LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) — In the ever-changing world of college football coaches and football programs are looking to shift to the new norm of NIL in the transfer portal.

Louisiana head football coach Michael Desormeaux is looking to try and keep his program traditional, focusing on recruiting locally and developing his players over time. Desormeaux was joined by safety Tyree Skipper and offensive lineman Jax Harrington at the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Football Media Days. Skipper and Harrington shared their stories of developing with the Cajuns over the years.

“As a seventh year, my early years in college had a lot of things happen.” Harrington said. “You know, I redshirted my first year, then covid happened, and then I had a medical redshirt. So then I’ve been starting in the past four years. But really, it’s a blessing that I kind of missed those first three years, because those first three years I was able to develop. Not only physically but mentally, you know? The culture and the standard that’s set in our locker room and in our building—you have to grow fast. You have to start pulling on the same side of the rope as everyone, or you’re going to get left behind,” said Harrington.

Desormeaux added the anticipation he has for those tenured players who have developed within the program.

“That’s kind of been our philosophy. You know, we recruit high school kids to replace outgoing seniors, and we recruit transfers as needed when we feel like we need to. But the biggest thing that I’m excited about is the guys that are continuing to develop within the program. You know, Jaden Dugger moves to inside linebacker, and Terrence Williams in his second year at inside linebacker, and Kailep Edwards and Jake St. Andre. Then those young guys at linebacker that are growing up. You know, at receiver, yeah, we lost a lot of production there, but you got Rob Williams back, who’s been in this program for a long time. You know, it’s time for him to go and step up and take over. You know, Jaydon Johnson’s the same thing. Kedarius Wade, Rahji Dennis. You know, all these guys that have been here and continue to develop, you know, and I think Jax would say the same thing about the O-line. You know, you got guys that have been in this program that are working—John Bragg, Matthew Broussard, Mackey Maillho—that maybe haven’t played a whole lot in the past, but they’re ready,” said Desormeaux.

Last season was the best season for the Cajuns under Desormeaux, reaching ten wins for the first time in his tenure, hosting the Sun Belt Conference championship game against Marshall and reaching the New Mexico Bowl against TCU. Now, although the results at the end of the season didn’t stack up to what fans were hoping for this season, the Cajuns are getting back to work in hopes of accomplishing what they set out for.

“There are no shortcuts. There’s no magic formula. I tell them all the time, I wish I could tell you I had a magic play that I could score on every time we dialed it up. It doesn’t exist. I don’t have it. It takes work. And, you know, there’s no way around it. And the work so far has been really good, but there’s still a lot more to do,” said Desormeaux.

The Cajuns were projected to finish first in the Sun Belt West division in the preseason coaches’ poll, receiving 6-of-14 first-place votes. Louisiana kicks off the season on August 30 when they host Rice in the brand new Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium.

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