When junior linebacker Kailep Edwards approached the UL football coaching staff about redshirting this season, some eyebrows were raised.
“It’s kind of a similar situation to Terrence (Williams) last year,” UL coach Michael Desormeaux said.
In that scenario, Williams played in five games — including the exempt bowl game — while switching from running back to linebacker.
With K.C. Ossai in his senior season and transfer Carmycah Glass hitting the ground running, perhaps it’s best for Edwards and UL for the West St. John product to have two years of eligibility left after this season.
“He came and said he talked to his parents and, 'What do you think about me redshirting?' ” Desormeaux said. ” 'I’m not playing a lot on defense — I know I’m playing on specials teams — but I just think I can help this team more if I stay and I had two more years to play.'
"We’ve had a couple of guys ask about it and I just asked them, ‘What’s your plans? Are you doing this so you can go somewhere else? “He’s like, ‘No, I want to play here and I want to make a difference. I just think I can help more than what I am right now.’ ”
With Edwards sitting out for the rest of the season, UL will count on Ossai, Caleb Kibodi, Williams and Glass to hold down the position.
“I think it’s a good decision for us and for him,” Desormeaux said. “Next year, it’ll help tremendously.”
Smith smiling
UL senior wide receiver Tavion Smith is walking around with a big smile on his face these days, but he's still working hard to improve.
“Basically, I’m just trying to do everything I can to help us win,” Smith said. “Every day, working to get 1% better.”
But it’s hard for Smith to hide his glee. Through years of high school and Juco football, the Hattiesburg, Mississippi, native hoped to experience what it was like to play a big role for a winning FBS program, and that’s exactly what’s going on these days.
The Ragin’ Cajuns are 6-1, and Smith has seven receptions for 86 yards and two touchdowns on the season.
“This is something that I always dreamed of, being able to actually do it and show my people that I’m actually able to do it," Smith said. "It’s just real nice.”
The biggest moment was the Oct. 5 trip to his hometown during a 23-13 win over Southern Miss.
“Before the game started, my mom came and talked to me,” Smith said. “She got emotional … I mean, I’m back home doing what I always wanted to do, so it was definitely special having my whole family there — over 20 people were there.
“Most of those guys on the field for Southern Miss, I already knew them. I was having conversations with them on the field. It was all love at the end of the day.”
Now it’s a matter of finishing the season strong.
“This is my last season, so being able to try to go out with a winning team and try to bring a championship back to Lafayette,” Smith said. “It’s something we’re all really working on.
“It’s definitely been a special season. I feel like we haven’t played our best ball yet. We’ll definitely get better. We’re just trying to show that to the world.”
West fitting in
Prior to the start of the season, former Lafayette Christian two-way star Fitzgerald West was excited about the possibilities after transferring to UL from LSU.
Seven games in, the excitement remains.
“It’s going amazing,” he said.
West is in the rotation on the defensive front as expected. The surprise is he’s also playing a role on offense as a blocker in jumbo packages.
“Being able to play both sides of the ball again — something I haven’t done in awhile — I’m just loving it,” he said. “I’m really enjoying the moment.”
That role played a big part in UL’s 34-24 win over Coastal Carolina on Saturday, with West’s physicality helping Ben Wooldridge score on a quarterback sneak to take a 24-17 lead with 12:48 left in the game.
“I know I’m going make a hole for the running back,” West said. “It keeps me active on the sidelines. I have to watch for any short yardages. I’m into the game. I think I’m ready before coach even knows he’s going to call it."
West is totally on board with the team’s approach.
“I’m impressed,” he said. “I feel like we’re doing everything we should be doing. I feel anybody who is surprised by it really didn’t see the work that we put in during the summer and the grind during the spring. I feel like everyone has bought into the program.”
With an intense position coach in Dennis Thomas and a passionate head coach, it’s an interesting fit with the laid-back West.
“I can get there,” West said with a laugh. “I love to laugh and make jokes. For me to lock in, it takes me game day. I have to lock in on game day. Once I lock in, I’m a whole different person.
“I’m the one giving the juice, ‘Let’s go, it’s time to go.’ Once somebody makes a play on the line, it’s up from there. I’m cheering everybody on.”