the Mississippi junior college ranks in recruiting, bringing in left guard Jay Mickle, center Matt Williams and right guard Markell Smith. Mickle and Williams were teammates at Northwest Mississippi Community College, where Mickle was a Second-Team NJCAA Division I All-American in 2022 and Williams was honorable mention All-Conference as NWMCC ranked fourth in NJCAA with 2,096 rush yards. Williams made his first career start, filling in for Wilkins at left tackle, against South Alabama. Smith is a transfer from Jones College, where he was an NJCAA All-Region 23 selection in 2022.
 
Kyle Segler takes over as the offensive line coach in 2023, sliding over from his previous spot with the tight ends.
 
WARHAWK DEFENSE RANKS AMONG NCAA FBS LEADERS IN TAKEAWAYS –
ULM's newfound athleticism and speed on the defensive side of the ball has been on display in the first 11 games of the season.
 
The Warhawks are among the top teams in the Sun Belt Conference in turnover margin and takeaways. ULM is third in the SBC with 18 takeaways (including 11 interceptions and seven fumble recoveries), which ranks 30th in NCAA FBS. ULM is fourth in the SBC with a turnover margin of +0.18 per game, which ranks 44th in NCAA FBS. With 18 takeaways in 11 games, the ULM defense has surpassed its 2022 12-game total of eight (six interceptions and two fumble recoveries). By contrast in 2022, ULM finished 130th in takeaways and 114th in turnover margin (-0.58 pg.) in the NCAA FBS.  David Godsey Jr. recorded an interception for the third straight game on Nov. 4 at Southern Miss for ULM's 18th takeaway of the season. The Warhawks have not recorded a takeaway in the last two games.
 
The Warhawks recorded multiple takeaways for the fourth time this season with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries in the Oct. 21 38-28 loss at Georgia Southern. The other three such performances came at home (five vs. Army, two vs. Lamar and four vs. App State).
 
In the Oct. 14 21-20 loss at Texas State, ULM's defense forced just one turnover, but turned it into points. Linebacker Ja'Terious Evans returned an interception 76 yards for a touchdown to increase the Warhawks' lead to 20-9 in the fourth quarter.
 
In the 24-14 win over Lamar on Sept. 9, ULM limited the Cardinals to 311 yards of total offense on 62 plays. Lamar rushed for 121 yards on 36 carries (3.4 yards per carry) and threw for 190 yards on 26 pass attempts (7.3 yards per attempt). The Warhawks registered seven tackles for loss for 34 yards and four sacks for 25 yards, led by defensive lineman James Smith's 3.5 tackles for loss for 20 yards and 2.5 sacks for 16 yards. Defensive lineman Adin Huntington tallied 14 tackles (2 solos, 12 assists) with one tackle for loss for 3 yards and half a sack for 4 yards. Defensive backs Austin Goffney and Max Harris recorded interceptions in the win.
 
In ULM's 17-13 win over Army on Sept. 2, the new-look Warhawk defense made a statement. ULM limited an opponent without an offensive touchdown for the first time since a 47-0 win over Nicholls in 2015. The Warhawks recorded five takeaways (three fumbles, two interceptions) in the contest after forcing just eight turnovers for the entire 2022 season. It was the highest single-game turnover total since picking up five takeaways against Nicholls in 2015. Evans and safety AJ Watts came up with interceptions for ULM, linebacker Carl Glass, linebacker Norman Massey and cornerback Car'lin Vigers forced fumbles and cornerback Lu Tillery, Vigers and defensive lineman Jaylan Ware each recovered fumbles.
 
ULM limited Army to 2-of-8 on third-down conversions in the second half, including an 0-of-3 clip in the fourth quarter. The Black Knights went three-and-out on each of its last four possessions. In the fourth quarter, ULM's defense held Army without a first down, allowed 15 total yards on 14 plays and tallied three takeaways (two fumbles and one interception).
 
"BATMAN" FLIES INTO 2023 –
Junior middle linebacker Michael Batton leads the team with 74 tackles (25 solos, 49 assists), averaging 6.7 tackles per game. Batton picked up six tackles, including a quarterback hurry, on Nov. 11 vs. Troy. He totaled five tackles (1 solo, 4 assists) with half a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry on Oct. 28 vs. Arkansas State. He had six tackles (4 solos, 2 assists) to match the team lead and blocked a 48-yard field goal attempt on Oct. 21 at Georgia Southern. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Batton recorded double digit tackles twice this season, finishing with a team-high 10 stops (2 solos, 8 assists) against App State and also collected 10 tackles against Lamar. Batton has produced double-figure stops in four of his last 10 games, dating back to Nov. 12, 2022, at Georgia State (career-best 16 tackles).
 
