Game 1: Army West Point (0-0) vs. ULM (0-0)
Saturday, Sept. 2 | 6:03 p.m. CT
Malone Stadium (30,000) | Monroe, La.
NFL Network | KLIP 105.3 FM
Saturday, Sept. 2 | 6:03 p.m. CT
Malone Stadium (30,000) | Monroe, La.
NFL Network | KLIP 105.3 FM
2023 ULM Football Notes: Game 1 vs. Army
Terry Bowden Weekly Press Conference
Purchase Tickets Online
FIRST-AND-10 –
• ULM begins its 73rd season of football at 6 p.m. Saturday as Army West Point visits Malone Stadium. ULM is 324-454-8 since becoming a four-year institution prior to the 1951 season. In its 72-year football history, ULM is 30-40-2 (.431) in season openers, including a 4-6 record (.400) in its last 10 games.
• Saturday's game marks the 13th time ULM has opened the season inside Malone Stadium since joining the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision prior to the 1994 season (30 seasons). ULM is 9-3 when opening the season at home in that span, including wins in each of the last four season openers at home. The Warhawks last opened at home on Aug. 31, 2019, with a 31-9 win vs. Grambling.
• In its 72-year football history (as a four-year college), ULM is 49-21-2 (.694) in home openers, including an impressive 35-10 record (.778) since taking up residency in Malone Stadium in 1978. The Warhawks won 13-consecutive home openers from 1978-90 and produced wins in 22 of their first 23 home openers in Malone Stadium (1978-2000).
• Saturday's contest marks the third time in four seasons that ULM and Army have squared off, with each of the previous two meetings coming in West Point, New York. The Warhawks opened the 2020 season with a 37-7 loss to the Black Knights at Michie Stadium. Last season, Army pulled away in the second half for a 48-24 win over ULM. Army's trip to Malone Stadium is the first time one of the service academies (Army, Navy, Air Force) has visited Monroe.
• Heading into his third season as ULM head coach, Terry Bowden has overhauled his 2023 roster, adding 45 scholarship newcomers (26 defense, 19 offense). The Warhawks are one of seven NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision programs that have added 40 or more scholarship newcomers for the upcoming season, joining Colorado (67), Arizona State (53), Texas State (53), Colorado State (48), Liberty (42) and Old Dominion (40).
• Following the 2022 campaign, Terry Bowden and his coaching staff made a commitment to upgrade the explosiveness and athleticism on the 2023 roster. An examination of the Iron Hawk summer test results provides a strong indication that major strides have been made in those areas.
The Iron Hawk program provides an overall score based upon the results of nine different tests (for example: clean, squat, bench, Pro Agility, Flying 10, L drill, broad jump and vertical jump). Prior to the start of the 2022 season, a total of 15 players scored 85 percent or higher. At the conclusion of the Iron Hawk summer program, that total had grown to 26 players – 11 more than a year ago.
Defensive end Adin Huntington (102 percent) and quarterback Jiya Wright (97.5), finished 1-2 on the Iron Hawk leaderboard. Huntington posted personal bests of 665 pounds in the squat, 435 on the bench, 4.44 in the Pro Agility as well as a 38-inch vertical jump. Wright recorded personal bests of 485 pounds in the squat, 330 on the bench, 4.03 in the Pro Agility as well as a team-best 39-inch vertical jump.
• Graduate student Jiya Wright, who has appeared in six games and played a total of 87 offensive snaps over the last two seasons (2021-22), enters his first season as ULM's starting quarterback in 2023. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Wright was sidelined for most of the 2022 campaign after suffering a rib injury late in the third quarter of the season opener at Texas. His last three starts under center came during the abbreviated 2021 spring season at Fort Scott (Kansas) Community College.
• ULM super senior wide receiver Tyrone Howell, who led the team in receptions (50), receiving yards (852) and touchdown receptions (6), has been named to the 2023 Preseason Watch List for the Biletnikoff Award, presented annually since 1994 to the outstanding Football Bowl Subdivision receiver, regardless of position, by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation and the 2023 Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List.
The 6-foot-3, 204-pound Howell also has earned preseason All-Sun Belt recognition from Pro Football Focus (first team), Athlon Sports (first team), conference's head coaches and media panel (second team), Phil Steele (second team) and College Football Network (second team).
