They’re starting to hit newsstands now, and as one after another arrives, one thing is becoming quite clear: The prognosticators are all over the board when it comes to predicting how the UL football team will fare in 2015.
Four popular college football preview magazines purchased last week have the Ragin’ Cajuns finishing anywhere from second to fifth in the Sun Belt Conference.
Sporting News says second, Athlon says third, Lindy’s says fourth and ESPN says fifth.
Some comments on the Cajuns:
•Lindy’s: “Another nine-win season looks to be in the making for the Cajuns.”
•Athlon: “While competition will be strong, Lafayette is expected to contend for the Sun Belt title once again. There is concern based on inexperience at a couple of key positions, most notably quarterback and on the defensive line, but there is also a confidence among those in the program based on recent success.”
•ESPN: “Coach Mark Hudspeth has a touch of Bo Pelini disease, having led the Ragin’ Cajuns to four straight 9-4 seasons. The offense returns its key playmaker, but the D does not … so making it nine wins for five seasons in a row will be an uphill battle.”
For as much of those guesses on the Cajuns vary, however, there is some common ground among the magazines.
One of that the forecasters seem to see a bright and sunny future for Appalachian State, with three of the aforementioned four — Sporting News, Lindy’s and ESPN — all picking the Mountaineers to win the Sun Belt.
(Athlon went with Arkansas State and has Appalachian State fourth).
App State finished 7-5 last season, but closed with six straight wins including victories over UL and Arkansas State — and the Mountaineers expect to have a 2014 starter plugged in at all but two positions in 2015.
The four magazines all also have — in some order or another — Appalachian State, UL, Arkansas State and Georgia Southern in their top five.
The other thing there seems to be much agreement on is the impact running back Elijah McGuire will have on the success of UL in the coming season, which for the Cajuns — coming off four four straight New Orleans Bowl wins — starts with a Sept. 5 non-conference visit to Kentucky of the SEC.
“Elijah McGuire gives the Cajuns the league’s No. 1 overall offensive threat,” Lindy’s writes.
“If the Cajuns make it five straight bowl wins,” Sporting News says, “(it) probably will be on McGuire’s back and only if the defense jells fast.”
McGuire, the reigning Sun Belt Player of the Year, is picked as the SBC’s Preseason MVP by Sporting News and as its preseason Offensive Player of the Year by ESPN and Lindy’s.
(Lindy’s went with Arkansas State quarterback Fredi Knighten as its preseason Most Valuable Player).
Some of the doubt regarding UL seems to pivot around uncertainty at quarterback, where the Cajuns are looking to replace three-year starter Terrance Broadway.
Brooks Haack, Jordan Davis and Jalen Nixon spent the spring battling for the No. 1 job, and — while Haack looks to many to be the front-runner — Hudspeth has not yet named a starter.
Writes Lindy’s: “A new starter going under center always leaves questions.”
LAGNIAPPE: McGuire is on the preseason All-Sun Belt first team of all four magazines (Sporting News, Lindy’s, Athlon and ESPN), as is UL offensive lineman Mykhael Quave. … Linebacker Otha Peters Jr., a transfer from Arkansas who sat out last season in accordance with NCAA transfer rules, is Lindy’s Sun Belt preseason “Newcomer of the Year.” … Sporting News and Athlon both ranked UL as having the Sun Belt’s No. 1 recruiting class in 2015.
THE MAGAZINES SPEAK
A look at 2015 preseason predictions from four major college football preview magazines, including personal preseason accolades for UL players:
SUN BELT CONFERENCE FINISH
SPORTING NEWS: UL 2nd (Appalachian State 1)
ATHLON: UL 3rd (Arkansas State 1, Georgia Southern 2)
LINDY’S: UL 4th (Appalachian State 1, Arkansas State 2, Georgia Southern 3)
ESPN: UL 5th (Appalachian State 1, Georgia Southern 2, Arkansas State 3, Texas State 4)
BOWL GUESSES FOR UL
ATHLON: New Orleans Bowl vs. UTEP
SPORTING NEWS: GoDaddy Bowl (Mobile)
RECRUITING CLASSES RANKED
ATHLON: UL 1st
SPORTING NEWS: UL 1st
PERSONAL PRESEASON ACCOLDADES
RB ELIJAH MCGUIRE
Preseason MVP: Sporting News
Offensive Player of the Year: ESPN, Lindy’s
“Most Elusive RB” in the Sun Belt: Sporting News
“Toughest to Bring Down” in the Sun Belt: Lindy’s
“Best Instincts” in the Sun Belt: Sporting News
“Best Athlete” in the Sun Belt: Sporting News
First team All-Sun Belt RB: Athlon, ESPN, Lindy’s Sporting News
OL MYKHAEL QUAVE
First team All-Sun Belt O: Athlon, ESPN, Lindy’s, Sporting News
No. 2 NFL Talent: Lindy’s
“Best Pass Blocker” in the Sun Belt: Lindy’s
WR JAMAL ROBINSON
Top NFL Prospect: Sporting News
First team All-Sun Belt WR: Sporting News
Second team All-Sun Belt WR: Athlon
LB DOMINIQUE TOVELL
First team All-Sun Belt LB: Sporting News
Second team All-Sun Belt LB: Athlon
LB OTHA PETERS
Newcomer of the Year: Lindy’s
Second team All-Sun Belt LB: Lindy’s
OL OCTRAVIAN ANDERSON
Second team All-Sun Belt OL: Lindy’s
Via- Tim Buckley, the advertiser