Cajuns Looking For Consistency

Much like the cornerback position, the safety position is not without talent. The question for the 2007 season is one of health and consistency for the safety position. The Cajun Red Zone previews the safety position for the 2007 season.

Projected starters- SS Lamar Morgan 6-2, 210 and FS Gerren Blount 5-10, 180


Lamar Morgan 6-2, 210 Senior- Cajun fans have often spoken of Morgan in terms of past big safeties Orlando Thomas and Kyries Hebert. The problem is that Morgan has only had one healthy season in the Cajun uniform and this season is his last in a Cajun uniform. Morgan has all the tools of your prototype strong safety with size, speed and intelligence. In 2006 he started all 12 games at free safety; he ranked fourth on the team with 53 total tackles. Morgan will make the switch in 2007 to free safety, his natural position.

Gerren Blount 5-10, 180 Sophomore- Gerren Blount does not bring tremendous size to the free safety position, but he does bring 4.5 speed to the position. Blount has cornerback speed, which gives him great range at the free safety position. Blount played in all 12 games as a reserve and on special teams. In 2006, Blount made 24 tackles, including 19 solos, one Sack and one INT. Blount will give the Cajuns some much needed speed at the safety, something that the position lacked at times in 2006.

Maurice Rolle 6-2, 180 Freshman-RS- Rolle is a tall rangy safety that the Cajun staff is very high on. He covers a lot of ground and loves to hit. Rolle does get caught out of position on occasion, but such things happen to inexperienced athletes. Maurice red shirted in 2006, but he garnered notice on the defensive scout team for his play.

Grant Fleming 6-3, 215 Freshman-HS- Fleming comes into the Cajun program as one of the most highly touted recruits from the 2007 class. Fleming is a tall rangy athlete, with 4.6 speed in the forty. The Cajun staff is extremely high on the former class 4A All-State selection. Fleming has been impressive in fall camp, is currently rotating in on the second unit. Look for Grant Fleming to contribute a lot in the safety rotation and special teams in 2007.

Derek Keyes 5-10, 192 Senior- Keyes is a former walk-on that has made his name on the field with big hits. While not largest of athletes, Keyes plays the game like it should be played. Keyes played in just five games due to injuries during the 2006 season. Keyes will continue to contribute in the safety rotation and on special teams in 2007.

Daylon McCoy 5-11, 195 Freshman-RS- McCoy is another highly touted athlete that Cajun fans have waited to see on the field. The former Texas 3A Defensive Player of the Year earned his reputation as a hard hitter on the scout squad in 2006. The Cajun staff is really high on the former high school linebacker, and has worked with him since last fall on making the transition to strong safety. McCoy is currently rotating in with the second unit at the safety position. Look for McCoy to contribute a lot in the safety rotation and on special teams.

Justin Lee 6-1, 175 Junior- Lee is another walk-on that has contributed mostly on special teams, but played in eight games during the 2006 season. He recorded eight tackles, including at least one tackle in five games during last season. Look for Lee to contribute on special teams and some in the rotation.

Fabian Adams 6-2, 192 Freshman-HS- Adams has also shown impressive athletic ability this fall, showing the skills the coaching raved about during the spring. Adams is another tall and rangy athlete, with great speed. The problem for Adams is he has three other good prospects in front of him in Rolle, Fleming and McCoy. Unless there are injuries in the rotation, Adams will red-shirt for the 2007 season. The future bolds really well for the Cajuns, with the young talent the staff has stocked in Rolle, Fleming, McCoy and Adams.