Big plays highlight Sunday practice for Ragin' Cajuns

The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns football team held its fourth practice of fall camp Sunday as they worked out in shells during a two-and-a-half hour session at the Ragin’ Cajuns Practice Facility.
The workout was dominated by big plays on both sides with Gabe Fuselier, Jamal Robinson and Devin Scott each recording long receptions during 7-on-7 and team drills.
On the defensive side, Zachary DeGrange stepped in front of a Ragin’ Cajuns receiver during 7-on-7 drills and returned an interception for a touchdown, while Patterson High alum Tre’maine Lightfoot added an interception during 11-on-11 drills.
Quarterbacks Brooks Haack, Jalen Nixon and Jordan Davis each took turns directing the No. 1 offense during 11-on-11 drills. The trio continues their battle to replace departed starter Terrance Broadway — the school’s No. 2 all-time passer with 7,556 yards.
Whoever takes the Ragin’ Cajuns first snap Sept. 5 at Kentucky will have an arsenal of skills players to work with, highlighted by one of the most dynamic players in college football, running back Elijah McGuire.
McGuire was part of a backfield that included Alonzo Harris, now a member of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers, who finished as the school’s third-leading rusher with 3,330 yards and 44 touchdowns.
But the cupboard is far from bare in the backfield for the Ragin’ Cajuns as McGuire will be part of a backfield that returns veterans Torrey Pierce, Effrem Reed, Darius Hoggins along with newcomer Jordan Wright.
“We’ve been real pleased with the depth at running back,” ULL head coach Mark Hudspeth said in a news release. “Torrey Pierce is doing a great job and has picked up right where he left off. I really like where he’s at. Montrel (Carter), Effrem Reed and Darius Hoggins are all running the ball hard and (freshman) Jordan Wright is a kid that can help us this year.”
As one half of the Ragin’ Cajuns dynamic backfield duo, McGuire was nothing short of spectacular after finishing with 1,264 yards, 14 touchdowns and ranking third nationally in yards per carry (7.6). His versatility as not only a runner and receiver but also as the top all-purpose back in the league, earned McGuire both the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year and SBC Offensive Player of the Year awards.
In becoming just the fourth player in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, McGuire joined an exclusive club that featured Tyrell Fenroy, the school’s all-time leading rusher, along with quarterbacks Michael Desormeaux and Brian Mitchell.
McGuire, who enters the season ranked seventh on the school’s all-time rushing list, was a model of consistency in 2014, rushing for a touchdown in nine consecutive games while recording five 100-yard games. He accounted for a team-best 22 plays of over 20 yards during the season with seven going for 40 yards or greater. McGuire shined under the bright lights as he posted a career-high 265 yards — the 12th-best total by an NCAA rusher in 2014 — with four touchdowns in a nationally-televised win against Arkansas State.
He also showed his versatility out of the backfield as he caught a team-high 45 passes with a pair of touchdowns.
Pierce played in the first six games of the season for the Ragin’ Cajuns before suffering a season-ending injury at Texas State. Reed finished as the team’s fourth-leading rusher as a junior while seeing time in all 13 games as a reserve back and special teams member.
Hoggins saw limited time at running back for the Ragin’ Cajuns but performed well in a reserve role against New Mexico State where he would score his first collegiate touchdown.
The Ragin’ Cajuns will don full pads for the first time when the team works out at 5:30 p.m. today before starting two-a-days on Tuesday.