At a cursory glance, McNeese’s defensive backfield will lack any depth Saturday against Abilene Christian.
Then Dominique Hill appears.
Damion Morgan, the team’s starting weak safety, has a high ankle sprain and did not practice all week. Officially, Morgan is a game-time decision, but the outlook is not good.
Trent Jackson, a backup Buck safety, has been ruled out for the season with a fractured metatarsal bone in his foot.
Fuller, formerly the starting free safety, will start at weak safety in place of Morgan. Erik Jones will fill in at free safety, McNeese coach Lance Guidry said. Hill will man his customary Buck position but also be tasked with backing up both Fuller and Jones at the other safeties.
Making things easier, too, is Josh Washington — the backup Buck safety who manned the position admirably while Hill served a six-game suspension to begin the season.
“Dominique knows the free safety; he knows all the safety spots.” Guidry said. “We get depth with Dominique, who can act as two guys. If Andre was to go down, Dominique would play there and Josh would play at the Buck. If the free safety goes down, we can move Andre over and play Dominique at the weak. We’re really getting depth out of three positions with two guys.”
Orgeron cleared to play in front of dad
After sitting out last week with a rib injury, Parker Orgeron is cleared to play Saturday.
His dad will be there to see it.
Orgeron, McNeese’s slot receiver who also doubled as the starting punt returner, practiced fully all week and will play without limitations. His father, LSU interim head coach Ed Orgeron, has long planned to attend the game as part of his bye week activities.
“We’re going to be there the minute they step on the field and just savor every second,” Ed told The American Press. “I tell you what, I’m going to be there as soon as I can, I promise you. We’re going to have the whole Orgeron gang there cheering for the Cowboys.”
Parker will not return punts, though, ceding that duty to Kent Shelby, who began the year as the Cowboys’ starting punt returner. Parker took the job after Shelby missed some time with turf toe and Darious Crawley was ineffective as his backup.
“(Kent) caught them last week so he’ll probably catch them again,” Guidry said. “But we’ve still got Parker if we need Parker. I don’t want Parker to get hit in the open field like that. I’d rather him catch a ball and get hit than someone come full speed.”
Thomas sidelined on kickoffs
Cornerback Khalil Thomas, who did not practice Tuesday or Wednesday while dealing with turf toe, will start Saturday and play defense but not return kicks, Guidry said.
Thomas, who has the fourth-most kickoff return yards in program history and returned one for a touchdown earlier this season against Incarnate Word, was in a protective walking boot on Tuesday. He practiced fully on Thursday.
In Thomas’ place, running back Justin Pratt will serve as the primary kick returner and Ben Jones will be the off returner.
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