Prior to ULM, Batton played quarterback at Nassau Community College in Garden City, New York. He was 6-3 in nine starts in 2021, accounting for 1,110 yards of total offense and 12 touchdowns while leading his team to an appearance in the NJCAA Division III Championship Game.
 
HARRIS COMES UP WITH FIRST TURNOVER AT ULM –
Sophomore linebacker Max Harris ranks second on the team with 69 tackles (23 solos, 46 assists) with one tackle for loss for 3 yards, an interception, a forced fumble and two pass break ups while playing in the first 11 games of the season. He tied for the team lead in tackles for the second-straight week with eight stops (2 solos, 6 assists) at No. 13/14 Ole Miss.
 
The 5-foot-11, 221-pound Harris had his second double-digit tackle effort of the season on Nov. 11 vs. Troy, leading the team with 11 tackles (3 solos, 8 assists). He tallied six tackles (2 solos, 4 assists) with both of his pass break ups on Nov. 4 at Southern Miss. Harris posted a career high 12 tackles (5 solos, 7 assists) while playing against his former head coach, GJ Kinne, and Texas State on Oct. 14. He recorded five stops (1 solo, 4 assists) on Oct. 7 against South Alabama. He had five stops (1 solo, 4 assists) and forced a fumble against App State. His forced fumble, recovered by AJ Watts, helped set up ULM's first touchdown against the Mountaineers.
 
He snared his first interception at ULM in the 24-14 win over Lamar. Harris ranged back and took the ball out of the hands of Lamar tight end Ja'Corey Hyder at the ULM 39-yard line. His interception set up a touchdown drive to put the Warhawks up 21-0 in the second quarter. He added four tackles (1 solo, 3 assists) against the Cardinals.
 
Harris opened the season with six tackles (3 solo, 3 assists) against Army West Point.
 
A transfer from Incarnate Word where he played for Kinne, Harris appeared in nine games for UIW in 2022, picking up 26 tackles (16 solos, 10 assists) including 2.5 for losses (14 yards).
 
EVANS SHOWCASES REVAMPED WARHAWK DEFENSE –
Graduate student Ja'Terious Evans had a huge game on Oct. 14 against Texas State, returning an interception 76 yards for a touchdown to go with eight tackles (5 solos, 3 assists). Evans ranks third on the team with 64 tackles (25 solos, 39 assists) with 5.5 tackles for loss for 14 yards and is tied for third in the Sun Belt Conference with three interceptions through the first 11 games of the 2023 season. He tied for the team lead with eight tackles (4 solos, 4 assists) with two tackles for loss of 6 yards at No. 13/14 Ole Miss last Saturday.
 
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Evans totaled a team-high eight tackles (3 solos, 5 assists) and half a tackle for a loss of 2 yards on Oct. 28 vs. Arkansas State. He had six tackles (2 solos, 4 assists) on Oct. 7 against South Alabama. He made three solo stops and added an interception against App State. He totaled three tackles (2 solos, 1 assist) at Texas A&M and tallied five assists, with half a tackle for loss for 2 yards against Lamar.
 
In his first career start for ULM at outside linebacker, Evans recorded a career-high 11 tackles (8 solos, 8 assists), including a career-best 1.5 tackles for loss (3 yards), and an interception as the Warhawks rallied from a 13-3 fourth-quarter deficit for a 17-13 victory over Army in the 2023 season opener. His interception early in the second quarter set up Derek McCormick's 24-yard field goal for the game's first score. 
 
In the second half, the Warhawk defense limited Army to 2-of-8 on third down, including 0-of-3 in the decisive fourth quarter. The Black Knights went three-and-out on their last four possessions. ULM held Army without a first down in the fourth quarter, permitted 15 total yards on 14 plays and had three takeaways (two fumbles and an interception).
 