Howell received All-Sun Belt Second-Team recognition following his breakout junior season. He led the team in receptions in five of the last six games in 2022 and finished with three 100-yard receiving games.
• ULM will feature a retooled rushing attack in 2023 after losing 87 percent of its ground production (1,258 of 1,448 rushing yards). Gone are the top three rushers from a year ago, who combined for 1,183 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns.
The Warhawks will build the ground attack around sophomore Hunter Smith, who had an impressive spring, as well as a pair of transfers, in Isaiah Woullard (Ole Miss) and Thad Franklin Jr. (Miami-Fla.). Both Woullard (5-9, 215) and Franklin (6-0, 235) provide ULM with the option of utilizing a "bigger back" in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
• ULM will rebuild its offensive line around three veterans, in right tackle Keydrell Lewis (20 career starts), center Zarian McGill (12) and left guard (moving from right guard) Elijah Fisher (10), who have combined for 42 career starts. In addition, left tackle Stacey Wilkins (3) and right guard Tellek Lockette (3) also have starting experience.
• On the defensive side of the football, ULM returns 11 lettermen, including five of the team's top eight tacklers from 2022.
Rover Tristan Driggers, who led the Warhawks with three interceptions, finished second on the team in tackles with 63 (37 solos, 26 assists), including 4.5 for losses (19 yards). The 6-foot-1, 207-pound Driggers was named to Phil Steele's preseason All-Sun Belt Fourth Team.
Defensive end Kenard Snyder, who led ULM in tackles for loss (10 for 22 yards) and ranked third overall in tackles with 61 (36 solos, 25 assists), was selected honorable mention Freshman All-American by College Football News in 2022. The 6-1, 257-pound Snyder averaged 6.3 tackles over the last eight games since entering the starting lineup. He received preseason All-Sun Belt honors from Lindy's (second team) and Phil Steel (fourth team).
Mike linebacker Michael Batton (45 total tackles: 31 solos, 14 assists) and cornerback Lu Tillery (44 total tackles: 29 solos, 15 assists) finished fifth and sixth in tackles, respectively. The 6-2, 215-pound Batton averaged 10.3 tackles over the last three games of the season, including a pair of double-figure efforts at Georgia State (career-high 16 stops) and against Southern Miss (10) in the home finale. The 5-10, 180-pound Tillery contributed four sacks for 34 yards, with three of those coming in back-to-back road games at Georgia State (2 for 18 yards) and Troy (1 for 12).
Car'lin Vigers, who started the last three games of the season at free safety, ranked eighth in tackles with 39 (25 solos, 14 assists). The 6-2, 198-pound Vigers displayed a knack for delivering big plays when the game was on the line. He dropped Jamari Thrash 2 yards shy of a first down on a fourth-and-12 play in the closing seconds to secure ULM's 31-28 win at Georgia State that ended a 19-game road losing streak and came up with a fourth-quarter interception in the Warhawks' 21-17 victory over the Ragin' Cajuns in the Sun Belt Conference opener. Vigers, who is expected to transition back to his normal position of cornerback, was named to preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team by Pro Football Focus.
CLASS BREAKDOWN (STARTERS) –
Army Offense: 5 seniors, 4 juniors, 1 sophomore, 1 freshman
Army Defense: 8 seniors, 3 juniors
ULM Offense: 2 graduates, 1 senior, 4 juniors, 4 sophomores
ULM Defense: 1 graduate, 2 seniors, 5 juniors, 3 sophomores
2022 RETURNING STAT LEADERS –
ULM (12 games):
Rushing – Bugs Mortimer (8 carries for 130 yards, 16.3 avg.)
Passing – None
Receiving – Tyrone Howell (50 catches for 852 yards, 17.0 avg., 6 TDs)
Tackles – Tristan Driggers (63 tackles, 37 solos, 26 assists, 4.5 TFL, 1 sack, 3 INTs, 2 PBU, 1 QB hurry)
ARMY (12 games):
Rushing – Tyson Riley (95 carries for 441 yards, 4.6 avg., 2 TDs)
Passing – Tyrell Robinson (1 of 1, 100%, for 6 yards)
Receiving – Isaiah Alston (16 catches for 269 yards, 16.8 avg., 1 TD)
Tackles – Leo Lowin (100 tackles, 48 solos, 52 assists, 5.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 2 INTs, 1 PBU, 1 fumble recovery, 1 forced fumble)
THE LAST MEETING –
Army West Point 48, ULM 24 (Oct. 22, 2022, in West Point, N.Y.): Leading Army by 10 points in the first half, ULM looked like a team poised to win on the road for the first time in a long time.
