Football: Surgent noticed – watch lists, that is

Tim Buckley, Daily Advertiser, August 3, 2012

UL receiver/return specialist Darryl Surgent was one of 49 players named Thursday to the 2012 Watch List for the Paul Hornung Award, which honors the most versatile player in major college football.

The junior from Alexandria High had 28 catches for 518 yards and six touchdowns, 27 punt returns for 323 yards and one touchdown, and 37 kick returns for 774 yards for the 9-4 Cajuns in 2011.

"It just says something about respect for our program, now that we’re getting guys with national honors," Cajuns coach Mark Hudspeth said.

Surgent is the fourth UL player named to the watch list of a major award for the coming season, joining quarterback Blaine Gautier (Manning Award), kicker Brett Baer (Groza Award) and center Andre Huval (Rimington Trophy).

"It’s definitely a blessing," Surgent said of the watch-list mention. "I know I wouldn’t have been able to do any of what I have done in the past without my teammates so I’m very thankful."

The Hornung Award, now in its third year and presented by the Louisville Sports Commission, was won last by Georgia’s Brandon Boykin, a cornerback/kick returner now with the Philadelphia Eagles, and before that by Owen Marecic, a two-way starter at Stanford.

This year’s watch list was compiled by a panel of college football experts based on a combination of 2011 statistics, career performance and expectations heading into the season.

The award is named after Hornung, the 1956 Heisman Trophy winner from Notre Dame and a Louisville native.

Running back battle

After Thursday’s first practice of preseason camp, Hudspeth suggested — again — quite a battle for playing time at running back is about to unfold.

Alonzo Harris started last season and was named Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year, but redshirt freshman Effrem Reed, Montrel Carter and Torrey Pierce all are vying for carries too.

"I can see us playing two, possibly even three or four backs this year," Hudspeth said. "We’ve got a talented, young backfield that all bring their strengths."

Baer recognized

Sports Illustrated’s website this week ranked Baer among its seven "Top College Football Kickers in 2012."

The other six: Southern Cal’s Andrew Heidari, Oklahoma’s Michael Hunnicutt, Florida State’s Dustin Hopkins, Nebraska’s Brett Maher, Oklahome State’s Quinn Sharp and Florida’s Caleb Sturgis. All but Heidari and Hunnicutt are seniors.

From SI.com’s comment on Baer: "The only kicker in the country to make 90 percent of his field goal tries in 2011, Baer has missed only two of 27 career attempts."

Big changes

Hudspeth said several Cajuns transformed their bodies during the offseason, including starting running back Alonzo Harris, starting cornerback Jemarlous Moten, projected starting left guard Mykhael Quave and projected starting defensive tackle Cordian Hagans.

"Cordian Hagans has really slimmed down," Hudspeth said of the 6-5, 280-pounder, "and I think he looks like he’s in phenomenal shape."

Quave, Hudspeth said, has both improved his strength added weight, checking in "probably a little over 300" pounds.

Moten, according to Hudspeth, has "added about 15 pounds over what he played at last year, so he’ll be able to take care of his body and be a little bit more physical player."

And Harris, as previously reported, added about 20 pounds to what he weighed at the start of last season, putting him in the 215-to-220 range.

McCray strongest

With the opening of camp, Hudspeth said the Cajuns’ current strongest player in the weight room is probably Brandon McCray. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound defensive lineman benches 475 pounds.

New juice

The Cajuns have a new sound system — Hudspeth calls it a "juice machine" — that they broke out for Thursday’s first practice.

"That joker is full-steam ahead," Hudspeth said. The new, amped-up system plays music — and Hudspeth’s voice, whenever he wants everyone on the field to hear it.

Poll politics

Sun Belt preseason favorite Florida International received three votes in the USA Today Top 25 poll, which had LSU No. 1, Alabama No. 2 and Southern Cal No. 3 when released Thursday. That essentially has the Panthers tied for No. 43 with Missouri and Tennessee.

FIU was the only Sun Belt school receiving votes. Hudspeth again is on the poll’s panel of voters. Other conference coaches with a vote are Arkansas State’s Gus Malzahn, Dan McCarney of North Texas and Middle Tennessee’s Rick Stockstill.