A graduate transfer from Stephen F. Austin, Evans recorded 110 tackles, four interceptions and seven pass break-ups in 41 career games for the Lumberjacks. He started all 11 games at cornerback in 2022 and ranked fourth on the team with a career-best 40 tackles (26 solos, 14 assists), with 3.5 resulting in losses (13 yards) including 1.5 sacks (10 yards). He recorded two interceptions (21 yards) and three pass break-ups. He also was credited with three quarterback hurries.
 
SNYDER CONTINUES TO EMERGE AS PLAYMAKER ON D-LINE – 
Defensive end Kenard Snyder, who led ULM in tackles for loss (10 for 22 yards) and ranked third overall in tackles with 61 (36 solos, 25 assists), was selected honorable mention Freshman All-American by College Football News in 2022. The 6-1, 257-pound Snyder averaged 6.3 tackles over the last eight games, when he entered the starting lineup. He received preseason All-Sun Belt honors from Lindy's (second team) and Phil Steel (fourth team).
 
Snyder has totaled 57 tackles (22 solos and 35 assists) with a team-best 13.5 tackles for loss for 41 yards and 5.5 sacks for 27 yards, two pass breakups, four quaterback hurries, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick through the first 11 games in 2023. Snyder has 4.5 of his 5.5 sacks over the last five games, including a sack for a loss of 1 yard last Saturday at Ole Miss. He has at least one tackle for loss in each of the last six games, and multiple tackles for loss in four of the last six contests after having three tackles for loss of 3 yards at Ole Miss. Inside SBC play, Snyder has 10 of his 13.5 tackles for loss, which ranks eighth in the league (1.43 per game). He has 4.5 of his 5.5 sacks in conference games, which ranks him tied for 10th in the SBC in conference play (0.64 per game).
 
Snyder totaled five tackles (all solos) with three tackles for loss of 3 yards, one sack for 1 yard, a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry last week at Ole Miss. He had four tackles (2 solos, 2 assists) and a sack for five yards on Nov. 11 vs. Troy. He led the team with nine tackles (3 solos, 6 assists) with two tackles for loss of seven yards, half a sack for three yards, a pass break up and blocked a Southern Miss field goal attempt on Nov. 4. He made a major impact on Oct. 28 against Arkansas State, posting four tackles (2 solos, 2 assists) with 2.5 tackles for a loss of 4 yards, one sack for a loss of two yards and two quarterback hurries. He had three tackles (2 solos and 1 assist), including a sack for a loss of 13 yards, a forced fumble and fumble recovery on Oct. 21 at Georgia Southern. He had a season-high nine tackles (5 solos, 4 assists) with 2.5 tackles for loss for 5 yards on Oct. 14 at Texas State. He produced eight stops (1 solo, 7 assists), including a 3-yard sack, against App State. Snyder had five tackles (1 solo, 4 assists) and a quarterback hurry against Army.
 
HUNTINGTON BECOMES FORCE UP FRONT –
Defensive lineman Adin Huntington has been a disruptive force to the opponents' passing game over the last six weeks. After picking up a sack for a one-yard loss last Saturday at No. 13/14 Ole Miss, Huntington sits ninth in the Sun Belt Conference with 0.59 sacks per game. Inside SBC games, he is eighth in the conference with five of his sacks, good for 0.71 sacks per game. Huntington, a transfer from Kent State, has 6.5 sacks on the season, with six of them coming in the last six games. He had two sacks each at Texas State on Oct. 14 and at Georgia Southern on Oct. 21. ULM has totaled 22 sacks for 141 yards this season. Huntington totaled two tackles (both solos) with a tackle for loss and a sack last Saturday at Ole Miss.
 
Huntington has piled up 55 tackles (19 solos, 36 assists) while adding 11 tackles for loss for 50 yards, 6.5 sacks for 40 yards, a pass break up, four quarterback hurries and a forced fumble in his first season on the bayou.
 
Huntington totaled seven tackles (2 solos, 5 assists) and 1.5 tackles for loss for 6 yards on Nov. 11 vs. Troy. On Nov. 4 at Southern Miss, Huntington had one sack for 9 yards and three tackles for loss for 11 yards. On Oct. 21 at Georgia Southern, he had four tackles (3 solos, 1 assist) while picking up two sacks for 14 yards and forced a fumble in the fourth quarter.
 
