The wide receivers position has been a season-long issue for UL’s offense and it remains a mystery heading into Saturday’s 4 p.m. road Sun Belt game against Southern Miss in Hattiesburg.
The bad news is one or both of UL’s expected starters – Shelton Sampson and Landon Strother – have missed multiple games. Sampson is back, but still not up to speed and Strother is out again with his second significant injury.
The good news is there are more viable options than most expected going into August camp.
One of those is redshirt freshman Trenton Chaney.
Currently, redshirt freshman Russell Babineaux lead the team with 15 receptions, followed closely by Chaney with 14 catches for 169 yards.
“I feel like I’m getting better just game by game, but practice after practice,” Chaney said. “I’m getting more comfortable like every day with my prep and just trusting myself … doing the same routine over and over.
“It’s just coming together slowly.”
Chaney’s talent level has never been a question. It’s been about trying to stay healthy – spending much of the season slowed by nagging injuries – as well as mastering all the finer points to playing receiver at the collegiate level.
“When I was injured, it was a little tough to maintain my regular process,” the 5-foot-9, 178-pound receiver said. “I couldn’t do the physical activity stuff. I wouldn’t say it was hard to bounce back, but you have to get back comfortable sticking your foot in the ground and cutting … stuff like that.”
Chaney has played in five of the seven games. From camp to the games played, it’s been lesson in the basics of the position.
“Learning the defense and my alignment, my assignment, my read before the ball is snapped – I had trouble with that stuff before fall camp and I’m gradually fixing it,” Chaney revealed. “It’s slowing down in my head.”
Last week was more of a running strategy for the Cajuns’ offense in the 33-6 win over Troy, but Chaney led all receivers with four targets, three receptions and 45 yards.
Sampson had one catch on three targets for six yards.
“Yes, our running backs do a good job and our O-line,” Chaney said. “We run the ball a good bit. We just try to be more physical on the perimeter and when the ball does come our way, we try to make the best of our opportunities.”
Indeed, the receivers room remains a work in progress.
Including the tight ends, seven different UL targets at least have double-digit receptions for triple-digit yards. KeDarius Wade leads the group in yards with 11 catches for 226 yards and two touchdowns.
“KeDarius Wade has played all year, so you feel really good about that,” UL coach Michael Desormeaux said. “I think with Russ and Trent, you got two guys that are playing really well in the same spot. Maybe that gives you an opportunity to play one or some of them a little bit more.”
One advantage Chaney has in a longtime relationship with quarterback Lunch Winfield. Both being from Lutcher, they’ve been playing football together since the backyard football days prior to their high school years.
“Yes, that relationship goes back before high school,” Chaney said. “It’s just a regular nature for us. It’s just always been us.”
The matchup may lend itself to the running game. The Golden Eagles’ defense is dead last in the Sun Belt against the run at 252 yards a game, compared to No. 4 against the pass at 194.7 yards a game.
With that said, Troy’s defense ranked significantly high against the run than the pass and the Cajuns ran for 243 and only passed for 108.
Despite the lack of consistent production through seven games, Chaney said he remains confident.
“My confidence has always been through the roof,” he said. “I’ve always been heavy on myself about confidence because without confidence, you’re really nothing. If you don’t have confidence, then you might not make the play. You might overthink it. I always preach to myself about having confidence.”
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