AU FOOTBALL 2008: ULM should continue to improve

By OANow Staff

Published: May 8, 2008

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first in a series previewing Auburn’s 2008 footbal opponents. This week Louisiana-Monroe (Aug. 30). The series will run weekly.

It’s a good bet that Auburn’s season opener against Louisiana-Monroe will include at least one round of applause for the visiting Warhawks.

After all, ULM has occupied a special place in many Auburn fans’ hearts since Nov. 17 of last year, when the Warhawks beat Alabama, 21-14. But those fond memories are likely to be forgotten — or at least pushed aside temporarily — when the 2008 season begins in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

ULM finished 6-6 last year, the program’s first non-losing season since moving to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 1994. The Warhawks return 15 starters from last year’s team, which won four of its final five games.

The offense features plenty of star power. Tailback Calvin Dawson — who scored 30 career touchdowns, including 12 last season — is gone. But his replacement, sophomore Frank Goodin, showed plenty of potential last season, when he ran for 596 yards and scored four touchdowns.

Goodin will get plenty of opportunities in head coach Charlie Weatherbie’s run-heavy offense. Top recruit Luther Ambrose, the reigning Louisiana state champion in the 100m dash, will also contribute as a backup.

The one-two punch of Ambrose and Dawson has plenty of potential. But for the ground game to be successful, senior quarterback Kinsmon Lancaster must continue to improve.

Lancaster showed plenty of play-making ability last season, throwing for 13 touchdowns and running for another. But he also threw 10 interceptions and frustrated coaches at times with his decision-making.

Lancaster’s improvement will depend in large part on the continued maturation of his receiving corps. Senior LaGregory Sapp and junior Darrell McNeal are reliable, experienced receivers with good speed, as is tight end Zeek Zacharie, last season’s second-leading receiver.

Three starters are gone on the offensive line, but the right side is strong, with right guard Aaron Schultz and right tackle Larry Shapley returning. Junior-college transfer Keating Helms, a juco All-America, will step in at center, while fellow juco transfer Ryan Dercher is the top left tackle. Sophomores Andrew Stout, Brett Thompson and A.J. DeGroot will compete at left guard.

ULM finished third in the Sun Belt Conference in total defense last season and returns eight starters, led by star safety Greg James. James and fellow safety Josh Thompson are the leaders of a deep and talented five-man secondary in the Warhawks’ 4-2-5 defense.

In addition to James and Thompson, the ULM secondary also includes safety James Truxillo, the team’s third-leading tackler last season, with 68 stops. Nate Brown, Otis Stamps and Tay Ogletree will compete for the top jobs at cornerback, while former LSU signee Troy Giddens will provide depth at safety.

Junior linebacker Cardia Jackson led the team with 79 tackles last season and earned second-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors. Junior Josh Thomas, undersized at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, was the team’s fourth-leading tackler last season, but could lose his job to powerful redshirt freshman Ken Dorsey or speedy sophomore Theo Smith.

The defensive line has plenty of potential: Ends Alaric Coleman and Aaron Morgan combined for 6 ½ sacks, but also had 19 quarterback hurries. Junior-college transfers Alex Ford and Aaron Williams aren’t known quantities at defensive tackle, but both have 300-pound bulk and solid juco numbers.

Depth is a question, with inexperienced redshirt freshman Brandon McCray and underachieving senior Kendall Mouton the top options at tackle. End Travis Eickman is productive, but undersized, while junior Jameson Jordan hasn’t lived up to expectations.

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