In the first quarter of UL’s 32-31 loss at Louisiana Tech, something potentially very important took place.
Redshirt junior wide receiver Shelton Sampson caught his first pass of the season.
It wasn’t just any catch. He broke a tackle and raced 41 yards to the Tech 21.
If the 6-foot-4, 206-pounder hadn’t missed the entire spring, preseason camp and most of the regular season with a combination of knee and ankle injuries, might he have scored on that play?
“I think he might have, yes,” UL offensive coordinator Tim Leger said.
“I mean, maybe, possibly. I think so, but right now, I’m working with what I’ve got,” Sampson said.
Heading into a 4 p.m. Saturday showdown with reigning Sun Belt West champion Troy at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium, the Ragin’ Cajuns hope last week’s progress was the first big step toward Sampson becoming the No. 1 receiver they envision when he’s healthy.
“He made tremendous progress last week,” Leger said.
Sampson finished with two catches for 60 yards on four targets.
“I feel like it’s gotten better every game,” Sampson said. “I’ve just been attacking the days and attacking practice, and practice translates into the game.
“I feel like just getting back to running routes like myself, just honing in on the details again and getting back right.”
The hope is Sampson will return to the form he exhibited during a four-game stretch in the middle of last season.
He’s had a constant battle with injuries. Sampson began last season injured before hitting his groove by catching 19 balls for 359 yards and five touchdowns during that four-game stretch. He was running past defenders and leaping over them to make catches.
Sampson finished last season with 32 catches for 537 yards and six touchdowns. Going into the offseason, the Cajuns were hoping those numbers had just scratched the surface of his potential.
“He’s a guy on the GPS during summer workouts when he’s healthy, he’ll be in the 23 miles an hour range,” Leger said of Sampson’s speed. “That’s how fast he can be. He hasn’t hit that yet in a game. He’s still not at his top yet, but it’s getting … a lot closer.
“I think that’s right around the corner, and hopefully, I think you’re going to see it this week.”
The Troy defense ranks No. 3 in the Sun Belt against the run at 113.6 yards per game and 10th against the pass at 236.2 yards a game.
Sampson said Leger is always preaching “the Cajuns go as the receivers go.”
So there may not be a better game for Sampson to approach his potential.
“I definitely feel like I’m ready,” Sampson said. “I’m getting my speed and my acceleration back. So, you’ve got to go out there and play, like I said, get back to dominating.”
One advantage Sampson has over last season is he knows he can play at that elite level, because he experienced it last year.
“Last year was just a proof to myself that it’s in me,” he said. “Like, I can do this.”
Last year’s journey also taught the former Catholic High of Baton Rouge standout to “take care of my body better — recovering, eating, sleeping, just everything off the field.”
The injuries didn’t stop, with Sampson suffering a bruised knee days before the start of August camp and then spraining his ankle in the first quarter of the season opener against Lamar. He returned against Arkansas State but didn’t make a catch.
Sampson isn’t focused on what he’s overcome, instead concentrating on helping the Cajuns win Saturday.
“I mean, it was frustrating, but I just try to look at the positives and what I can control,” Sampson said. “I attacked the rehab every day and pushed to get back as soon as possible.”
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