Report: Former SEC assistant expected to take position at Louisiana

Western Carolina defensive line coach Dennis Thomas is expected to fill the same role with Louisiana, according to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman. The former South Carolina assistant previously spent time with current Ragin’ Cajuns defensive coordinator LaMar Morgan in the FCS.

Before making the move to Louisiana, Dennis Thomas starting his coaching career under Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks. From 2009-12, he worked with the defensive line, assisted in opponent scouting and helped in the recruitment of players.

From there Thomas had his first stint at Western Carolina. After three seasons with the Catamounts, he took jobs with Division II Tusculum and FCS Gardner-Webb. Holding the tile of defensive line coach and co-defensive coordinator, Thomas developed several linemen into All-American level players.

Like many up-and-coming position coaches, Thomas is able to draw on his playing experience to help mold the next generation of players. The new Louisiana assistant played his college football at South Carolina under legendary head coach Lou Holtz. After three lettering seasons with the Gamecocks program from 1997-2001, he worked as a defensive line coach and track conditioning coach at Calhoun Falls High School in South Carolina.

Louisiana loses key players

Billy Napier left the Louisiana Ragin Cajun program in favor of the Florida Gators this offseason, with Michael Desormeaux taking over in Lafayette. However, the first-time head coach will now be without several of the program’s best players heading into the 2022 season.

In addition to offensive lineman Max Mitchell graduating to the NFL ranks, offensive linemen O’Cyrus Torrence and Kamryn Waites followed their coach. Running back Montrell Johnson will also head to Florida.

After losing those players to the group of staff members who headed to Florida, the last thing Louisiana needed was in-state rivals to begin poaching the roster. When new LSU head coach Brian Kelly arrived, he did just that by adding defensive back Mekhi Williams-Garner and wide receiver Kyren Lacy from the transfer portal.

It remains clear that the Louisiana roster which finished inside the top 25 last season had plenty talent, but it now comes down to whether Desormeaux and his new staff, including Dennis Thomas, can keep things rolling at all levels.

His first season in charge features just one Power Five opponent, Florida State, and could set the Ragin’ Cajuns up for another big season filled with wins. A road trip to face Coastal Carolina is the second most notable game on the slate for the 2022 season.