# 2021 Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks football team

The 2021 Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks football team represented the University of Louisiana at Monroe in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Warhawks played their home games at Malone Stadium in Monroe, Louisiana, and competed in the West Division of the Sun Belt Conference. They were led by first-year head coach Terry Bowden.

## Preseason
### Recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40$^‡$ | Commit date |
| Brett Drillette DE | Weatherford, TX | Brock HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| James Gillespie DT | Woodbridge, VA | Bishop Ireton HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 260 lb (120 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| David Godsey Jr. CB | Mansfield, TX | Mansfield HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| D'Juan Grant CB | New Caney, TX | New Caney HS | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 172 lb (78 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Rylan Green TE | West Monroe, LA | West Monroe HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 245 lb (111 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Justin Kimber WR | Arlington, TX | Mansfield Timberview HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Justin Macias S | Houston, TX | Hempstead HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Caymen Mills CB | Green Run, VA | Green Run HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 173 lb (78 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Zach Shaw QB | Monroe, LA | Ouachita Parish HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Hunter Smith RB | Little Rock, AR | Joe T. Robinson HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| James Smith DE | Virginia Beach, VA | Princess Anne HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Kenard Snyder LB | Palm Bay, FL | Rockledge HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Dariyan Wiley WR | Atlanta, GA | Douglas County HS UMass | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Fitzroy Gardner DE | Tampa, FL | Armwood HS Iowa Western CC | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | – | Feb 3, 2021 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Andrew Henry RB | Dallas, TX | Allen HS Trinity Valley CC | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | – | Feb 3, 2021 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Rhett Rodriguez QB | Tucson, AZ | Catalina Foothills HS Arizona | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | – | Feb 3, 2021 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: |||||||
Source:

### Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

#### Preseason

| Award | Player | Position | Year |
Sources:

### Sun Belt coaches poll

The Sun Belt coaches poll was released on July 20, 2021. The Warhawks were picked to finish fifth in the West Division.
West Division :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes |
| 1 | Louisiana | 49 (9) |
| 2 | Arkansas State | 38 (1) |
| 3 | South Alabama | 27 |
| 4 | Texas State | 25 |
| 5 | Louisiana–Monroe | 11 |
East Division :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes |
| T1 | Coastal Carolina | 44 (6) |
| T1 | Appalachian State | 44 (4) |
| 3 | Georgia State | 24 |
| 4 | Georgia Southern | 20 |
| 5 | Troy | 18 |

## Schedule

The 2021 schedule consists of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season. The Warhawks will travel to Sun Belt foes Coastal Carolina, Appalachian State, Texas State, and Louisiana. ULM will play host to Sun Belt foes Troy, Georgia State, South Alabama, and Arkansas State.
Troy will host two of the four non-conference opponents at Malone Stadium, Jackson State, from NCAA Division I FCS Southwestern Athletic Conference and Liberty, a FBS Independent, and will travel to Kentucky and LSU, both from the Southeastern Conference.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 4 | 11:00 a.m. | at Kentucky* | Kroger FieldLexington, KY | SECN | L 10–45 | 47,693 |
| September 18 | 7:00 p.m. | Jackson State* | Malone StadiumMonroe, LA | ESPN3 | W 12–7 | 21,720 |
| September 25 | 7:00 p.m. | Troy | Malone StadiumMonroe, LA | ESPN+ | W 29–16 | 12,766 |
| October 2 | 1:30 p.m. | at No. 16 Coastal Carolina | Brooks StadiumConway, SC | ESPN+ | L 6–59 | 18,674 |
| October 9 | 7:00 p.m. | Georgia State | Malone StadiumMonroe, LA | ESPN3 | L 21–55 | 9,913 |
| October 16 | 6:00 p.m. | Liberty* | Malone StadiumMonroe, LA | ESPN+ | W 31–28 | 11,546 |
| October 23 | 6:00 p.m. | South Alabama | Malone StadiumMonroe, LA | ESPN3 | W 41–31 | 11,723 |
| October 30 | 2:30 p.m. | at Appalachian State | Kidd Brewer StadiumBoone, NC | ESPN+ | L 28–59 | 29,321 |
| November 6 | 2:00 p.m. | at Texas State | Bobcat StadiumSan Marcos, TX | ESPN+ | L 19–27 | 16,237 |
| November 13 | 4:00 p.m. | Arkansas State | Malone StadiumMonroe, LA | ESPN+ | L 24–27 | 12,010 |
| November 20 | 8:00 p.m. | at LSU* | Tiger StadiumBaton Rouge, LA | ESPN2 | L 14–27 | 92,790 |
| November 27 | 3:00 p.m. | at Louisiana | Cajun FieldLafayette, LA (Battle on the Bayou) | ESPNU | L 16–21 | 18,447 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after November 24 released prior to gameAll times are in Central time |||||||

