Cajun football reports to fall camp for 2024 season
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) -- The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns have officially reported for fall camp for the 2024 football season.
After 6-7 finishes in back-to-back years, the Cajuns are looking to build this program back into a winner. Head Coach Michael Desormeaux believes this offseason has been miles above the rest.
"The thing that we're most excited about and I know you got to hear from a lot of people today," Desormeaux said. "We've had the best seven months that we've ever had leading up to this point."
As a new season commences fall camp will be similar to the past two, as the Cajuns face another quarterback competition. Chandler Fields will battle in camp with Ben Wooldridge, who is fully recovered from a season-ending knee injury he suffered in 2023.
"I'm really motivated," Wooldridge said. "I'm really excited. It's been a long ten months, right? And looking forward to it for sure."
Fields said he understands that this battle can only help the team.
"Healthy competition is the key, I think, just to make the team better," Fields said. "Each and every rep. I mean two, basically two starters going out there on first and second teams. It doesn't get much better than that for the team. So making the team better is the key. And we're going to go out there and enjoy it and have fun."
On the other side of the ball, Jim Salgado enters his first season as defensive coordinator for UL. His attitude and defensive philosophy have already begun making its mark on the Cajuns.
"It's going to fit with what we have, right? The players, it's all about the players, right? It's not about scheme," Salgado said. "But I'll tell you this: we're going to be fast."
UL defensive lineman Jordan Lawson said he is already seeing how Salgado is gelling with his players.
"I know he's been meshing pretty well with the guys on the defense," Lawson said. "I think most of the guys on the defense have a pretty good relationship with him already. He's a pretty down-to-earth guy. So I think everybody's excited to see what type of experience from the play-calling side that he'll be able to provide."
In just 30 days, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns will take on the Grambling State Tigers in week one of the college football season.