THE BASICS
The ULM football team (4-1, 2-0 Sun Belt) will welcome Southern Miss (1-4, 0-1 SBC) in ULM's Homecoming Game on Saturday (Oct. 12) afternoon at 4 p.m. from Malone Stadium. ULM is seeking its third-straight SBC win and its best start since the 1987 season.

Saturday afternoon's game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Sean Fox (play-by-play) and Desmund Lighten (analyst) with the call. The game also will air on KLIP 105.3 FM with the Voice of the Warhawks, Mike Hammett on the call alongside analyst Mike McGee.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION

Tickets are available through the ULM Ticket Office by calling 318-342-HAWK or by clicking here. For more information, fans can visit the ULM Football Gameday Page or to the football parking map and information page.

The main ticket office at Fant-Ewing Coliseum opens at 9 a.m. on gameday and will close at 1:30 p.m. (2.5 hours until kickoff). The ticket booths outside Malone Stadium open at 2 p.m. The parking lots open at 9 a.m. and the stadium gates open at 2:30 p.m.

The Warhawk Walk begins at 1:30 p.m. and fans can join the ULM Band and spirit groups by welcoming the team to Malone Stadium along the route below.

FIRST-AND-10 –

• For the first time in the FBS era and since the 1993 season, the Warhawks are off to a 4-1 start in year one of the Bryant Vincent era following a dramatic 21-19 victory over previously unbeaten James Madison last Saturday night. ULM grinded out the win after scores from a 38-yard Ahmad Hardy rushing touchdown, a scoop and score forced by Earl Barquet Jr. and returned by Daniel Knudsen and a 12-yard touchdown pass from Aidan Armenta to Jake Godfrey. ULM started its conference slate with a 13-9 win at Troy with Hardy scoring the game's lone touchdown in a defensive battle.

Before falling on the road to No. 1/2 Texas, the Warhawks began the season with a 2-0 start after ULM defeated Jackson State 30-14 in week one, scoring the final 16 points of the game to seal the win. In week two, the Warhawks dominated UAB and shut out the Blazers in the second half while scoring 19 second-half points in a 32-6 home win, which was the largest margin of victory over an FBS opponent since the 2018 season. The ULM defense has held opponents to zero touchdowns in two games this season (UAB & Troy).

• The Warhawks are seeking their first 5-1 overall start since the 1987 NCAA Division I-AA Championship season and its first 3-0 start to Sun Belt Conference play since the 2017 season.

• ULM is 2-6 all-time versus Southern Miss and 0-2 versus the Golden Eagles inside Malone Stadium. USM has won the previous two meetings back in 2022 & 2023. 

• ULM completely overhauled its roster during the offseason and added 73 new players to its 2024 roster. After Bryant Vincent was hired in early December, he and his staff signed 35 new Warhawks in less than two weeks during the early signing period on December 20, including 17 junior college transfers and 13 four-year transfers. ULM's recruiting continued with 11 new additions on National Signing Day in February and wrapped up with 27 new faces during the spring signing period. The Warhawks lost nine starters on offense and seven on defense from the 2023 squad.

• True freshman phenom running back Ahmad Hardy has led the charge in the ULM backfield this season and has rushed for 379 yards in his first five collegiate games. Hardy, a graduate of Lawrence County High School in Mississippi, has recorded two 100-yard rushing games including 106 yards at Troy and scored the game's lone touchdown in the fourth quarter to put the Warhawks ahead with less than 10 minutes to go. Hardy ranks fourth in the SBC in rushing touchdowns (4) and second in rushing yards per game (75.8). 

The Warhawks have primarily featured three running backs through the first five games with Hardy, including Taven Curry, who led ULM with 64 yards on the ground versus UAB and Baltimore, Maryland native James Jones, who has totaled 133 rushing yards on 33 carries (4.0 yards/carry) and scored a 22-yard rushing touchdown versus Jackson State.

• Defensively, ULM is second in the SBC in scoring defense (19.8) and third in total defense (340.2 yards/game). Northeast Louisiana defensive stars Wydett Williams Jr. and Carl Glass Jr. both have racked up more than 40 total tackles this season. 

Williams, a General Trass High School alum and native of Lake Providence, La., intercepted his second pass of the season in ULM's game at Texas and registered a game-high 10 tackles. Williams Jr. was voted Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week after a media member panel vote on Monday (Sept. 2). Williams became the first ULM football player to earn SBC Player of the Week recognition since 2021. Williams tallied a game-high 10 tackles and an interception in his ULM debut versus the Tigers. The Delta State transfer added 0.5 sacks and 0.5 TFLs on opening night. He was an All-Louisiana First Team and All-NELA First Team selection in high school. In 23 games at Delta State, he racked up 72 total tackles, six pass breakups, 3.5 TFLs and one sack.