Instead, the Warhawks surrendered 31 unanswered points on the way to a 48-24 loss to the Black Knights at Michie Stadium.
Army (3-4) seized control as the game wore on with its trademark option attack. Army (3-4) rushed for 441 yards on 66 attempts and held the ball 35:21 to control time of possession.
The Warhawks (2-6) led 17-7 in the second quarter and still held a 17-14 advantage at the half before letting the game spiral away in the third quarter. ULM ran just six plays for 35 yards while being outscored 17-0 in the pivotal period.
ULM finished with 349 yards but gained just 118 in the second half. Sacked three times, quarterback Chandler Rogers completed 21-of-28 passes for 164 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
Defensively, Quae Drake led ULM with nine tackles while Caleb Thomas registered three tackles for loss among his seven stops.
For Army, quarterback Jemel Jones rushed for 102 yards and three touchdowns on 17 attempts. Army topped 400 yards rushing for the fourth time this season.
ULM's opening drive, 12 plays for 70 yards, earned a 22-yard field goal by Calum Sutherland. Army had the Warhawks stopped at midfield, but a roughing the kicker penalty on ULM's punt kept the march going.
Army scored on fourth-and-4 from 31 on a run by Jones to take a 7-3 lead with 6:02 left in the first quarter. The Black Knights rode a six-play, 75-yard drive in for the touchdown.
The Warhawks came up short on their second offensive series as a fourth-and-goal pass at the Army 3 fell incomplete. The Warhawks squandered a 12-play, 72-yard drive with the turnover on downs.
However, things worked out as ULM's defense stopped Army on fourth-and-1 from the Black Knights' 13. Zack Woodard and Kenard Snyder corralled Jones for a 1-yard loss.
One play later, Rogers found Boogie Knight for a 12-yard touchdown and the Warhawks led 10-7 with 12:49 left in the second quarter.
After forcing an Army punt from the ULM 39, the Warhawks took command from the 2 and drove 98 yards in six plays. ULM flipped the field on a 69-yard run by Bugs Mortimer, who was tracked down at the Army 14. Two plays later, Andrew Henry's 10-yard touchdown run up the middle gave ULM a 17-7 advantage with 5:43 to go before halftime.
The Black Knights took the ensuing kickoff 75 yards in 11 plays to draw within 17-14 on a 2-yard Jones touchdown with 38 seconds left in the second quarter.
ULM outgained Army, 231-192, in the first half. Rogers completed 12-of-14 passes for 84 yards and one score and the Warhawks rushed for 147 yards on 19 attempts. Army rushed for 187 yards on 27 attempts and completed 1-of-2 passes for just 5 yards.
The Black Knights controlled the third quarter en route to gaining the upper hand.
Army tied the game at 17-17 after opening the third quarter with a 10-play, 35-yard drive. Quinn Maretski kicked a 38-yard field goal with 9:23 remaining in the period.
A ULM turnover allowed Army to reclaim the lead.
On the next series for the Warhawks, Leo Lowin intercepted Rogers at the ULM 49. From there, the Black Knights drove 64 yards in nine plays and jumped ahead 24-17 with 3:40 left in third quarter on a 6-yard run by Jones, his third touchdown of the day.
Army's third-quarter dominance continued with a five-play, 60-yard drive capped by Tyson Riley's 3-yard touchdown run. The Army touchdown with 12 seconds continued a streak of 24 unanswered points by the Black Knights.
Army held the ball 13:01 in the third quarter while gaining 127 yards on 23 plays. ULM ran just six plays for 35 yards while being outscored 2l-0 in the third quarter.
The Black Knights extended their advantage to 38-17 in the fourth quarter with an eight-play, 55-yard drive. Jakobi Buchanan bulled in for a 3-yard touchdown with 6:35 remaining
ULM ended its scoring drought with 5:03 to go in the game on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Rogers to Jevin Frett to shave the deficit to 38-24.