On Oct. 14 at Texas State, Huntington totaled six tackles (2 solos, 4 assists) and posted two sacks for 13 yards, both coming in the third quarter. Huntington's first sack forced a Bobcat punt, while his second sack ended a Texas State drive on a fourth-down conversion attempt.
 
Huntington recorded a career-best 14 tackles (2 solos, 12 assists), with one resulting in a loss (4 yards) including a half sack for 3 yards, as ULM improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2018 with a 24-14 win over Lamar on Sept. 9. For his effort, Huntington was named Louisiana Sports Writers Association Defensive Player of the Week. The Warhawk defense produced seven tackles for loss (34 yards), including four sacks (25 yards), and forced two turnovers (both interceptions).
 
Huntington, a junior transfer from Kent State, emerged from spring practice as the top candidate to replace two-year starter Caleb Thomas at defensive tackle. He was a preseason All-Sun Belt Fourth-Team selection by Phil Steele. His explosiveness and athleticism were on full display during ULM's summer conditioning program, posting personal bests of 665 pounds in the squat, 435 on the bench, 4.72 in the 40 as well as a 38-inch vertical jump. He recorded 45 tackles (24 solos, 21 assists) over the last three seasons at Kent State (22 career games), with eight resulting in losses (42 yards) including three sacks (27 yards).
 
GLASS COMING UP BIG AT LINEBACKER –
Linebacker Carl Glass ranks sixth on the team with 55 tackles (21 solos, 34 assists) while adding seven tackles for loss for 23 yards, 1.5 sacks for 9 yards, five quarterback hurries and is tied for the team lead with two forced fumbles in 2023.
 
The 5-foot-11, 220-pound Glass picked up five tackles (2 solos, 3 assists) and a quarterback hurry on Nov. 11 vs. Troy. He posted six tackles (3 solos, 3 assists) including 2.5 tackles for loss of seven yards and two quarterback hurries on Nov. 4 at Southern Miss. Glass was second on the team with seven tackles (1 solo, 6 assists) and added half a tackle for loss for one yard on Oct. 28 vs. Arkansas State. He tied for the team lead with six tackles (2 solos, 4 assists) and half a tackle for loss for one yard on Oct. 21 at Georgia Southern. He contributed four tackles (2 solos, 2 assists) with one tackle for loss for 4 yards on Oct. 14 at Texas State. He had six stops (1 solo, 5 assists) against App State. He posted 1.5 sacks for 9 yards among his seven tackles (6 solos, 1 assist) at Texas A&M. Glass forced a fumble on his first sack of the day, but the Aggies recovered the football. He combined with Tristan Driggers for the second sack during the second half.
 
Glass, a Monroe native who played at Ouachita Parish High School, played his freshman season at Harding before transferring to ULM as a walk-on in 2022. He earned a scholarship during fall camp, and Coach Terry Bowden called Glass "the biggest surprise" during spring practice in 2022. He had 23 tackles (11 solos, 12 assists) while playing in all 12 games in 2022.
 
BIG PLAY VIGERS STRIKES AGAIN –
Car'lin Vigers continues to make big plays for ULM on defense and special teams. On Sept. 9 against Lamar, the senior defensive back had six tackles, all assists, and blocked a Cardinal punt in the second quarter, which was recovered by Tristan Driggers for a touchdown, extending ULM's lead to two scores.
 
He made one of the biggest plays of opening night when he forced and recovered the fumble by Army's Ay'juan Marshall at the Black Knight 45-yard line with 4:48 remaining, setting up ULM's go-ahead touchdown drive on Sept. 2. He had one tackle to go with his forced fumble and recovery.
 
He has played in 10 of the first 11 games of 2023, racking up 54 tackles (25 solos, 29 assists) with three pass break ups, a forced fumble, fumble recovery and a blocked kick. Vigers had four tackles (1 solo, 3 assists) and a pass break-up at No. 13/14 Ole Miss last Saturday. He tallied six tackles (3 solos, 3 assists) on Nov. 11 vs. Troy. He tied for third on the team with six tackles (2 solos, 4 assists) and added a pass break up on Oct. 28 vs. Arkansas State.
 
