4. College Football News Preview 2020: ULM Warhawks Defense 3 Things To Know
– The offense cranked up the points, and the defense gave them up. The pass rush didn’t exist at times and the run D was awful for the nation’s third-worst overall D. The Warhawks allowed 484 yards and 38.7 points per game, but now it’s a veteran group that has plenty of options to play around with.
– Leading tackler Cortez Sisco is done from the linebacking corps, and there’s little size to rely on, but fourth-leading tackler Rashaad Harding is back after coming up with 60 tackles to battle with 226-pound sophomore KeyShawn Johnson for time inside. 205-pound senior Traveion Webster is back after making 27 stops – he’ll likely take Sisco’s old gig.
They’ll all be working behind a line that loses three of the four parts. The size isn’t there on the inside, but the bigger issue will be the pass rushing on the outside. It was missing last year, and now needs more help around senior Kerry Starks, who came up with 45 tackles with five sacks and ten tackles for loss.
– The secondary didn’t get a whole lot of help from the pass rush, and it was too busy making stops against the run, but it’s loaded now with veterans. Now only are all five starters expected back, but getting Kansas State transfer Logan Wilson to push for time at one corner job is massive. Senior Corey Straughter has one side after coming up with five picks and 23 tackles.
Tyler Glass came from the JUCO ranks to come up with 75 stops at one safety spot, and senior Austin Hawley made a whole lot of plays – 50 tackles with a pick – at the weak safety job.