“That’s when we knew he was going to be suspended for a while,” Jermaine Antoine said following Thursday’s practice. “I was kind of skeptical. Like ‘Oh man, what are we going to do at his position?’”
Hill, a returning All-Southland Conference defensive back, and wide receiver Tavarious Battiste “won’t be with us for a while” Cowboys coach Lance Guidry publicly revealed on Wednesday — a punishment stemming from a violation of team rules last season. Guidry said it is possible that both return during the season.
Hill’s transgressions leave an already vulnerable secondary, which lost Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year Wallace Scott to graduation, searching to fill his gaping void.
Antoine is the lone returning starter who’s spent all of fall playing without his childhood friend near him.
“We’re definitely losing a voice, but I think that’s where I have to step up because, just like Dominique, I’ve been starting since I was a freshman,” Antoine said. “He’s definitely a big part and a lot of guys listen to him, but I think they’ll listen to me as well.”
Adaptations began during the spring, even when Hill, the team’s leader in tackles for loss last season, was still practicing. Senior receiver Khalil Thomas converted to cornerback. Redshirt freshman Trent Jackson emerged at the same position.
Andre Fuller, who played in nine games and intercepted one pass last season, became a more potent player. Colby Burton’s one of a handful of true freshman Guidry’s already adamant will play, mostly in nickel but sometimes at corner. Matt Laferrera is another, but he’ll likely see more on special teams.
Jackson, Fuller and Antoine were mainstays with the first-team during practices this week. Burton also took his turn running with the starters.
“It’s just like somebody getting hurt, when somebody gets hurt, we’ve got other guys that can step up and just keep on going,” Fuller said. “It’s easier for some guys, harder for others. The younger guys are just going to have to grow up, which, we’re all kind of young in the secondary. We’ve only got one senior, so everyone’s going to have to grow up and that’s part of it.”
Guidry requests his defenses to come with attitude. The “DWA” moniker is a point of pride, Fuller says, and “you better have it as soon as you step on the field.”
The junior from Monroe maintains that, even with a pivotal player absent, this mantra does not change.
And when the unit’s humming, Fuller says it’s a sight to see.
“When we’re all on the same page, it’s like we’re not missing a beat,” Fuller said. “You can’t tell that we were senior heavy last year and that they’re all gone. Like nothing has changed, like we picked up where they left off and we’re just trying to keep it going, exceed what they did in the past and trying to get better and better.”
Cowboys ranked No. 11 in Hero Sports poll
McNeese was ranked No. 11 in the Hero Sports preseason poll released Friday, the second-highest Southland Conference team behind No. 2 Sam Houston State.
The Cowboys were also ranked No. 11 in the STATS preseason poll and No. 9 in the Coaches Poll released earlier this month. Defending national champion North Dakota State was No. 1 in all three polls.
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