Louisiana Tech Football: Will Bulldogs extend bowl streak in 2021?

Louisiana Tech defense hopes to return to elite form in 2021

Under Skip Holtz, the Bulldogs have usually had really good to great defenses year after year. Last year might have been the worst defense of the Holtz era and they are going to need to bounce back. Ten starters return, but it is from a defense that was pretty bad for most of the year in 2021.

The defensive line returns three of the starters from last year, but Milton Williams is gone and he led the Bulldogs in sacks last season and was their most consistent defensive linemen. Deshon Hall and Eric Kendzior are back to come off the edge for the Bulldogs and Keivie Rose is going to be the lone returnee inside. Tristan Allen is expected to replace Williams inside.

At linebacker, Trey Baldwin and Ezekiel Barnett are returning seniors, but the best linebacker of the bunch might be freshman Tyler Grubbs. Grubbs led the Bulldogs in tackles and looks to do so again in 2021. Continuity will be the theme for the linebackers and they are hoping that more experience in the defensive system will mean a better year in 2021.

The secondary is going to be welcoming in three new transfers to the team. Arkansas safety Myles Mason, Tennessee corner Baylen Buchanan, and Vanderbilt corner Elijah Hamilton are going to look to at least add depth to the Bulldogs’ secondary. At safety, all-conference selection BeeJay Williams and honorable mention Khalil Ladler are going to be the best players in the secondary. At corner, Zach Hannibal and Cedric Woods are back, but they will be pushed by the newcomers.

This defense has the experience, but they need to find a pass rush and consistency at corner for it to get back to being a good defense.