Cowboys begin season of hope against visiting Cajuns

Stillwater, OK – The ninth-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys league bout against the visiting Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns.

Considering the fact that the Cajuns won just three of their 12 games a season ago, it came as no surprise that a change was made at the top. Ricky Bustle was fired as head coach, and Mississippi State assistant Mark Hudspeth was chosen as his replacement. A member of the Sun Belt Conference, Louisiana isn't expected to be in the mix for that league's title this year, but Hudspeth is eager to prove the doubters wrong.

"Preseason polls are so much about last year," said Hudspeth in response to being picked to finish eighth in the nine-team Sun Belt. "Do you like to be picked that way? No. Do I like it for motivation? Yes. Because if the players are half as upset about it as I am, they probably worked out twice as hard."

Mike Gundy has elevated Oklahoma State to significant heights, earning a program-best 11-2 record in 2010. With a wealth of talent returning, the Cowboys are considered among the elite in the new-look Big 12. One of the key returnees, quarterback Brandon Weeden, recognizes that the Cowboys no longer take a back seat to programs such as Texas and Oklahoma.

"I think we're for real," says Weeden in response to the lofty expectations placed on his team. We've had three straight good seasons. We continue to recruit better players and improve our facilities. Everything is on the up. Anytime you win 11 games, there's going to be that added pressure. As a player if you let that pressure weigh on you at all, there's a good chance you won't exceed those expectations."

Oklahoma State has won all seven of its previous meetings with Louisiana, including last year's 54-28 victory over the Ragin' Cajuns.

The best player on the offensive side of the ball for the Cajuns is Ladarius Green, a talented tight end who has been selected preseason First Team All-Sun Belt. In 2010, Green led all tight ends nationally in receiving yards (794), receiving yards per game (79.4), receiving yards per catch (18.0) and receiving touchdowns (seven).

Last season, Chris Masson took the majority of the snaps for the Cajuns, completing just 52.9 percent of his throws for 1,842 yards and 11 touchdown. Masson is a better passer than teammate Blaine Gautier, who provides a threat as a runner. Don't be surprised if both QBs see significant time in this contest.

Louisiana struggled mighty to run the ball a year ago, and there is no reason to expect a significant improvement in 2011.

As for the Cajun defense, the group held opponents to just under 400 total yards per game in 2010. Still, Louisiana yielded a staggering 37.0 ppg, a figure that must improve by at least 10 ppg if the club hopes to compete in the Sun Belt.

The Cajuns posted only 17 sacks and 14 interceptions last season, and there aren't many playmakers on the active roster. Keep an eye on senior linebacker Devon Lewis-Buchanan, as he posted 63 tackles last season, including six TFL, and 2.5 sacks. Fellow senior Lionel Stokes had three INTs last season.

The Louisiana defense will be facing one of the top offensive units in all of college football in Oklahoma State. Mentioned above, Weeden led a group that averaged 44.2 ppg and 520.2 total ypg a year ago. A former professional baseball player, Weeden enjoyed one of the finest seasons in school history as a first-time starter in 2010, establishing six new program records in throwing for nearly 4,300 yards and 34 TDs.

Justin Blackmon also turned in a monster campaign, logging 111 receptions for 1,782 yards and 20 scores en route to being named the 2010 Biletnikoff Award winner. Blackmon will see added coverage in 2010, but he has the talent to beat two defenders routinely.

Offensive coordinator Dana Holgersen left for West Virginia, and Todd Monken makes his debut as the new OC against Louisiana. Gundy asked Monken to keep the offense the same, and the coach has obliged.

Last season, the Oklahoma State defense did a decent job in stopping the run (133.7 ypg, second in the Big 12, 37th nationally), but defending the pass was another matter entirely (275.9 ypg, 11th in the conference, 115th in the country).

The only returning starter on the defensive line is senior Jamie Blatnik, but there is talent and depth there so it could turn into an area of strength as the season progresses. The linebacking corps has just one returning starter as well in sophomore Shaun Lewis, the Big 12's co-Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2010.

Despite the gaudy numbers put up by opposing teams in the passing game last year, the secondary is what will likely carry the Pokes this season on defense as three starters are back, including playmaking senior Markelle Martin.