NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana-Lafayette diverted from its usual nine-win form to its worst season since 2009 last year.
There were plenty of reasons for the 4-8 finish — a paltry turnover margin and a lack of explosive plays on offense — but Coach Mark Hudsepth pointed to the inconsistency at quarterback as the biggest. Gone last year was Terrance Broadway, who helped lead the Ragin' Cajuns to three New Orleans Bowl appearances, and in his place Hudspeth spent the season alternating between Jalen Nixon and Brooks Haack.
Neither are in the fold this year — Haack is at Northwestern State now, and Nixon is a running back. Hudspeth was able to move Nixon when Jordan Davis, now a redshirt sophomore, finished out last season as the starter. To make sure the Ragin' Cajuns weren't without capability at the most important position, they signed LSU transfer Anthony Jennings this summer.
"It will be a great competition when we get into camp to see those two guys compete and make each other better each day," Hudspeth said.
Both options at quarterback come with a qualifier.
Hudspeth likes the potential in Davis, who was 26 of 41 passing for 256 yards and 1 touchdown in limited action last year but has played in only three college games. He likes the experience of Jennings, who started 13 games for LSU, but with sporadic results at times. He completed 48.4 percent of his passes for 1,792 yards with 12 touchdowns and 8 interceptions for the Tigers.
"[Jennings] has played in front of 100,000, I think, every Saturday. So I don't think he's the type of quarterback that will get flustered," Hudspeth said. "We know that Jordan Davis has as talented of a skill set as any quarterback we've had. I'm glad we've got two really good quarterbacks rather than one."
If the Cajuns can get stability at that spot, a return to their previous form could be possible considering the pieces around the two quarterbacks.
Running back Elijah McGuire is still one of the most dynamic players in the Sun Belt, and the Cajuns return three starters on their offensive line. They lost leading receiver Jamal Robinson, but Al Riles, who had 46 catches for 477 yards last year, and Gabe Fuselier, 37 catches for 357 yards, each return.
The team returns seven starters on defense, including preseason first-team all-Sun Belt pick cornerback Savion Brown. But the Cajuns sorely lacked big plays last season. They forced just 11 turnovers last year — only Wyoming and Rice forced less — and just eight in Sun Belt games, last in the league.
Linebacker Otha Peters, an Arkansas transfer named honorable mention all-Sun Belt last year, defensive linemen Karmichael Dunbar and Taboris Lee and defensive back Tracy Walker were each named to the Sun belt's preseason second team.
Hudspeth is banking on them for more of a pass rush and one of the two quarterbacks to solidify an offense as the most direct path to a rebound year.
"I've never been 4-8 in my career as a head coach, and I never plan on it again," Hudspeth said.
FOOTBALL PREVIEWS
Arkansas State reporter Troy Schulte previewed each team in the Sun Belt conference. Read each one below:
Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns at a glance
2015 RECORD 4-8, 3-5 Sun Belt
ALL-TIME SUN BELT RECORD 43-44 in 15 seasons*
COACH Mark Hudspeth (18-24 in sixth season at Louisiana-Lafayette, 84-45 in 13th season overall)
RETURNING STARTERS 13 (six on offense, seven on defense)
2015 OFFENSE (SB RANK) 26.4 points (ninth), 380.4 yards (eighth), 171.9 rushing (sixth), 208.5 passing (sixth)
2015 DEFENSE (SB RANK) 31.8 (sixth), 420.8 yards (seventh), 183.8 rushing (fifth), 237.1 passing (eighth)
KEY PLAYERS RB Elijah McGuire, WR Al Riles, DL Taboris Lee, CB Savion Brown, DB Simeon Thomas
KEY LOSSES WR Jamal Robinson, LB Dominique Tovall, OL Octravian Anderson, DL Chris Prater
TITLE SCENARIO For the first time in school history, Louisiana-Lafayette starts the season with three consecutive home games, an opportunity to start the season off with momentum, especially if it notches a season-opening upset over Boise State. Even if the Cajuns drop the opener, which is likely, games against McNeese State and South Alabama the next two weeks and a game at Tulane in Week 4 make it so a 3-1 start isn't out of the question. The Cajuns could then head into November 5-2 after an October schedule that includes games at New Mexico State, at home against Appalachian State and at Texas State. The final month is a bit more dicey, with a three-week stretch at Georgia Southern, at Georgia and at home against Arkansas State before a season-ending game at Louisiana-Monroe. The Cajuns' most important game might be Nov. 5 at home against Idaho, which has the potential to decide the Sun Belt's fifth bowl participant.
*Louisiana-Lafayette vacated 17 victories from 2011-2014 due to NCAA sanctions.