A Monroe native, Carl Glass Jr. is the anchor of the ULM linebacker unit and shared a game-high nine total tackles with Carl Fauntroy in the Troy game. Glass Jr. also made nine stops and forced a fumble in the season opener versus Jackson State. The senior linebacker landed on Athlon Sports' Preseason All-SBC Third Team defense and Phil Steele Preseason defense. Glass tallied 59.0 total tackles last season to go along with 7.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles. 

• First-team junior college All-American edge rusher and MACCC Defensive Player of the Year Billy Pullen has made an immediate impact on the ULM defense and made a pair of game-changing plays versus UAB including a strip sack and a safety. Pullen's 0.80 sacks per game is the fourth-highest in the Sun Belt and ranks 22nd in the nation. ULM's top edge rusher arrives in Monroe after recording 13 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss at Co-Lin in 2023.

• The Warhawks have capitalized on red zone scoring opportunities this season and are one of seven FBS teams that have put points on the scoreboard in each red zone trip. 

• Aidan Armenta led the Warhawks to victory in his first career start under center, throwing the game-winning touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to his former teammate at New Mexico, Jake Godfrey. The Albuquerque native completed 17 passes on 30 attempts for 147 yards in ULM's victory versus JMU. Armenta came in relief in ULM's win at Troy and completed four passes for 108 yards. Two of Armenta's completions were over 40 yards, including a 57-yard pitch-and-catch to Godfrey. The redshirt freshman quarterback transferred to ULM after spending last season at New Mexico under Coach Vincent as the Lobos' offensive coordinator.

• Redshirt Junior General Booty has completed 28 passes on 53 attempts for 241 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown pass to Davon Wells in the season opener. Booty arrived in Monroe after spending the last two seasons at Oklahoma, making two appearances for the Sooners. 

Before his time in Norman, Booty started his collegiate career at Tyler Junior College in 2021, starting in all 12 games and leading his team to a 7-5 season and a victory in the TIPS-CHAMPS Heart of Texas Bowl. Booty led the NJCAA in completions (266), attempts (436) and passing yards (3,410), throwing for 27 touchdowns (11 interceptions) and an average of 284.2 yards per game to rank second nationally. He also scored a pair of touchdowns on the ground and racked up 250 rushing yards. 

• Davon Wells padded ULM's wide receiver unit and was added to Warhawks' roster during the spring signing period. Wells was a two-time All-NEC Second Team wide receiver and kick returner at Long Island University. He was voted First Team All-NEC at All Purpose and Punt Returner by FCS Football Central.

Dodge City Community College transfer Javon Campbell led the Warhawks in receiving versus Jackson State with four receptions for 83 yards. He brought down Aidan Armenta's first collegiate pass in the end zone for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, giving ULM a 30-14 cushion. Tyler Griffin (UCF transfer), Amir McGruder (Snow College transfer), and Artis Cole (Fresno State transfer) add depth to the wide receiver room. 

At tight end, Wesley Campbell VI arrives from Dodge City CC along with Nate Sullivan Jr. from Iowa Western CC. Sullivan Jr. has made six catches for 44 yards and averages 7.33 yards/catch while Campbell VI has made one reception. Julian Nixon hauled in a clutch 19-yard pass on 4th down in Troy territory from Hunter Herring that kept ULM's scoring drive alive in the third quarter at Troy.

• A two-year starter on the Warhawk offensive line, Elijah Fisher racked up multiple preseason accolades including Athlon Sports All-SBC Second Team offense and Phil Steele All-SBC Team honors. The offensive guard picked up Honorable Mention All-SBC recognition following the 2023 season. Fisher was one of ULM's representatives at 2024 Sun Belt Media Days and is set to begin his fifth season at ULM. 

JMU transfer Carter Miller highlights ULM's additions on the offensive line after appearing in 15 games throughout two seasons for the Dukes. New Mexico transfer Devon Smith arrives after appearing in four games and starting in three during the 2023 season and was an NJCAA Academic Scholar All-American offensive lineman at Jones College. Jay Mickle has made all four starts at right guard for ULM while Que McBroom made his first ULM start at Troy.

• ULM senior offensive lineman Sam Carson was named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy by the National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Football Hall of Fame.