Vigers, who started the last three games of the 2022 season at free safety, ranked eighth on the team in tackles with 39 (25 solos, 14 assists). The 6-2, 198-pound Vigers displayed a knack for delivering big plays when the game was on the line. He dropped Jamari Thrash 2 yards shy of a first down on a fourth-and-12 play in the closing seconds to secure ULM's 31-28 win at Georgia State that ended a 19-game road losing streak and came up with a fourth-quarter interception in the Warhawks' 21-17 victory over the Ragin' Cajuns in the Sun Belt Conference opener. Vigers, who has transitioned back to his normal position of cornerback, was named to preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team by Pro Football Focus.
 
WARE DISRUPTIVE UP FRONT –
Defensive lineman Jaylan Ware has posted 53 tackles (12 solos, 41 assists), with 6.0 tackles for loss for 11 yards and one fumble recovery through the first 11 games of the season.
 
The 6-foot-0, 285-pound Ware had five tackles (all assists) with half a tackle for a loss of 2 yards on Nov. 11 vs. Troy. Ware picked up eight tackles (1 solo, 7 assists) and a tackle for loss of 2 yards on Nov. 4 at Southern Miss. Ware totaled five tackles (2 solos, 3 assists) with half a tackle for a loss of 1 yard at Georgia Southern on Oct. 21. He had five tackles (2 solos, 3 assists) and half a tackle for loss on Oct. 14 at Texas State. He tallied four tackles (1 solo, 3 assists) with half a tackle for loss for 1 yard against South Alabama. He made seven stops (1 solo, 6 assists) against App State, including a half tackle for loss.
 
He picked up nine tackles (3 solos, 6 assists), 1.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble in his first career start for ULM on Sept. 2 against Army. His fumble recovery in the first quarter ended Army's first trip into the Warhawk red zone.
 
Ware was rated among Mississippi's Top 50 JUCO prospects by 247Sports (No. 46) at Hinds Community College in Raymond, Mississippi, in 2022. He was a three-time All-MACCC South First-Team selection and a two-time NJCAA All-Region 23 pick. His JUCO career totals included 86 tackles, with 19.5 for losses including 4.5 sacks. He ranked second on the Eagles in tackles (37: 14 solos, 23 assists) and tackles for loss (11.5 for 49 yards) as a third-year sophomore in 2022.
 
WATTS DISRUPTIVE IN PASSING GAME –
Senior AJ Watts is tied for 13th in the Sun Belt Conference with 0.73 passes defended per game, registering six pass break ups and two interceptions for 33 return yards through the first 11 games of the season. He came up with an interception in the season opener against Army and added another against App State. He also recovered a fumble against the Mountaineers, which was forced by Max Harris. He tied for third on the team with six tackles (3 solos, 3 assists) on Oct. 28 vs. Arkansas State. On Oct. 21 at Georgia Southern, Watts had four tackes (all solos) and one pass break up.
 
Watts sat out the 2022 season after transferring from Akron. He played in 27 games over three seasons for the Zips, totaling 94 tackles (68 solos, 26 assists) with 2.5 tackles for loss for 7 yards, 11 passes defended, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. His brother, Antwone, is also a safety on the ULM football roster.
 
CORLEY A MAINSTAY ON SPECIAL TEAMS –
ULM graduate long snapper Trey Corley is slated for his 58th and final career start on Saturday against the Ragin' Cajuns. Corley, who started playing at ULM in 2018, is in his final season of eligibility at ULM. He transferred to Mississippi State in 2019 only to transfer back to ULM and resume playing football in 2020. He is ULM's career record holder for most starts.
 
WARHAWKS ADD FOUR NEW ASSISTANT COACHES IN 2023 –
ULM's coaching staff features four new faces in 2023, including assistant head coach/running backs coach Broderick Fobbs, special teams coordinator Jason Rollins, defensive line coach Cody Grice and tight ends coach Davis Lewandowski. Both Fobbs (Grambling, 2014-21) and Rollins (Southern University, interim 2021) previously served as HBCU head coaches.
 
2023 ULM SCHEDULE FEATURES SIX HOME GAMES –
ULM's 12-game football schedule features six home games for the third time in the last five seasons (previously in 2019 and 2021). Overall, it marks just the sixth time that the Warhawks have played a six-game home schedule in Malone Stadium since joining the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-A).
 
The Warhawks' 2023 opponents went a combined 74-76 (.493) last season, with six opponents posting .500 or better records, including two teams that posted double-digit win totals, in South Alabama (10-3) and Troy (12-2). In addition, six foes also participated in postseason bowl games a year ago, South Alabama (New Orleans Bowl), Georgia Southern (Camellia Bowl), Southern Miss (LendingTree Bowl), Troy (Cure Bowl), Ole Miss (Texas Bowl) and the Ragin' Cajuns (Independence Bowl).
 
