MONROE, La. – Utilizing its 3-3-5 scheme, the ULM defense finished ranked in the top four in the Sun Belt Conference in nine different team statistical categories during the 2014 regular season.
The Warhawk defense led the Sun Belt in sacks (with 36), tackles for loss (90) and opponent third down conversion percentage at 32.6. Compared to the 2013 season, the Warhawks had an improvement of 20 sacks as ULM tallied just 16 sacks in 2013 and finished seventh in the conference. The tackles for loss total also increased by 20 (from 2013 to 2014) and ULM improved from fourth (2013) to first (2014) in the conference. The 90 TFLs by ULM ranks just outside the top-10 nationally as the Warhawks are 11th.
In third down conversion defense, the Warhawks improved by nearly eight percentage points going from 40.4 (fourth in SBC) in 2013 to its mark of 32.6 (first in SBC) in 2013. Nationally, the Warhawks currently rank 12th in fourth down conversion defense and 13th in total sacks.
ULM finished second in the conference in both pass defense (189.9) and total defense (373.2); nationally, the Warhawks rank in the top 20 in pass defense as they currently rank 18th. The 2014 season saw an improvement of nearly 30 yards in pass defense as the Warhawks finished fourth in SBC in 2013 (237.6) compared to its 189.9 mark in 2014. In total defense, the ULM defense improved by more than 50 yards (53.6) as it improved four spots in SBC rankings (sixth to second).
The Warhawk defense finished the regular season third in the Sun Belt in scoring defense (26.2) and opponent first downs (227), while finishing fourth in rushing defense (183.3) and pass efficiency defense (124.1). The Warhawks mark of 18.7 first downs was the second best mark in the league as Idaho (225; 20.5) played just 11 games in 2014; the total of 227 first downs allowed currently ranks 33rd nationally.
Individually, the Warhawks had four players rank in the top 22 in the Sun Belt in total tackles. Gerrand Johnson led the way as he finished tied for 10th at 7.8 tackles per game. Mitch Lane finished 12th at 7.6 tackles per game, following by Hunter Kissinger (18th, 7.1) and Michael Johnson (22nd, 6.9). Other notable Warhawks included: Cordero Smith (29th, 5.7) and Ray Stovall (T-46th, 4.7).
ULM had a total of five different players rank in the top 20 in the Sun Belt in both sacks and tackles for loss. Michael Johnson finished tied for third with eight sacks on the season, followed by Gerrand Johnson (T-7th, 6.0), Hunter Kissinger (T-9th, 5.0), Joey Gautney (T-17th, 3.5) and Ray Stovall (T-17th, 3.5). Michael Johnson paced the Warhawks in tackles for loss with 16.0 as he finished second in the Sun Belt during the regular season. Lorenzo Jackson and Gerrand Johnson finished tied for seventh with 12.5 TFLs each, followed by Hunter Kissinger (11th, 10.5) and Ray Stovall (17th, 8.5).
Aside from ranking near the top of the Sun Belt, Michael Johnson currently ranks 19th nationally in tackles for loss and 34th in sacks.
ULM's Mitch Lane was just one of 14 players nationally to have two defense scores on the season as he returned one interception for a score (Wake Forest) and had a blocked punt return (at New Mexico State). Lane was one of four SBC players to return a punt for a TD in 2014 and he finished tied for 10th nationally with his one punt block for TD.
For updates on the ULM football team both during the season as well as during the off season, be sure to follow the squad on twitter at @ULM_FB.
