QB competition a focal point at Ragin’ Cajuns Media Day

LAFAYETTE -- The first day of fall camp has yet to become routine for Louisiana-Lafayette head football coach Mark Hudpseth, who is entering his sixth season at the helm of the Ragin’ Cajus’ program.
“I still feel like the new kid on the block,” Hudpseth said during Wednesday’s Media Day. “Even though at the Sun Belt meetings this year I was one of the veterans in the room, but it still feels like we just started a couple of months ago.
“This is my favorite day of the year.”
This year’s Cajuns team reported for fall camp on Wednesday and began practicing on Thursday. Louisiana-Lafayette opens up the season at home on Saturday, September 3 against Boise State. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m.
During Wednesday’s press conference, Hudspeth addressed several issues from uniform changes to this year’s team message and how the team is looking to bounce back from a disappointing 4-8 season a year ago.
Hudspeth also took time to discuss the high-profile position battle at quarterback between Jalen Nixon, Jordan Davis and recent LSU graduate transfer Anthony Jennings.
“To say we only have one good quarterback that would not be the case,” Hudspeth said. “We really feel like we have three really talented quarterbacks. We are excited to see them in practice and finding a role for each one of them.”
Jennings arrived on campus only a few weeks ago and will now be forced to play catchup. The former LSU starter, who lost his starting job to Brandon Harris prior to the 2015 season, sees the Cajuns as a great fit for him.
“Talking to the coaching staff I just think this offense just fits me,” Jennings said. “I can bring leadership and experience and help them get back to winning on the field.”
Jennings added, “I have a good opportunity to come here and play but whoever gets the job I will be there to support them and do the best I can to help this team.”
Nixon meanwhile split time as the starting quarterback last season and was going to be moved to running back in the spring. A toe injury sidelined him and now he is back at quarterback.
He sees the competition as a good thing not only for himself but for the other two signal callers.
“We definitely see it as a positive,” Nixon said. “We are already starting to act like brothers.”
Davis meanwhile is coming off a season in which he saw action in three games, and was the projected starter during spring practice. Davis’s performance during the spring was up-and-down, including the team’s spring game, and he knows that he has work to do to seize control of the starting job.
“There are a lot of things that I am going to need to work on during the next four weeks,” Davis said. “From footwork to defense recognition, all the things that I need to better understand how to play this position. I just need to prepare myself for that first game against Boise State. That is the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Louisiana-Lafayette returns to the practice field on Monday and will hold its first scrimmage on Saturday, August 13th at 6 p.m.