Holtz’s Bulldogs thrive in C-USA
COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS: NO. 60 LOUISIANA TECH
Orlando Sentinel college insider Matt Murschel ranked all 130 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the country entering the 2017 season. The Sentinel staff takes a closer look at a new team daily, counting backward from No. 130 to our projected No. 1 team.
Louisiana Tech
Skip Holtz (31-22, entering fifth season; 119-93 overall)
9-5, 6-2 in Conference USA, first in Western Division
After a tough 1-3 start last season, including a one-point loss to Arkansas and a fourpoint loss to Middle Tennessee, Louisiana Tech regrouped and went on a seven-game win streak that helped Bulldogs clinch the Conference USA West Division title. Louisiana Tech lost 58-44 to Western Kentucky in the C-USA title game but later rallied to post a 48-45 win over Navy in the in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. It was the Bulldogs’ third consecutive bowl win, the longest postseason win streak in school history.
5 total tackles, including tackles for loss.
On offense, 1,000-yard rusher Jarred Craft is back to help lead the offense and will be joined by an experienced receivers unit.
Senior K Jonathan Barnes ended the 2016 season 22-of-27 on field goals, including hitting the gamewinning 32-yard field goal in Louisian Tech’s 48-45 over Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl. The two-time Groza Award Semifinalist also made 77 of 78 point after attempts. 16
Louisiana Tech loses QB Ryan Higgins and must lean on a new starting QB in J’mar Smith. He has one start under his belt, leading the offense during the team’s one-point loss to Arkansas.
“J’mar Smith has done a great job of picking up the offense more and more and making good decisions,” Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz told KNOE after the spring game.
“He is definitely a weapon with his feet as well as his arm. I think as he continues to train his brain to be able to read it, throw it and also run with his feet, it potentially has the makings of a really dangerous quarterback for opponents.”
Smith will have to adapt to the loss of two starting offensive linemen.
On the other side of the ball, the team loses considerable experience across all position groups. The secondary and pass rush need to make the biggest strides, with Louisiana Tech ranking No. 116 last season in pass defense, allowing 274.7 yards per game through the air.
After a bumpy tenure at USF, Holtz has thrived at Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs have won 19 of their past 24 Conference USA games, tying with Western Kentucky for the best winning percentage in league games during that period. Louisiana Tech should once again contend for the Conference USA title.