Army led 41-24 after Maretski's 37-yard field goal with 3:46 remaining and tacked on an exclamation point as Bryson Dailey rumbled 64 yards for his first career touchdown for the 48-24 lead.
The Black Knights scored on seven consecutive drives to close out the game, not including a kneel down at the end of the first half.
SEASON OPENERS –
In its 72-year football history (as a four-year college), ULM is 30-40-2 (.431) in season openers, including a 4-6 record (.400) in its last 10 games.
SEASON OPENERS AT MALONE STADIUM –
Since joining the Football Bowl Subdivision prior to the 1994 season, ULM has played its season opener at home just 12 times in 29 seasons. The Warhawks are 9-3 in such games, and have won the last four season openers in Malone Stadium and five of the last six home and season openers.
WARHAWKS TOUGH IN HOME OPENERS –
In its 72-year football history (as a four-year college), ULM is 49-21-2 (.694) in home openers, including an impressive 35-10 record (.778) since taking up residency in Malone Stadium in 1978. The Warhawks won 13-consecutive home openers from 1978-90 and produced wins in 22 of their first 23 home openers in Malone Stadium (1978-2000).
ULM is 8-2 in its last 10 home openers.
P-40 WARHAWK SERIES UNIFORM –
ULM will don its complete P-40 series alternate uniform in Saturday's season opener against Army West Point. The Curtiss P-40 Warhawks constituted the principal armament of the U.S. Army Air Force (USAFF) fighter squadrons in the early 1940s. In the summer of 1941, Maj. Gen. Claire Lee Chennault, who grew up in Louisiana, began recruiting and training pilots for the American Volunteer Group, who became known as the "Flying Tigers" in China during World War II. The P-40 Warhawk served as inspiration for ULM's new nickname/mascot, adopted in 2006.
The P-40 uniform series incorporates details of the fighter into its design. Saturday's contest against Army marks the 10th time ULM has worn the P-40 series uniform (2015: vs. Nicholls State and Georgia Southern; 2017: vs. Southern Miss; 2018: vs. Georgia Southern; 2019: vs. Memphis; 2020 vs. App State; 2021 vs. Arkansas State; 2022 vs. Texas State and Southern Miss).
In the 2021 home finale against Arkansas State, ULM introduced the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk alternate helmet, a visual concept created by local marketing specialists Jonathan Perry and Michael Jordan (owner at Lore) that features the iconic shark grin, razor teeth and wagging tongue. In addition to the games in the complete P-40 series alternate uniform against A-State, Texas State and Southern Miss, the helmet also was worn as part of the road uniform against Georgia State and Troy in 2022.
WRIGHT TIME FOR JIYA –
Graduate student Jiya Wright, who has appeared in six games and played a total of 87 offensive snaps over the last two seasons (2021-22), enters his first season as ULM's starting quarterback in 2023. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Wright was sidelined for most of the 2022 campaign after suffering a rib injury late in the third quarter of the season opener at Texas. His last three starts under center came during the abbreviated 2021 spring season at Fort Scott (Kansas) Community College.
ULM's three scholarship quarterbacks – Wright, sophomore Hunter Herring and true freshman Blake Murphy – have combined for zero career starts. The Warhawks are one of seven NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision programs that have no returning starting experience at the quarterback position. That list features Michigan State, Penn State, Virginia as well as fellow Sun Belt Conference members App State, Georgia Southern and Old Dominion.
RUNNING BACK ROOM RENOVATIONS –
ULM will feature a retooled rushing attack in 2023 after losing 87 percent of its ground production (1,258 of 1,448 rushing yards). Gone are the top three rushers from a year ago, who combined for 1,183 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns.
The Warhawks will build the ground attack around sophomore Hunter Smith, who had an impressive spring, as well as a pair of transfers, in Isaiah Woullard (Ole Miss) and Thad Franklin Jr. (Miami-Fla.). Both Woullard (5-9, 215) and Franklin (6-0, 235) provide ULM with the option of utilizing a "bigger back" in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
Smith (5-11, 181), who saw action primarily on special teams in 2022, had two carries for 9 yards last season.
A four-year letterman at Ole Miss (2018-22; redshirted 2021), Woullard rushed 103 times for 472 career yards (4.6 avg.) and four TDs. He gained notoriety at Presbyterian Christian School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, setting the state's all-time rushing record with 8,294 career yards.
