LAKE CHARLES – McNeese's defensive line took the hardest hit following the 2014 season with the loss of three starters to graduation. But the lack of starting experience isn't enough to worry about as the Cowboys return a lot of players that have taken a lot of repetitions as well as some talented freshmen looking to make their way onto the active roster.
 
"We have some experience coming back," said defensive coordinator Lance Guidry. "We have some guys that have been in the program but haven't been starters. (Lone returning starter Brian) Hine is nursing a knee right now. He probably has the most experience in the line."
 
Hine (6-2, 225) started all 11 games last season and made 39 tackles while posted a team-high 9 ½ tackles for a loss to go along with four sacks. There's a chance he may not be back on the field until after the LSU game on Sept. 5.
 
If that's the case, look for sophomore Jammerio Gross (6-3, 240) to step in and fill the void. Gross played in five games as a redshirt freshman last year and recorded six tackles with a tackle for a loss.
 
True freshman Brandon Blackwell (6-3, 239) of Lake Charles (Hamilton Christian Academy) has been turning some heads.
 
"I've really been impressed with him," said Guidry of Blackwell. "He's a big kid and looks how you're supposed to look at defensive end. He has a lot of height and at about 240 pounds. He's a really good player. I've also been impressed with the Livings kid (Chris Livings, 6-2, 210) out of Barbe. He's a great pass rusher."
 
At the "weak" end, senior Cameron Smith (6-3, 238) has been penciled in as the starter early on and backed up by sophomore Kurt Viges (like Bigs).
 
"Cam is a senior who hasn't played a whole lot but he does have experience," said Guidry. "And of course we have Viges (6-3, 210) out of Eunice. We have some good competition. We think they're all capable of doing some great things."
 
At tackle, the Cowboys will have to fill both spots after losing Kevin Dorn and Sean Brown to graduation, but with the likes and size of Anthony Yruegas (6-2, 288), Antonio McGhee (6-0, 285), and transfer Isaiah Golden (6-2, 335), this could be one of the strongest D-lines in quite some time.
 
"Yruegas (you-ray-gus) has been doing really well," said Guidry. "Add in McGhee and those two guys have some experience. Of course with the addition of Golden, that makes us really salty inside.
 
"We have some other guys playing well in there right now too. We have (Jake) Grode (6-4, 245), who is getting us some good reps on pass downs. So we feel real good at tackle."
 
But if there's one newcomer that has really made an impression, that's redshirt freshman Micah Udeh (6-3, 211).
 
"He's the guy that's probably been the most surprising so far," said Guidry of the Mandeville native and Lakeshore High School product. "He's a walk-on who redshirted last year. He gained some weight this year and can flat out run and rush the passer.
 
"I think he'll play some this year on third downs.
 
"I feel good," said Guidry. "I think we're talented at defensive line, we just don't have the game experience that we've had in the past. But that's not always a bad thing."