It’s a non-conference contest on the gridiron as a member of the Sun Belt opens their season in the Lone Star State against a team in the Big 12. The UL Monroe Warhawks are on the road as they make the trip to face the Texas Longhorns Saturday night. UL Monroe finished the 2021 season with a 4-8 record and failed to make a bowl game for coach Terry Bowden. Texas had a disappointing 2021 season in the first year of the Steve Sarkisian era, finishing the year 5-7 to snap a string of four straight bowl game appearances, not to mention victories. These two programs have met just once as FBS opponents, with the Longhorns rolling to a 59-20 victory at home in that lone meeting back on September 5, 2009.
UL Monroe did show improvement in Terry Bowden’s first campaign, going from 0-10 in 2020 in Matt Viator’s final season to 4-8 last year. The Warhawks have a lot of room for improvement but that’s the status quo for the program: they haven’t made a bowl game since 2012. That remains their lone bowl game in school history. On the plus side, Louisiana Monroe has eight starters back on offense and six back on defense, so there is some continuity there. The other side of that coin is that the team has a new offensive coordinator as Rich Rodriguez took the head coaching job a Jacksonville State and the offensive line is a bit green. It’s going to take time to get the program to be even a fringe contender in the conference.
Last season, the Warhawks were 102nd in the FBS in passing offense as they averaged 191.8 yards per game through the air on the season. UL Monroe finished 68th in rushing offense as they put up an average of 153.5 yards a game on the ground. The Warhawks were 110th in scoring offense with an average of 20.9 points a game. UL Monroe was just tied for 110th in scoring defense as they gave up an average of 33.5 points per contest. Chandler Rogers is expected to be the starting QB: he completed 112 of 179 passes for 1,311 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions last season. He added 367 yards plus a score on the ground. Jiya Wright (10 of 20, 164 yards, two TD, two INT, 127 rushing yards, TD) could be involved as well. Andrew Henry (131 carries, 485 yards, four TD) and Malik Jackson (80 carries, 451 yards, three TD) are the top two backs in the run game. Boogie Knight (45 receptions, 588 yards, three TD), Will Derrick (25 grabs, 353 yards, TD), Zach Jackson (25 catches, 301 yards, TD) and Jevin Frett (12 receptions, 218 yards, TD) are all back to provide experienced options at th e receiver position. Calum Sutherland hit 27 of 28 extra point attempts and 16 of 21 field goal attempts with a long of 53 last season.