In 13 career games with the Hurricanes (2021-22), Franklin gained 381 yards on 73 attempts and scored seven TDs.
HOWELL AIMS TO BUILD OFF BREAKOUT 2022 CAMPAIGN –
ULM super senior wide receiver Tyrone Howell, who led the team in receptions (50), receiving yards (852) and touchdown receptions (6), has been named to the 2023 Preseason Watch List for the Biletnikoff Award, presented annually since 1994 to the outstanding Football Bowl Subdivision receiver, regardless of position, by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, and the 2023 Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List.
The 6-foot-3, 204-pound Howell also has earned preseason All-Sun Belt recognition from Pro Football Focus (first team), Athlon Sports (first team), conference's head coaches and media panel (second team), Phil Steele (second team) and College Football Network (second team).
Howell received All-Sun Belt Second-Team recognition following his breakout junior season. He led the team in receptions in five of the last six games in 2022 and finished with three 100-yard receiving games.
In Sun Belt Conference games, Howell led the league in receiving yards per game (98.3), receiving yards (786), yards per catch (20.7) and TD catches (6; tied with Georgia State's Jamari Thrash). He tied TCU's Taye Barber and Nebraska's Trey Palmer for the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision lead with three receptions of 70 or more yards, including an 89-yard reception against the Ragin' Cajuns and 75- and 83-yard TD receptions at South Alabama. He ranked 32nd in FBS and sixth in the SBC in yards per reception at 17.04.
He had 39 of his 50 receptions over the last seven games, going for 668 of his 852 yards and all six of his TDs. Howell also led the team in first down receptions (33), explosive receptions (12, 20-plus yards) and yards after catch (459). His 459 YAC total was good for fourth among SBC receivers (No. 23 in NCAA FBS).
The Idabel, Oklahoma, native had a career-best 12 receptions for 176 yards and two scores (46 and 18 yards) in ULM's 31-30 come-from-behind victory over Texas State.
Howell set career highs for receiving yards (244) and TD receptions (3) on nine catches at South Alabama. He scored on receptions of 75, 25 and 83 yards from Chandler Rogers. He picked up 151 of his 244 receiving yards after the catch. With ULM trailing 41-20, Howell caught three passes for 104 yards and one score in the fourth quarter alone. His three TD catches (tied for third) and 244 receiving yards (fourth) ranked among the top single-game totals posted in the NCAA FBS in 2022. For his effort, he was named to the Pro Football Focus College National Offensive Team of the Week.
His 244 receiving yards marked the second-highest single-game total in ULM history, trailing only Stepfret Williams who caught 10 passes for 264 yards at Nevada in 1995. His three TD receptions tied the third-highest single-game total in school history – just one shy of the record shared by Brent Leonard (4 vs. South Alabama, 2012) and Williams (4 vs. Nevada, 1995).
He posted his first 100-yard receiving game as a Warhawk against the Ragin' Cajuns. Howell caught three passes for 124 yards, including an 89-yard catch-and-run to set up ULM's go-ahead TD in the fourth quarter. His 89-yard reception ranked as the fourth-longest pass play in school history.
FIVE WARHAWKS WITH STARTING EXPERIENCE ON OFFENSIVE LINE –
ULM will rebuild its offensive line around three veterans, in right tackle Keydrell Lewis (20 career starts), center Zarian McGill (12) and left guard (moving from right guard) Elijah Fisher (10), who have combined for 42 career starts. In addition, left tackle Stacey Wilkins (3) and right guard Tellek Lockette (3) also have starting experience.
The Warhawks added depth by going to the Mississippi junior college ranks in recruiting, bringing in left guard Jay Mickle, center Matt Williams and right guard Markell Smith. Mickle and Williams were teammates at Northwest Mississippi Community College, where Mickle was a Second-Team NJCAA Division I All-American in 2022 and Williams was honorable mention All-Conference as NWMCC ranked fourth in NJCAA with 2,096 rush yards. Smith is a transfer from Jones College, where he was an NJCAA All-Region 23 selection in 2022.
Kyle Segler takes over as the offensive line coach in 2023, sliding over from his previous spot with the tight ends.
