LAFAYETTE (KATC) — A season ago uncertainty was the name of the game for the Cajuns linebackers.
This year Louisiana returns starters Jacques Boudreaux and Justin Middleton, who you can probably pencil in as starters in this 3-4 base defense, but who else?
Tommy Whitted played in all 12-games a season ago as a backup middle linebacker but is dealing with an ankle injury. Senior Brayden Bailey is in the mix, and Sophomores Lorenzo McCaskill and Andre Jones were starters in the spring game alongside Westminster product Chaiziere Malbrue.
Malbrue, a senior, didn’t earn his scholarship until this spring. He spoke Monday about using that as motivation to compete every day.
“Coming in as a walk on and not getting a scholarship, I always saw that as a chip on my back to bring my best every day no matter what because my little brother is watching, my family is watching and I have to represent the name on my back,” he said. “So I encourage other, encourage rookies, everybody to bring their best no matter what.”