Head Coach: Sonny Cumbie, 2nd year: 3-9
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The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs are coming off a 7-5 season in 2022, and they will be looking to build on that success in 2023. The Bulldogs return a number of key players, including quarterback Austin Kendall, running backs Smoke Harris and Israel Tucker, wide receiver Tre Harris, and tight end Griffin Hebert.
Kendall is a dual-threat quarterback who threw for 2,729 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2022. Harris is a dynamic playmaker who rushed for 1,007 yards and eight touchdowns last season. Tucker is a bruising runner who added 659 yards and six touchdowns. Tre Harris is a big-play receiver who caught 62 passes for 803 yards and five touchdowns. Hebert is a reliable tight end who caught 40 passes for 463 yards and four touchdowns.
The Bulldogs also have a strong defense, led by linebacker Tre'Darius Leonard, who was named first-team All-Conference USA in 2022. Leonard had 105 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks last season. The Bulldogs also return a number of other talented defenders, including cornerbacks J'Mar Smith and KeSean Smith, and safety Smoke Monday.
The Bulldogs have a tough schedule in 2023, but they have the talent to compete for a bowl game. They will open the season against FIU, and they will also face Nebraska, SMU, and UTEP on the road. The Bulldogs will also host Conference USA opponents North Texas, Middle Tennessee, New Mexico State, Sam Houston, Jacksonville State, and UAB.
I predict that the Bulldogs will win 8 games in 2023. They have the talent to be a contender in Conference USA, and they will be playing at home for most of their games. If they can stay healthy, they should be able to reach a bowl game.
Key Players
- Austin Kendall, QB
- Smoke Harris, RB
- Israel Tucker, RB
- Tre Harris, WR
- Griffin Hebert, TE
- Tre'Darius Leonard, LB
- J'Mar Smith, CB
- KeSean Smith, CB
- Smoke Monday, S
Team Statistics
- Overall record: 7-5
- Conference record: 5-3
- Scoring offense: 32.3 points per game
- Scoring defense: 24.8 points per game
- Total offense: 432.8 yards per game
- Total defense: 389.5 yards per game
Prediction
8 wins
Sept 2 at SMU
Sept 9 Northwestern State
Sept 16 North Texas
Sept 23 at Nebraska
Sept 29 at UTEP
Oct 5 WKU
Oct 10 at Middle Tennessee
Oct 21 OPEN DATE
Oct 24 New Mexico State
Nov 4 at Liberty
Nov 11 Sam Houston
Nov 18 at Jacksonville State