Auburn Football: Opponent Breakdown – Louisiana Tech

Sep 6, 2014; Lafayette, LA, USA; Louisiana Tech Bulldogs running back Kenneth Dixon (28) carries the ball past Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns safety T.J. Worthy (27) on his way to scoring a touchdown in the second half at Cajun Field. Louisiana Tech defeated Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns 48-20. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports

Louisiana Tech Offense

Co-Offensive Coordinators: Tony Peterson (Skip Holtz is the play caller)

Offensive Style: Spread, (10 Personnel)

Offensive Depth Chart – Projected Starters

QB 19 Cody Sokol, 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, Senior

RB 28 Kenneth Dixon, 5-foot-10, 220 pounds, Junior

WR 4 Sterling Griffin, 6-foot, 194 pounds, Senior

WR 36 Hunter Lee, 5-foot-9, 195 pounds, Senior

WR 88 Eddie Johnson, 6-foot-3, 236 pounds, Senior

WR 3 Paul Turner, 5-foot-11, 194 pounds, Junior

LT 77 Darrell Brown, 6-foot-4, 288 pounds, Sophomore

LG 67 Tre Carter, 6-foot-1, 306 pounds, Senior

C 62 Joseph Brunson, 6-foot-3, 295 pounds, Sophomore

RG 57 Richard Greenwalt, 6-foot-4, 298 pounds, Senior

RT 78 Mitchell Bell, 6-foot-3, 348 pounds, Senior

The Louisiana Tech offense operates primarily out of a 10 personnel grouping that includes four wide receivers and one running back. While generally seen as a pass heavy set, the Bulldogs are relatively balanced in their play calling.

Louisiana Tech has averaged 33.2 points per game so far in 2014 and has gained an average of 387.2 total yards per contest. The Bulldogs have committed seven turnovers this season, with five of them coming last week in the loss to Northwestern State, but they have scored all 11 times they have reached the red zone, including nine touchdowns.

Senior quarterback Cody Sokol leads the Bulldogs offense. After beginning his collegiate career at Scottsdale Community College, Sokol transferred to Iowa. After redshirting in 2012, Sokol saw very limited duty for the Hawkeyes during the 2013 season and again transferred, this time to Louisiana Tech as a graduate student.

Through three games this season, Sokol has completed 84 of 134 passing attempts (62.7%) for 1,009 yards, ten touchdowns and five interceptions. As a team, Louisiana Tech has thrown for 256.5 yards per game and the offensive line has allowed ten sacks.

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Kenneth Dixon is the primary ball carrier for Louisiana Tech, and has handled the role since his freshman season. Dixon started only six games in 2012 but ran for 1,194 yards (6.0 yards per carry) and 27 touchdowns to earn Freshman All-American and First Team All-WAC honors. His 27 scores set a national freshman record. Last season, Dixon added 917 yards and four scores on 151 carries in ten games and caught 14 passes for 85 yards and a touchdown.

Through four games this year, the 220-pounder has 404 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 69 attempts. He has added 85 receiving yards and two touchdowns on eight catches. Against Louisiana-Lafayette in the second game of the season, Dixon scored on a 99-yard touchdown.

“Kenneth Dixon is the real deal,” an unnamed Conference assistant coach told Athlon Sports over the off-season. “Best running back in the league. They don’t have an elite quarterback, but they can manage the game.”

In the passing game, the Bulldogs spread the ball around. Four players have caught 14 or more passes this season. Sterling Griffin is the team’s leading receiver in 2014 with 19 catches for 280 yards and a touchdown. Trent Taylor, Hunter Lee and Paul Turner each have 14 receptions and two scores. Taylor has 207 receiving yards, while Lee and Turner have 169 and 150, respectively.

The team will rely heavily on transfers in 2014. Griffin followed Holtz to LA Tech from USF and Turner began his college career at LSU. Reserve receiver Sanford Seay signed with Georgia before ending up in junior college. According to the team’s official roster, 30 players began their collegiate careers elsewhere before transferring to Louisiana Tech.