Louisiana Tech Football: Preview, prediction for 2019 season
By John Scimeca
Optimism abounds in Ruston for 2019, as Louisiana Tech football seeks to win its first C-USA title behind a strong defensive secondary and senior quarterback.
Louisiana Tech head coach Skip Holtz has put together an impressive run in his six seasons with the school, compiling a 46-33 record and finishing above .500 in all but his first season — including three nine-win finishes.
After last season’s 8-5 finish and Hawaii Bowl victory against the hosting Rainbow Warriors, however, Bulldog fans may ask themselves if it’s time for a breakthrough.
Enter senior quarterback J’Mar Smith, who will begin his third full season as starter this fall. Smith is the No. 4 all-time ranking passer in school history and brings stability to the position. The defensive front, though, will certainly feel the absence of departed star Jaylon Ferguson, the new FBS career record holder in sacks (45).
Previewing the offense
The Bulldogs return eight starters from last year’s offensive unit.
J’Mar Smith had his ups and downs in 2018, throwing only six touchdown passes in the season’s final nine games (after throwing nine touchdowns in the first four).
During his career, Smith has rushed for nearly 600 yards and 11 touchdowns. His top target, junior wideout Adrian Hardy, returns after finishing 2018 as Conference USA’s best. Hardy led the conference last year with 75 catches for 1,145 yards. The two will look to continue their impressive 2018 production as part of a passing attack that averaged nearly 250 yards per game.
Though the running game underperformed last year, Jaqwis Dancy, a senior, rushed for 667 yards and nine touchdowns on 124 carries. The ground game ranked as one of C-USA’s worst last season, which is point that the Bulldogs will set out to improve. Senior right guard Ethan Reed is a projected first-team all-conference player.