Under the radar notes from Tech camp

Louisiana Tech is just over a week away from opening the 2024 season at Joe Aillet Stadium.

And by now, you probably know the significant storylines entering the third year of Sonny Cumbie’s coaching tenure: Jack Turner takes over at quarterback, and Jeremiah Johnson is the team’s new defensive coordinator, all while the program looks to climb out of three straight 3-9 campaigns.

But what’s sitting under the radar as Tech transitions to game preparation soon? Outside the big names in the big positions, who has stood out at camp and could play a major role in the Bulldogs’ chances this fall? With camp availability finished, it’s time to empty out the fall camp notebook for those answers.

O-Line battles

Tech’s offensive line is expected to be a strength of the team in 2024, with Jerren Gilbert (right guard) and Bert Hale (left guard) returning as starters on the interior of the unit.

But for the tackle jobs, along with the team’s starting center, locking down names into the anchors of the line is still in process as position battles continue with the season opener 10 days away.

In multiple practices, most of the first-team reps at left tackle have gone to Daniel Keys, a transfer from Stephen F. Austin, while most right tackle reps have gone to Brett Cannis, a redshirt junior in his third year in the program.

However, Tech offensive line coach Nathan Young said the positions are far from solidified at this point, and he expects the final stretch of competition to bring the best out of the room.

“We’ll see,” Young said of Keys and Cannis starting. “That’s the good thing about what we got right now. We got a lot of depth. We have more depth than we’ve ever had since I’ve been here. And I think those guys are all having to compete every single day. At tackles, you got (Daniel) Keys and Kenneth Bannister that are both playing really well, and you’ve got Brett Cannis and Hayden Christman. And so, it’s like you’ve got experienced, bigger guys and you got some younger guys that are athletic and doing good things too. Same thing at the center position between Landon ( Nelson) and Zarian McGill. There’s really good competition there. I trust those dudes to go in games and we’ll see how it plays out when it gets to the first game.”

Christman, a 6-6, 324-pound redshirt freshman, played in two games last season in a reserve role. He spent his prep days at Tioga High School and chose Tech over offers from Tulane, ULM, McNeese, and Nicholls. Bannister, a redshirt junior in his fourth year at Tech, has played in 18 games over the last two seasons, including starting in the 2023 finale against Jacksonville State.

At center, McGill, a transfer from ULM, is battling with veteran lineman Landon Nelson for the title of starter.

For Gilbert, a fifthyear senior returning on the O-line, he enjoys the competition around him. It pushes him to improve, and he expects whoever wins the remaining jobs will earn it by proving their strength amid a crowded position group.

“I would say just in depth,” Gilbert said of the unit’s biggest growth in camp. “We got a lot of competition at every position, so just being able to have that continuity, to have that depth and be able to push each other. Everybody from the tackles to the guards to the centers – everybody has great competition so that really drives each person to get better.”

One other noteworthy item on the O-line heading into the season is the size difference from 2023 to now. Gilbert’s listed weight is up 20 pounds from last season, while Bert Hale is up 17 pounds. Bannister is up 17 pounds as well, while Christman is up 11 pounds, and Ja’Marion Kennedy is up 7 pounds.

“It’s definitely been a blessing for us,” Young said. “Big people beat big people.”

TE changes

If you want a name who’s had a consistent fall camp from start to finish, sophomore tight end Eli Finley is a strong choice.

The second- year tight end out of Heath, Texas, only had a pair of catches for 10 yards last season, ranking behind Nate Jones and Ryan Rivera on the depth chart. But if his preseason efforts this fall are a precursor to the season he’s about to have, Bulldog fans could be in for a surprise.

Lining up with the first-team offense since camp began, Finley has stood out with his 6-6, 244-pound frame, making contested catches in the end-zone and on third-down, along with delivering strong blocks on run plays.

Cumbie wants to make Finley a dependable target in the passing game this season and give Jack Turner a different style of weapon.

“Eli’s made a lot of flash plays and a lot of plays when he’s been covered,” Cumbie said. “I think that’s the thing he gives you with his size, and he’s been covered and he’s made critical third- down plays, made critical catches inside the score zone — 10-yard line and in. I think that’s what he’s going to continue to evolve and give us a big, big target at tight end. He’s done a really good job of blocking the paint. I think Eli’s going to give us a big target in the passing game.”

Finley’s frame is noticeably different than the wide receiver options Tech has, as he’s not only listed as the biggest and tallest tight end on the team but is taller than any Bulldog wideout. In fact, Finley is one of the four tallest players on the team. The other three are offensive linemen.

“Get more comfortable in the offense,” Finley said of his camp goals. “It’s a complicated offense. Cumbie runs a great offense, so just being able to think and play without having to keep going over plays in my head.”

Nate Jones, Finley’s former running mate at tight end, is moving to receiver this season. Cumbie said the position change will fit Jones’ frame — 6-3, 215 pounds — in the offense.

“We just felt with Nate, body type with his weight, he was probably better suited to be more of a receiver, inside body, than he was blocking in the paint,” Cumbie said. “He still has the ability if we need to in a bind to move him back to that tight end role.”

DB depth

The Bulldogs’ top-end defensive backs are among the best players on the team when you think about 2023 Conference USA Freshman of the Year Michael Richard, a safety, and fifth-year cornerback Cedric Woods.

But what about the guys behind the big names? Safeties coach Jeff Burris likes the defensive backs Tech can roll with for the opener, but what about when inevitable injuries come?

For Burris’ position, Tech seems to have solid options alongside Richard.

“We’re talented, but it’s all about what we do when the lights are on,” Burris said. “ We’ve made plays, and I keep pushing them to get out of their comfort zone. Each guy has a comfort zone that they’re in right now and I’m trying to push them outside of their comfort zone. I walked into a great situation. You talk about Mike and his talent level, Blake (Thompson) and his football IQ, BJ Blake, Isaiah Mcelvane, Roderick Roberson, Jordyn Morgan, Jacob Fields. I could keep listing guys. And when you have that many guys you can list, it makes a huge difference.”

Thompson, a redshirt sophomore transfer from Iowa State, and Mcelvane, a redshirt senior, have played the majority of the first team snaps at the safety position with Richard.

At corner, Demarcus Griffin-Taylor, a redshirt senior, looks to start opposite Woods for the opener. But it’s worth keeping an eye on Jhamal Shelby, a redshirt sophomore. In nine games last year, he tallied 4 PBU, 1 interception, and a forced fumble.

Tech opens the 2024 season on Aug. 31 against Nicholls State at Joe Aillet Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.