DRIGGERS MAKES HIS PRESENCE KNOWN IN 2022 –
Rover Tristan Driggers, who led the Warhawks with three interceptions, finished second on the team in tackles with 63 (37 solos, 26 assists). His 4.5 tackles for loss (19 yards) ranked fifth on the team. The 6-foot-1, 207-pound Driggers was named to Phil Steele's preseason All-Sun Belt Fourth Team.
He assisted on seven stops at Troy, including a half tackle for loss of 1 yard, and was credited with one pass break-up.
Driggers produced nine tackles in ULM's 31-30 come-from-behind victory over Texas State, including eight solo hits with one resulting in a 2-yard loss.
He contributed eight stops each in back-to-back road games at South Alabama (5 solos, 3 assists) and Army (3 solos, 5 assists). He recorded a career-best two tackles for loss at USA, including his first career sack (7 yards).
The Hallsville, Texas, native made five tackles (4 solos, 1 assist) and a pass break-up against Coastal Carolina.
Driggers reached double figures in tackles for the first time in a Warhawk uniform at Arkansas State, finishing with a team-leading 10 stops (8 solos, 2 assists).
He intercepted a pass for the third game in a row to start the season at No. 2/1 Alabama. On the Crimson Tide's second offensive series, Driggers ranged back and intercepted Bryce Young's pass while falling backwards.
Driggers registered a team-high eight tackles (5 solos, 3 assists) in ULM's 35-7 victory over Nicholls, including one for a 5-yard loss, and intercepted a pass. On a third-and-3 play late in the second quarter, Driggers intercepted Kohen Granier's pass attempt and returned it 10 yards to the Nicholls' 33-yard line. His pick set up ULM's go-ahead score as Malik Jackson crossed the goal line three plays later on an 8-yard run for a 14-7 lead. The Warhawk defense pitched a shutout over the last three quarters and allowed only 198 total yards during that stretch.
Driggers also came up with an interception in the first half in the 2022 season opener at Texas.
SNYDER EMERGES AS PLAYMAKER ON D-LINE IN 2022 –
Defensive end Kenard Snyder, who led ULM in tackles for loss (10 for 22 yards) and ranked third overall in tackles with 61 (36 solos, 25 assists), was selected honorable mention Freshman All-American by College Football News in 2022. The 6-1, 257-pound Snyder averaged 6.3 tackles over the last eight games since entering the starting lineup. He received preseason All-Sun Belt honors from Lindy's (second team) and Phil Steel (fourth team).
Snyder was credited with eight stops (5 solos, 3 assists) in ULM's 31-28 win at Georgia State and matched his career high with three tackles for loss (7 yards).
He made seven stops (3 solos, 4 assists) at Army, including a half tackle for loss.
The Vero Beach, Florida, native led the team with a career-high 11 tackles at South Alabama, including one for a 2-yard loss.
Snyder recorded nine stops (7 solos, 2 assists) in his first career start at Arkansas State, with three resulting in losses (7 yards) including his first career sack (3 yards).
"BATMAN" TAKES ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITY LATE IN 2022 – Mike linebacker Michael Batton (45 total tackles: 31 solos, 14 assists) finished fifth on the Warhawks in tackles. The 6-2, 215-pound Batton averaged 10.3 tackles over the last three games of the season, including a pair of double-figure efforts at Georgia State (career-high 16 stops) and against Southern Miss (10) in the home finale.
Batton took advantage of extended playing time at Georgia State, posting a career-high 16 tackles, including 15 solos, with one forced fumble, a pass break-up and a quarterback hurry in the Warhawks' 31-28 victory. Nicknamed "Batman," Batton played 70 snaps against the Panthers at Will linebacker in place of leading tackler Tristan Driggers, who was sidelined with a shoulder injury. He entered the game at GSU with 14 tackles on the season.
He contributed five stops each against Nicholls (1 solo, 4 assists) and at Troy (3 solos, 2 assists).
Prior to ULM, Batton played quarterback at Nassau Community College in Garden City, New York. He was 6-3 in nine starts last year, accounting for 1,110 yards of total offense and 12 touchdowns while leading his team to an appearance in the NJCAA Division III Championship Game.
TILLERY, VIGERS AMONG TOP RETURNERS IN SECONDARY –
Cornerback Lu Tillery (44 total tackles: 29 solos, 15 assists) sixth in tackles in 2022. The 5-10, 180-pound Tillery contributed four sacks for 34 yards, with three of those coming in back-to-back road games at Georgia State (2 for 18 yards) and Troy (1 for 12).
