By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
RUSTON – There’s good reason for Louisiana Tech football fans to be optimistic that 2025 will be the season that turns the Bulldogs’ fortunes in the right direction, as Sonny Cumbie’s fourth Tech team kicks off preseason practice today.
While the 2024 Bulldogs didn’t initially earn a bowl invitation with just five wins, after Marshall backed out of playing in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl last December, Tech got the call. That experience, and the sting of five losses by a touchdown or less, give cause to Cumbie and crew feeling confident that this fall will be a breakthrough snapping a skid of four straight losing seasons, going 11-26 in the last three with Cumbie on the sideline.
A key component is the December addition of offensive coordinator Tony Franklin, whose Bulldog offense led the country in scoring (51 points per game) and total offense (578 yards pg) in his last year as OC back in 2012. Franklin has sophomore quarterback Evan Bullock back to steer things, and explosive players like running back Omiri Wiggins, tight end Eli Finley and receiver Jay Wilkerson.
Another cornerstone: the Tech defense, the strength of last year’s team, ranking 12th nationally and leading Conference USA by allowing just 308 yards and 21 points per game. Senior linebacker Kolbe Fields is the Preseason CUSA Defensive Player of the Year and has talented safeties Jacob Fields and Blake Thompson behind him.
The Bulldogs have a new defensive coordinator, Luke Olson, but he knows the territory. Last fall he was the DC at CUSA co-champion Jacksonville State.
Tech kicks off Aug. 30 on Origin Bank Field at Joe Aillet Stadium against Southeastern Louisiana, then visits LSU in Week 2 and kicks off the CUSA slate Sept. 13 at home against New Mexico State.
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