Coaches anticipate strong season
Under new head coach Matt Viator, the Warhawks have high expectations to bounce back from their 2-11 season last year.
Although they ended the season on a high note last year by defeating New Mexico State at home 42-35, the Warhawks have plans to make this season a comeback success. Lately, Coach Viator has been trying to figure the depth chart before the season begins.
“There’s some tough decisions on where you see everybody at, and who you are looking at redshirting or not. All those things factor in it. At this time of the year, some of the things that are really critical are the special teams numbers,” said Viator.
Coach Viator has never had a losing record as a head coach. In his last season at McNeese, he led the Cowboys to a 10-0 regular season and a birth in the FCS playoffs.
One of Coach Viator’s strongest assets is his offense. Last season alone, his Cowboys averaged over 30 points a game. Coming off a season where the Warhawks scored the lowest points-for in the Sun Belt conference, Viator will rebuild the offense and make it lethal in-conference.
Besides hiring a new head coach, ULM can also look forward to running back Tyler Cain, who was redshirted last year due to an injury in training camp. Cain will add speed to the redesigned offense this season and be a major factor in the red zone.
This past Saturday the Warhawks showcased their hard work in the end-of-camp scrimmage. With the teams divided up into maroon and white, you could tell there were bragging rights on the line.
Notable performances in the scrimmage came from tight end Alec Osbourne and safety Tre Hunter. Both players are in their senior year at ULM and are very excited about what this season has in store for the Warhawks.
“On offense we were a lot cleaner than we were the first scrimmage. We’ve been beaten up by each other, and we’re ready to see the game plan for week one,” said Osborne.
Viator is really happy with how successful camp has gone. The offense looks very clean and mistake-free.
“I’m pleased, we moved the ball pretty well on offense tonight. I think we’re heading in the right direction,” said Viator.
Something else Warhawks fans have to look forward to this season are all of the transfers that made their way to ULM in the offseason.
Three notable transfers are cornerback Juwan Offray from Holmes Community College, safety Luke Hedrick from Navy and offensive lineman Eastwood Thomas from last year’s national champions, Alabama.
These transfers add depth in places where the Warhawks lost key senior leadership. With former safety cornerback Trey Caldwell gone to the NFL, the Warhawks defensive backs needed more depth, and they will find that in Hedrick and Offray.
The Warhawks will start their season at Malone Stadium against the Southern Jaguars on September 3rd at 6 p.m. Come out and support your Warhawks as they start the season off right. Talons out!