Car'lin Vigers, who started the last three games of the season at free safety, ranked eighth in tackles with 39 (25 solos, 14 assists). The 6-2, 198-pound Vigers displayed a knack for delivering big plays when the game was on the line. He dropped Jamari Thrash 2 yards shy of a first down on a fourth-and-12 play in the closing seconds to secure ULM's 31-28 win at Georgia State that ended a 19-game road losing streak and came up with a fourth-quarter interception in the Warhawks' 21-17 victory over the Ragin' Cajuns in the Sun Belt Conference opener. Vigers, who is expected to transition back to his normal position of cornerback, was named to preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team by Pro Football Focus.
WARHAWKS ADD FOUR NEW ASSISTANT COACHES IN 2023 –
ULM's coaching staff features four new faces in 2023, including assistant head coach/running backs coach Broderick Fobbs, special teams coordinator Jason Rollins, defensive line coach Cody Grice and tight ends coach Davis Lewandowski. Both Fobbs (Grambling, 2014-21) and Rollins (Southern University, interim 2021) previously served as HBCU head coaches.
2023 ULM SCHEDULE FEATURES SIX HOME GAMES –
ULM's 12-game football schedule features six home games for the third time in the last five seasons (previously in 2019 and 2021). Overall, it marks just the sixth time that the Warhawks have played a six-game home schedule in Malone Stadium since joining the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-A).
The Warhawks' 2023 opponents went a combined 74-76 (.493) last season, with six opponents posting .500 or better records, including two teams that posted double-digit win totals, in South Alabama (10-3) and Troy (12-2). In addition, six foes also participated in postseason bowl games a year ago, South Alabama (New Orleans Bowl), Georgia Southern (Camellia Bowl), Southern Miss (LendingTree Bowl), Troy (Cure Bowl), Ole Miss (Texas Bowl) and the Ragin' Cajuns (Independence Bowl).
A closer look at the schedule reveals that ULM will play four of its first five games in Malone Stadium before hitting the road for five of its last seven contests.
Terry Bowden says "November is for contenders," and ULM closes out the 2023 regular season by facing four consecutive bowl participants, in Southern Miss, Troy, Ole Miss and the Ragin' Cajuns. The Warhawks' November opponents produced a combined worksheet of 33-20 (.622) in 2022.
ELEVEN GRADUATES LISTED ON 2023 ULM FOOTBALL ROSTER –
Eleven members of the 2023 ULM football team already have earned their bachelor's degrees: snapper Trey Corley, outside linebacker Ja'Terious Evans, linebacker Austin Goffney, wide receiver Tyrone Howell, wide receiver Jalen Jackson, tight end Garrett Kahmann, tight end Nolan Quinlan, running back Isaiah Woullard, offensive tackle Stacey Wilkins, wide receiver Dariyan Wiley and quarterback Jiya Wright.
Those 11 student-athletes wear a Sun Belt Conference graduate patch on their jersey.
BOWDEN CELEBRATES TEAM ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS –
The ULM football team completed the 2023 spring semester with a cumulative grade-point average of 2.881 – its highest total since at least 2015.
In addition, 54 members of the Warhawk football team posted at least a 3.0 GPA during the spring semester, with 11 student-athletes featured on the President's List (3.9-4.0 semester GPA) and another 12 named to the Dean's List (3.5-3.89 semester GPA). Ten of the 23 student-athletes mentioned on the President's and Dean's Lists graduated from Ouachita Parish high schools. The ULM football team finished the spring semester with a combined 2.79 GPA, an improvement of +0.04 from the fall semester.
Seven football student-athletes participated in ULM's 2023 spring commencement ceremonies, including Tyrese Black (bachelor's degree in general studies), Seth Mason (bachelor's degree in secondary education & teaching), Garrett Kahmann (bachelor's degree in finance), Zack Martin (bachelor's degree in business administration), Sam Plants (bachelor's degree in computer information systems), Tralon Thomas (master's degree in business administration) and Jabari Johnson (master's degree in exercise science).
