Losing a 1,400 yard rusher is never easy, no matter how you shake it.

But the are in a pretty good position to challenge for the Sun Belt title this season, even without .

While Sun Belt defenses are no doubt happy that Dawson is off to the NFL, they cant get too excited just yet, because the Warhawks will be armed and dangerous this season.

The reins in the backfield will be handed over to sophomore , who ran for 596 yards and four touchdowns as Dawson’s backup, and totaled more than 1,300 all-purpose yards last season.

Who’ll be taking Goodin’s place as backup? It could be true freshman , who’s got a chance to leave many a defender staring at the back of his jersey, with his blazing speed.

UL will also have another running threat in senior quarterback , who threw for 1,866 yards and 13 TD, and ran for 398 yards and a score.

All in all, the Warhawks should have a very productive offense, with most of Lancaster’s primary aerial targets back to haul in passes, led by leading receivers (54 catches, 502 yards, 4 TD), second-team All-Sun Belt tight end (36-437-6), and (33-486-3).

However you do need a little defense to contend for a championship, and UL should have a pretty good one. Nose tackle and corners Quintez Secka and Darrius Battles are big losses, but everyone returns including star safety , who got off to a great early start, before missing the final nine games with a chest injury.

The stars of the defense are linebacker (79 tackles, 7 for loss) and safety (77 tackles, 5 INT), who will team up with (68 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 INT), Thompson, (43 tackles, 4 for loss), and highly-touted JC transfer Troy Giddens to form a talented, playmaking group of safeties.

ULM had only 20 sacks last season, and Cooper led the team with five, but there’s potential for productive pass rush, with starting ends (44 tackles, 7 TFL 2.5 sacks) and (34 tackles 6.5 for loss, 3 sacks) back, along with tackle Kendall Moutan (34 tackles 6 for loss, 2.5 sacks). Junior college transfers , , and should make an immediate contribution along the lines as well.

With many components from the conferences’ top run defense back, defending the run should once again be a strength, but just how good the defense will be depends on how things shake out at cornerback.

, , and JC transfer will vie for starting cornerback duties, and even if Stamps can’t claim a starting job immediately, he has the talent to break in before long and be a difference-maker. If they can find some continuityand prove to be solid replacements for Battles and Secka, a pass defense that allowed 260.8 yards per game last season won’t be a liability.

First-team All-Sun Belt punter , who averaged 42.1 yards per punt last season, will be a big weapon in special teams, while the strong-legged should take over place-kicking duties from the departed Cole Wilson.

The biggest thing that will help the Warhawks’s hopes to be a serious Sun Belt title contender will be starting well out of the gate.
They won five of six to end last season, including their unforgettable 21-14 win at Alabama, but started 1-5, losing two Sun Belt games knocked them out for the race before November.

Their non-conference slate isn’t generous as they start at Auburn and Arkansas, but after last year’s win in Tuscaloosa, they won’t be intimidated, They stand a good chance of being at least 2-2 heading into their conference opener against in-state rival ULL.

The conference state sets up for ULM to be in the title picture entering November, as four of their first five conference games are at home, including against FAU and Troy.

So if they can take advantage of their slate, ’s Warhawks could very well be in pole position instead of playing catch-up in November.

They’ve got the pieces. They’ve got the schedule. They (should) have the confidence. Could this be ULM’s year? We’ll likely know by the end of October.

Get tickets for the Warhawks’ games at Auburn, Arkansas, and Ole Miss at TicketCity!

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