THIBODAUX — Ben Woolridge is helping his team anyway he can.
Despite still recovering from a torn ACL suffered against Georgia Southern late last season, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns quarterback is doing his part to help his team get better this offseason.
“I think the offseason has gone well,” said Wooldridge, who is serving as a counselor at the Manning Passing Academy this week. “I mean, obviously, battling injury, but I think it’s more than just kind of trying to help the team in any way that I can. Whether it be like leadership or helping the young guys with the offense, and kind of getting everybody on the same page.”
During the 2022 season, Wooldridge ascended to starter status for the Ragin Cajuns after Chandler Fields suffered an injury. In 10 games under center, Wooldridge completed 57 percent of his passes for 1,661 yards, 15 touchdowns, and only five interceptions.
Louisiana finished the 2022 season 6-7 overall and fell 23-17 to Houston in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl in Shreveport. Wooldridge though wasn’t on the field in the final few games due to the injury.
Woolridge’s injury has opened the door for a three-man quarterback competition for the Ragin’ Cajuns. Besides Woolridge and Fields — the two starters from last season, there is also freshman Zeonn Chriss, who had some dazzling moments during the bowl game and took the majority of first-team reps during the team’s spring practice.
The redshirt senior quarterback believes that all three signal callers getting reps heading into the upcoming season will only aid in each one’s development.
“I think just going through practice and everything has made all of us better,” said Wooldridge, who is one of three Sun Belt Conference quarterbacks at the MPA this week. “I think just taking reps, and everything like that is gonna be good for all of us.”
Woolridge — who began his collegiate career at Fresno State has also noticed the Ragin’ Cajuns are focusing more on deeper details this offseason.
“I think just focusing on the little details,” said Wooldridge. “I think last year, a lot of times we’d like little details to slide, and then it showed up in the second half. And then especially in the second half of the season, we started trending upwards right after like week four or five.”
Wooldridge added, “But then towards the end of the season, I feel like a lot of little details we could have done a lot better. So I think just this offseason, it’s focusing on every little detail, not letting anything slide, and holding each other accountable.”