"Our student-athletes compete in a sport where success is defined by wins and losses," ULM head football coach Terry Bowden said. "These academic successes are wins too — wins in the playbook of life — and should be celebrated just like the triumphs on fall Saturdays. I congratulate our student-athletes, who have embraced the Warhawk Way and committed themselves to pursuing excellence in the classroom and the community just like they do on the practice field and in the stadium."
Bowden also acknowledged the work of Director of Student-Athlete Success Carmen Wright and her staff, especially senior athletic academic counselor Oliver Jackson and athletic academic counselor Karlin Walmsley.
"Carmen, OJ and Karlin deserve a great deal of credit for the performance of our student-athletes in the classroom," Bowden said. "Not all student-athletes learn in the same way and at the same pace, and our academic support staff does an incredible job of developing plans tailored to meet their individual needs. Our student-athletes are more than just student ID numbers to Carmen, OJ and Karlin. Our academic support staff is truly invested in each of our student-athletes, and I salute them for their commitment to encouraging our student-athletes to pursue excellence in the classroom.
"A degree from ULM sets up our student-athletes for success long after their competitive careers are over. Our Warhawk Way motto is to develop 'first-class men and world-class leaders,' and as ULM President Dr. Ron Berry professes, we're all here to 'change lives on the bayou.'"
In April, graduate linebacker Zack Woodard was named to the 2023 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society. Woodard, who earned All-Sun Belt honorable mention after leading the team in tackles with 77 last season, received his Master in Business Administration from ULM in December 2022 while posting a 3.8 GPA as a graduate student. NFF Hampshire Honor Society members must be in their final year of eligibility, have attained a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 (4.0 scale) and be a starter or significant contributor throughout the 2022 season.
BOWDEN: WINNINGEST FAMILY IN NCAA DIVISION I FOOTBALL HISTORY – With ULM's 31-28 win at Georgia State on Nov. 12, 2022, the Bowden coaching family reached another milestone. The late Bobby Bowden (377 career victories) and his sons, Terry (183) and Tommy (90), have combined for 650 wins – the most by any family in NCAA Division I football history. Bobby and Terry became the first father-son combo to serve as head coaches at the NCAA Division I level at the same time while Bobby and Tommy became the first father-son combo ever to coach against each other as head coaches. In a feat likely never to be duplicated, all three Bowden coaches went undefeated and were named National Coach of the Year in the same decade (1990s: Terry, Auburn, 1993; Tommy, Tulane, 1998; and Bobby, Florida State, 1999).
WARHAWK TRENDS UNDER BOWDEN –
Here's how ULM has fared under second-year head coach Terry Bowden (2021-current: 24 games):
2022 / OVERALL
Games played in Malone Stadium: 3-2 / 7-4
Games played on the road/neutral site: 1-6 / 1-12
Games played in August: 0-0 / 0-0
Games played in September: 2-2 / 4-3
Games played in October: 0-4 / 2-7
Games played in November: 2-2 / 2-6
Games played in December: 0-0 / 0-0
When leading at halftime: 1-2 / 2-2
When trailing at halftime: 3-6 / 6-14
When tied at halftime: 0-0 / 0-0
When scoring first: 0-1 / 3-3
When opponent scores first: 4-7 / 5-13
When leading after first quarter: 0-0 / 2-0
When trailing after first quarter: 4-8 / 4-15
When tied after first quarter: 0-0 / 2-1
When leading after three quarters: 1-0 / 4-1
When trailing after three quarters: 3-7 / 4-14
When tied after three quarters: 0-1 / 0-1
Overtime games: 0-0 / 0-0
When gaining more first downs than opponent: 2-1 / 4-4
When gaining fewer first downs than opponent: 2-7 / 2-12
When gaining same number of first downs as opponent: 0-0 / 1-0
When gaining 200+ yards rushing: 1-0 / 1-1
When opponent gains 200+ yards rushing: 0-4 / 1-7
When outrushing opponent: 2-1 / 5-3
When being outrushed by opponent: 2-7 / 3-13
When gaining 200+ yards passing: 3-2 / 5-4
When opponent gains 200+ yards passing: 4-5 / 8-12
When gaining more total yards than opponent: 3-0 / 4-0
When gaining fewer total yards than opponent: 1-8 / 4-16
When leading in time of possession: 1-5 / 2-7
When trailing in time of possession: 3-3 / 6-9