Louisiana Tech Football 2013 Spring Wrap Up

Spring Summary

The biggest takeaway is junior quarterback Scotty Young’s lead in the quarterback race with redshirt freshman Ryan Higgins.
Young look like the more experienced quarterback although neither has attempted a pass at the NCAA Division I level. The coaching staff appeared pleased with Young’s decision making, but no one knows what will happen on Saturdays in the fall.

The offensive line, which is missing four starters from 2012, is progressing ahead of schedule. And that’s without an injured Matthew Shepperd, the only full-time starter from 2012.

A young defensive secondary also is improving at a faster than expected pace.

Overall, a new coaching staff has installed their new schemes, but head coach Skip Holtz said it all after LA Tech’s spring game April 13. “I wish today was Day 1 (of spring practice), not the end.”

Name a few players who could have breakout seasons

If he’s eligible, LSU transfer Paul Turner could easily become the Bulldogs’ top receiver. Tech is seeking an NCAA waiver after Turner arrived on campus for the spring quarter. Turner is Tech’s most explosive weapon on the outside for an offense that surprisingly lacked big plays throughout spring.

Receiver Jaydrick DeClouette can also work his way into the starting lineup.

On the defensive line, Vernon Butler and Justin Ellis could become as well-known as I.K. Enemkpali and Shakeil Lucas.

Watch out for Adairius Barnes and Bryson Abraham in the secondary. They are ball hawks who can return an interception for a touchdown.

Grade each position group & special teams 

QB — C-  Young is highly touted a year after transferring from Texas Tech, but inexperience is more the reason for this grade, not his potential.

RB — A   Kenneth Dixon returns after being selected to the Freshman All-American squad, and this unit seemed to develop depth with Tevin King, Blake Martin and Marlon Seets.

WR — B-  The eligibility of Turner can change this grade one full letter.

OL — C   A lack of experience on Saturdays is a concern, but this unit has outperformed my expectations this spring.

DL — A   Most experienced unit, have proven starters that are being pushed by talented depth.

LB — D   Inexperience and a relatively unproductive spring leaves a lot of questions here.

DB — C+  This might be the unit with widest grade range, meaning they look like a superb group one play and horrid the next. They’re aggressive, and that’s a plus in the long run.

Special Team — C-   The players currently in spring looked serviceable, but the expectation is that players coming in for fall camp will seriously compete for these jobs.

Are there any “surprises” we can expect from this team?

That’s a very tough question because it’s hard to determine a baseline expectation for this team. A new coaching staff leading a team that lost 32 seniors — what is the expectation?

Based on LA Tech’s schedule and new conference alignment, six wins and a bowl appearance would be a success. Even the coaches have said it’s tough to evaluate this team when they are playing against themselves.

Four wins seem to be the worst-case scenario with teams like Lamar, Tulane, Kansas, Army, and a winless Southern Miss program from 2012 on the schedule. But nine wins doesn’t seem out of the question either.

---

Matt Vines of The News Star provided the information for our Louisiana Tech football 2013 spring wrap up. For more La Tech football information, commentary and analysis, you can follow Matt on Twitter @mvinesTNS.

---