Saturday Blitz
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ULM Football: Can offensive talent push Warhawks to a bowl game?

By Jackson Caudell

TALLAHASSEE, FL - SEPTEMBER 7: Wide Receiver Xavier Brown #17 of the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks makes a touchdown catch over Cornerback Kyle Meyers #14 of the Florida State Seminoles during the game at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on September 7, 2019 in Tallahassee, Florida. Florida State defeated Louisiana Monroe 45 to 44 in overtime. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - SEPTEMBER 7: Wide Receiver Xavier Brown #17 of the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks makes a touchdown catch over Cornerback Kyle Meyers #14 of the Florida State Seminoles during the game at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on September 7, 2019 in Tallahassee, Florida. Florida State defeated Louisiana Monroe 45 to 44 in overtime. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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Josh Pederson, ULM football (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
Josh Pederson, ULM football (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

Finding new quarterback is key to offense and season

Last year’s starting quarterback Caleb Evans, who was an honorable mention on the all Sun Belt team is gone and he accounted for over 300 yards per game last season and was an excellent dual threat for the Warhawks.

ULM was needing spring practice in a bad way to help figure out the quarterback situation, but due to COVID-19, it will now carry that question into fall camp. Colby Suits is a redshirt sophomore and does not have much experience, but will enter the fall as the presumed starter. His biggest challenger will be JUCO transfer Jeremy Hunt, who is transferring in from Trinity Valley C.C. in Texas. Hunt started as a freshman as Central Missouri State in 2018 and threw for over 2,000 yards. This is the biggest question that is facing the Warhawks offense in 2020.

Whoever is starting at quarterback for ULM will have one of the best running backs in the entire conference to hand the ball off to. Josh Johnson, a second-team All-Sun Belt selection in 2019, ran for nearly 1,300 yards last season and thought about entering the transfer portal. Johnson is back and that will help ease in a new quarterback.

The new quarterback will also have the luxury of throwing to one of the best tight ends in the Group of Five, Josh Pederson. He finished the season with 43 catches for 567 yards and nine touchdowns last fall and will be looking to be even better this season. The Warhawks will be missing their leading receiver Markis McCray, but have some experience at the position with Jonathan Hodoh, Perry Carter and Brandius Batiste all played some snaps last season.

The other big question that the Warhawks are going to have face is how they replace four starters along the offensive line. There are some proven starters and some guys that have shown big potential, like wide receiver Perry Carter to help out the new quarterback, but there are also a lot of unknowns.

A new quarterback, a new offensive coordinator and four new starting offensive linemen are a lot to overcome in one offseason, but if they can, a bowl game is not out of the question.

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