The William V. Campbell Trophy, in its 35th year is tabbed as the "academic Heisman" is college football's premier scholar-athlete award that annually recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.

Carson, a transfer from the University of Calgary, has made three starts at left tackle this season for the Warhawks and has appeared in 10 games through two seasons in Monroe. The General Studies major holds a 3.75 cumulative GPA and is expected to graduate this December. Carson was named 2020 U-Sports Academic All-Canadian at the University of Calgary and made the President's List (3.9 

GPA or above) in two out of the three semesters he has been enrolled at ULM.

• On the defensive side, ULM has four starters returning including defensive lineman Jaylan Ware. Ware made 54 total tackles, including six tackles for loss and one fumble recovery, in his first season at ULM after transferring from Hinds Community College, earning Athlon Sports Preseason All-Sun Belt honors. Dylan Howell also returns to the defensive line for the Warhawks after making 35 total tackles, four TFLs and three sacks, including two pass breakups and one fumble recovery last season. 

Jaden Hamlin, the No. 1 junior college defensive tackle prospect and NJCCA Second-Team All-American at Southwest Mississippi Community College, made 30.0 total tackles, two fumble recoveries and one sack last season. Hamlin registered his first tackle of his ULM career at Texas.

• Travor Randle led the Warhawks with 1.5 TFLs in week one. Randle is back for ULM after making 40 tackles and 1.5 TFLs last season. Transfer Tyrese Hopkins recorded 65.0 tackles and a pair of sacks in 2023 at East Mississippi Community College. ULM also added JUCO transfers Daniel Knudsen (NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American at Iowa Central Community College).

• Car'lin Vigers, who was named to the Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List and Athlon Sports Preseason All-SBC Third Team, recorded a pick six to seal ULM's 32-6 win over UAB in week two. Vigers, a three-year starter for the Warhawks, has recorded two interceptions in his ULM career. David Godsey Jr. snagged an interception in three consecutive games last season and returns as a Phil Steele Preseason All- SBC honoree. Carl Fauntroy (UAB transfer) brought down his first career interception at Texas in week three and led ULM in tackles at Troy with nine alongside Glass Jr.

• Florida State transfer kicker Max Larson is third in the SBC in field goals per game (1.40/game) and is 7-for-8 on field goal attempts this season, with a season long of 42 yards. The Davie, Fla., native split the uprights three times versus UAB, including a 40-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. 

25-year old true freshman Kyabram, Australia punter Makenzie Ryan downed all six punts inside the 20-yard line versus JMU and has downed 14 punts inside the 20-yard line, which leads all group of five punters and is second in the FBS. Ryan averages 38.4 yards per punt on 26 punts. The former rugby player was added to ULM's roster during the spring signing period to round out the special teams unit.

• ULM has blocked a punt in two games during the 2024 season, and is one of 10 FBS teams that has recorded multiple blocked punts. Brett Drillette blocked a punt in the third quarter versus Jackson State while Hunter Herring blocked a punt in the first quarter versus UAB.

• Broderick Fobbs, returns to the ULM coaching staff as the running backs coach. Fobbs previously served as Grambling State's head coach for eight seasons. Fobbs' brother, Jamaal Fobbs, joins the Warhawks' coaching staff this season as the team's wide receivers coach. 

Family connections on the ULM football coaching staff also include Bryant Vincent's son, Brady Vincent, as the team's Tight Ends Coach. Brady most recently served as the senior offensive analyst at New Mexico during the 2023 season and helped the Lobos achieve national top-20 rankings in red zone offense (14th) and rushing offense (19th). He was an offensive coordinator at Spanish Fort High School (Ala.) in 2022 and Orange Beach High School (Ala.) in 2021. Vincent spent three seasons at UAB both as a student assistant (2018-19) and a graduate assistant (2020). During his time at UAB, the Blazers won a pair of Conference USA Championships, a trio of division titles and won the first bowl game in school history. Vincent began his coaching journey as a student assistant at South Alabama, where he helped the Jaguars appear in their second bowl game in program history.  Bret Vincent makes it three Vincents featured in the ULM football program, with Bret playing wide receiver for the Warhawks.

ULM's coaching staff features nine new assistant coaches including Earnest Hill (Defensive Coordinator/Safties), Cameron Blankenship (Offensive Line), Taylor Dupuis (Quarterbacks), Sammy Joseph (Cornerbacks), Alec Osborne (Inside Linebackers), Troy Reffett (Outside Linebackers), Brady Vincent (Tight Ends) and Davern Williams (Defensive Line).