A closer look at the schedule reveals that ULM will play four of its first five games in Malone Stadium before hitting the road for five of its last seven contests.
 
Terry Bowden says "November is for contenders," and ULM closes out the 2023 regular season by facing four consecutive bowl participants, in Southern Miss, Troy, Ole Miss and the Ragin' Cajuns. The Warhawks' November opponents produced a combined worksheet of 33-20 (.622) in 2022.
 
BOWDEN CELEBRATES TEAM ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS –
The ULM football team completed the 2023 spring semester with a cumulative grade-point average of 2.881 – its highest total since at least 2015. 
 
In addition, 54 members of the Warhawk football team posted at least a 3.0 GPA during the spring semester, with 11 student-athletes featured on the President's List (3.9-4.0 semester GPA) and another 12 named to the Dean's List (3.5-3.89 semester GPA). Ten of the 23 student-athletes mentioned on the President's and Dean's Lists graduated from Ouachita Parish high schools. The ULM football team finished the spring semester with a combined 2.79 GPA, an improvement of +0.04 from the fall semester.
 
Seven football student-athletes participated in ULM's 2023 spring commencement ceremonies, including Tyrese Black (bachelor's degree in general studies), Seth Mason (bachelor's degree in secondary education & teaching), Garrett Kahmann (bachelor's degree in finance), Zack Martin (bachelor's degree in business administration), Sam Plants (bachelor's degree in computer information systems), Tralon Thomas (master's degree in business administration) and Jabari Johnson (master's degree in exercise science).
 
"Our student-athletes compete in a sport where success is defined by wins and losses," ULM head football coach Terry Bowden said. "These academic successes are wins too — wins in the playbook of life — and should be celebrated just like the triumphs on fall Saturdays. I congratulate our student-athletes, who have embraced the Warhawk Way and committed themselves to pursuing excellence in the classroom and the community just like they do on the practice field and in the stadium."
 
Bowden also acknowledged the work of Director of Student-Athlete Success Carmen Wright and her staff, especially senior athletic academic counselor Oliver Jackson and athletic academic counselor Karlin Walmsley.
 
"Carmen, OJ and Karlin deserve a great deal of credit for the performance of our student-athletes in the classroom," Bowden said. "Not all student-athletes learn in the same way and at the same pace, and our academic support staff does an incredible job of developing plans tailored to meet their individual needs. Our student-athletes are more than just student ID numbers to Carmen, OJ and Karlin. Our academic support staff is truly invested in each of our student-athletes, and I salute them for their commitment to encouraging our student-athletes to pursue excellence in the classroom. 
 
"A degree from ULM sets up our student-athletes for success long after their competitive careers are over. Our Warhawk Way motto is to develop 'first-class men and world-class leaders,' and as ULM President Dr. Ron Berry professes, we're all here to 'change lives on the bayou.'" 
 
In April, graduate linebacker Zack Woodard was named to the 2023 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society. Woodard, who earned All-Sun Belt honorable mention after leading the team in tackles with 77 last season, received his Master in Business Administration from ULM in December 2022 while posting a 3.8 GPA as a graduate student. NFF Hampshire Honor Society members must be in their final year of eligibility, have attained a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 (4.0 scale) and be a starter or significant contributor throughout the 2022 season.
 
BOWDEN: WINNINGEST FAMILY IN NCAA DIVISION I FOOTBALL HISTORY –  
The late Bobby Bowden (377 career victories) and his sons, Terry (185) and Tommy (90), have combined for 652 wins – the most by any family in NCAA Division I football history. With ULM's 31-28 win at Georgia State on Nov. 12, 2022, the Bowden coaching family reached another milestone with 650 combined career victories. Bobby and Terry became the first father-son combo to serve as head coaches at the NCAA Division I level at the same time while Bobby and Tommy became the first father-son combo ever to coach against each other as head coaches. In a feat likely never to be duplicated, all three Bowden coaches went undefeated and were named National Coach of the Year in the same decade (1990s: Terry, Auburn, 1993; Tommy, Tulane, 1998; and Bobby, Florida State, 1999).