Catching some confidence

Ruston’s first state championship in 33 years last season was built on a full arsenal of weapons to play with each week.

One game — and usually more than that — it would be All-State running back Jordan Hayes sprinting down sidelines for 100- plus yards. The next week, it was State Championship MVP Josh Brantley at quarterback stiffarming tacklers for big gains on the ground.

And while both of those standout talents are back for their senior years, what may be lost on observers excited for the Bearcats’ 2024 season — hoping to defend their state title — is the team’s ability to have dependable pass catchers in big moments, most notably tight end Zhy Scott and wide receivers Logan Malone and Jamar Woods, last year.

If it wasn’t for Brantley connecting with Malone and his pass catchers in the state championship against Zachary, Ruston may not have pulled out the win. But with Scott, Malone, and Woods all graduated, it wouldn’t be crazy to ask if Ruston has the necessary weapons when a big pass play is needed this fall.

Well, if the early goings of fall camp are any indication, it’s an emphatic yes.

“I’ve definitely seen improvement through the first two weeks with that group,” Ruston head coach Jerrod Baugh said. “ I think we’ve spent a lot of time being able to work with that in 7-on-7 and practices since you’re not able to do run drills and true run work without pads. There’s been more of a focus on the passing game and trying to get a lot of reps with that.

“I think we should have the capability to throw the ball a little bit more, and you can see Josh is gaining confidence in his receivers and what we’re asking him to do,” Baugh added.

Ruston’s pass catchers will be headlined by senior wide receiver Joran Parker and sophomore receiver Ahmad Hudson, together expected to carry the bulk of targets from Brantley this year.

It will be quite a jump from what’s been expected of the duo after they combined for just 16 receptions last year, with Parker hauling in 11 catches for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns while Hudson caught 5 passes for 61 yards and a score.

Hudson, still 15 years old, has clear athletic gifts that have already earned offers to play college football for LSU, Purdue, Texas A& M, Louisiana Tech, and Grambling State.

Despite inexperience, Baugh has seen plenty of standout plays from each of the top options in camp and expects the tandem to provide explosiveness to the Bearcats this season.

Newcomers at wideout include seniors Peyton Martin and Darius James, who each went without a catch in 2023. Baugh has appreciated their work ethic in getting used to the offense and nailing down timing with Brantley on routes. “I think Peyton has had a good fall camp so far. I think Ahmad (Hudson) has been good, especially with him transitioning where we’re asking him to be more of a hybrid position like what Zhy Scott did for us in between a tight end and receiver,” Baugh said. “Joran Parker is coming off a shoulder injury and he’s looked good. I think the more reps that group gets with each other, the more confidence they build in themselves.”

Ruston’s offense has been run- heavy over the last three seasons with a long line of talented tailbacks rolling through the program. With a stockpile that never seems to run dry, there’s been no reason to go away from what’s worked. But Baugh admits the passing game has room to grow in this year’s approach, and he hopes to give Brantley, who passed for 1,175 yards, 9 touchdowns with 6 interceptions last fall, more opportunities to threaten through the air.

And while Brantley’s last game, 194 passing yards in the Superdome, proved to be his best yet, Baugh said taking the passing approach from the state championship into this season won’t be the one-for-one game plan.

“That was one of those things where it was more of the game flow. Zachary made up their mind they were going to make us throw and take away the run game as much as possible, and with how good of a team they were and how good their players are, we struggled in the run game, so we had to pivot and throw more,” Baugh said.

“I think it boils down to how confident each game we are as a staff about doing that and putting the ball in the air and knowing it will go where it needs to go and knowing it’ll be caught. In the throwing game, you have to execute so much more,” he added. “You have to protect and then the quarterback has to make a good throw, and the receiver has to catch it. All those things have to go well for it to work so it’s one of those things where you have to be smart in when to call it.”

Ruston will move into full pads this week as fall camp continues. The Bearcats’ season opener is set for Sept. 6 vs Acadiana.