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Football: Allen opening eyesKevin Foote, Daily Advertiser, August 8, 2012 There aren’t many positions on the depth chart that UL coaches are planning on filling with true freshmen. And wide receiver certainly isn’t one of them, currently considered by many as the most talented and deepest position on the Cajuns roster going into the 2012 season. For former New Iberia Senior High receiver LaMarcus Allen, that’s too bad, because he’s a freshman receiver making quite an impression on the Cajun coaches. Head coach Mark Hudspeth mentioned Allen’s progress in his opening statement in Monday’s UL Media Day activities. "I think if he had to play we wouldn’t have any dropoff with him," Hudspeth said. "The only problem with LaMarcus is we are so deep at wide receiver. But he has the ability right now to play as a true freshman, and I think play at a high level — not mop-up duty, not go in on second down and block." Allen has gotten to the point already that the coaches are confident in him as an option, despite such established players as Javone Lawson, Darryl Surgent, Harry Peoples and newcomers Devin Figaro and Bradley Brown ahead of him on the depth chart. And that doesn’t even include sophomore Jamal Robinson, who made quite an impression himself as a freshman a year ago. "LaMarcus and Jamal are a little different as players, but they’re both good players," UL offensive coordinator Jay Johnson said. "We just really like what LaMarcus has done so far. He can run and he’s shown good ball skills. We really like him. It’s just that our depth is so good at that position." No JealousyWith all the preseason hype about how good the Cajuns’ receiving corps is, it would only seem natural that there would be many receiver clamoring for their opportunity to shine. And while they all are itching to contribute, senior Harry Peoples maintains that it’s not an unhealthy competition. "It’s not a problem," said Peoples, who caught 58 passes for 697 yards and a score last season. "We all know we can all play ball and make plays. The team goes first. The team comes before us." With as many accolades as the receiving corps has received since its circus-catch exhibition in the New Orleans Bowl win over San Diego State, Peoples said that all the receivers still have plenty of room to improve. "I think one thing we all can work on is yards after catch," he said. "We all made plays last season, but we didn’t have good YAC. We need good yards after catch." The other area the coaches are emphasizing is in blocking to help spring running backs free for bigger gains. "The coaches are stressing that," Peoples said. "If we hold our blocks a little more, we’ve got some fast backs (Effrem Reed, Montrel Carter) who can make big plays, sort of like (Jeff) Demps and (Chris) Rainey at Florida." For the receivers, though, it all starts with quarterback Blaine Gautier. "It helps a lot to have Blaine back," Peoples said. "He believes in us and we have confidence in him." Johnson Backing HarrisUL defensive coordinator Greg Stewart has a bird’s-eye at the heated battle under way in Ragin’ Cajun training camp for the starting running back position that Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year Alonzo Harris held down a season ago. "I’ll tell you what: We’re running the ball good," Stewart said. "I think it’s different. "We’re having a tough time with one of them guys that they have back there "» They (give) the ball to a guy that can really fun fast, and he’s been making it hard on us. So, I’m excited about seeing him. "If that guy sees a crease "» he’s gone," Stewart added. "He’ll take it to the house. He’s good." Stewart didn’t name a name. But he’s apparently talking about speedy Montrel Carter, a Cecilia High product who is in a battle for the starting job and playing time with not only power-back Harris but also fellow redshirt freshman Effrem Reed. Harris, however, still has his fans. UL offensive coordinator Jay Johnson evidently is chief among them. "We do have depth, to a point," Johnson said shortly after Stewart spoke at Monday’s Media Day. "But, then again, a couple of those guys (Carter and Reed) haven’t taken a snap on Saturday. I always think that is a critical, critical part. "Alonzo’s back; had a very nice year for us," Johnson added with reference to Harris, a preseason all-Sun Belt pick. "We’ve really challenged him, and he needs to carry this football team, in my opinion, from a run game." That’s not to discount Carter and Reed. Still, Johnson believes there is something to be said for actual game experience. "Those guys are very, very talented, and they’ve done some very, very positive things," he said. "Yet, at the same token, they need to do it on a Saturday, out there on Cajun Field, when the lights are on. "I’m 100 percent positive they will do that. But I think until we see "» how that flows, that will determine how we work those guys. "You get a guy that’s hot, you kind of have to work that and massage that, manipulate it a little bit," Johnson added. "So it’s gonna be a little bit by committee. But that main lead horse still needs to be Alonzo." — Tim Buckley contributed to this report.
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