Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks Defensive Players To Watch vs. Texas A&M
The Texas A&M Aggies' offense is one of the brightest-shining aspects of the team so far.
Quarterback Conner Weigman is fifth in the Southeastern Conference in passing yards and second in touchdowns in two games under new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino.
The Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks lost three All-Sun Belt Conference Honorable Mention honorees from a year ago, as defensive lineman Caleb Thomas and linebacker Zack Woodard both graduated and linebacker Quae Drake entered the transfer portal. However, to begin the season, Louisiana-Monroe has allowed 132.4 fewer yards and 20.9 fewer points per game in comparison to last year's defense.
With how potent the Aggies' offense is, the Warhawks will need to play lights-out defense to stay in a game that they are 31-point underdogs. Here are three players Louisiana-Monroe will expect big things from against Texas A&M Saturday at Kyle Field.
DL Adin Huntington
Huntington has emerged as one of the Warhawks' top defenders, solidifying himself as Thomas' replacement on the interior defensive line.
He leads Louisiana-Monroe's defense with 19 tackles in his first two games since transferring from Kent State.
Part of the game plan to deter Weigman is getting pressure in his face, and what better way to do that than collapsing the pocket right in front of him?
Huntington's quick first step make up for his weight deficiencies at just 281 pounds in the defensive interior.
The Stafford, Virginia, native has help on the edges with defensive lineman James Smith leading the team with 2.5 sacks despite playing 21 sacks this season and defensive end Kenard Snyder recording the second-highest pass-rush grade (behind Huntington), according to Pro Football Focus.
CB Car'lin Vigers
For some players, the game of football just begins to click. That's what's happened to Vigers.
He's in his second season with the Warhawks after transferring from Independence Community College ahead of 2022. In two games, he has the fourth-highest coverage grade in the country, and that's with the top-two cornerbacks only playing seven and 10 coverage snaps, respectively.
Vigers has recorded seven tackles, forced and recovered a fumble against Army and blocked a punt for a touchdown.
The Eunice, Louisiana, native has been targeted six times, allowing three catches for 38 yards.
He will likely follow wide receiver Evan Stewart in an attempt to slow down his monstrous start to the season, catching 19 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns.
LB Michael Batton
Batton has been a stone wall in the middle of the Warhawks' defense, recording 10 tackles against Lamar.
Batton is second behind Huntington with 17 tackles on the year, receiving the second-highest defensive grade, according to PFF, for a Lousiana-Monroe linebacker trailing only Carl Glass Jr.
The tandem has helped drop the rushing-yards-allowed-per-game to nearly 50 fewer yards from last year to this year, which is saying something considering the Warhawks opened the season against run-heavy Army.
Aggies running back Amari Daniels has taken 25 of Texas A&M's 58 carries this season for 113 yards and a touchdown.
Batton and Glass will look to feast on the down Aggies running game.