## Game summaries
### At Kentucky

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Warhawks | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| • Wildcats | 14 | 14 | 3 | 14 | 45 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| UK −31.0 | 54 |
| Statistics | Louisiana–Monroe | Kentucky |
| First downs | 12 | 24 |
| Total yards | 87 | 554 |
| Rushing yards | 17 | 135 |
| Passing yards | 70 | 419 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 28:13 | 31:47 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Passing | Rhett Rodriguez | 9/17, 56 yards |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Rushing | Chandler Rogers | 7 carries, 11 yards |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Receiving | Boogie Knight | 6 receptions, 58 yards |
| Kentucky | Passing | Will Levis | 18/26, 367 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT |
| Kentucky | Rushing | Christopher Rodriguez Jr. | 19 carries, 125 yards, 1 TD |
| Kentucky | Receiving | Josh Ali | 5 receptions, 136 yards, 1 TD |

### Jackson State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| RV (FCS) Tigers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| • Warhawks | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 12 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| ULM −4.5 | 52 |
| Statistics | Jackson State | Louisiana–Monroe |
| First downs | 16 | 17 |
| Total yards | 285 | 250 |
| Rushing yards | 26 | 94 |
| Passing yards | 259 | 156 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 26:27 | 33:33 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Jackson State | Passing | Shedeur Sanders | 28/41, 259 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Jackson State | Rushing | Peytton Pickett | 5 carries, 10 yards |
| Jackson State | Receiving | Joshua Lanier | 7 receptions, 72 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Passing | Rhett Rodriguez | 16/29, 150 yards |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Rushing | Andrew Henry | 9 carries, 52 yards |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Receiving | Boogie Knight | 6 receptions, 78 yards |

### Troy

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Trojans | 0 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 16 |
| • Warhawks | 7 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 29 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| TROY –23.5 | 50 |
| Statistics | Troy | Louisiana–Monroe |
| First downs | 18 | 15 |
| Total yards | 378 | 290 |
| Rushing yards | 67 | 122 |
| Passing yards | 311 | 168 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 31:32 | 28:28 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Troy | Passing | Taylor Powell | 35/49, 311 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Troy | Rushing | Kimani Vidal | 12 carries, 60 yards |
| Troy | Receiving | Reggie Todd | 6 receptions, 83 yards |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Passing | Rhett Rodriguez | 10/16, 131 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Rushing | Andrew Henry | 19 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Receiving | Zach Jackson | 4 receptions, 80 yards, 1 TD |

### At Coastal Carolina

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Warhawks | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| • No. 16 Chanticleers | 14 | 24 | 0 | 21 | 59 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| CCU –34.5 | 57 |
| Statistics | Louisiana–Monroe | Coastal Carolina |
| First downs | 10 | 26 |
| Total yards | 203 | 557 |
| Rushing yards | 72 | 275 |
| Passing yards | 131 | 282 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 24:14 | 35:46 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Passing | Chandler Rogers | 9/17, 100 yards |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Rushing | Chandler Rogers | 11 carries, 40 yards |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Receiving | Zach Jackson | 3 receptions, 48 yards |
| Coastal Carolina | Passing | Grayson McCall | 13/13, 212 yards |
| Coastal Carolina | Rushing | Reese White | 15 carries, 95 yards |
| Coastal Carolina | Receiving | Isaiah Likely | 5 receptions, 95 yards |

### Georgia State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Panthers | 7 | 21 | 14 | 13 | 55 |
| Warhawks | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| GSU –16.0 | 50 |
| Statistics | Georgia State | Louisiana–Monroe |
| First downs | 39 | 21 |
| Total yards | 572 | 359 |
| Rushing yards | 326 | 122 |
| Passing yards | 246 | 237 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 35:08 | 24:52 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia State | Passing | Darren Grainger | 18/25, 230 yards, 4 TDs |
| Georgia State | Rushing | Darren Grainger | 12 carries, 84 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia State | Receiving | Ja'Cyais Credle | 7 receptions, 130 yards, 2 TDs |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Passing | Chandler Rogers | 15/23, 208 yards, 2 TDs |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Rushing | Chandler Rogers | 14 carries, 72 yards |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Receiving | Boogie Knight | 5 receptions, 78 yards |

### Liberty

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Flames | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
| • Warhawks | 0 | 0 | 28 | 3 | 31 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| LIB –32.5 | 57 |
| Statistics | Liberty | Louisiana–Monroe |
| First downs | 22 | 22 |
| Total yards | 386 | 365 |
| Rushing yards | 251 | 140 |
| Passing yards | 135 | 225 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:50 | 27:10 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Liberty | Passing | Malik Willis | 16/28, 135 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs |
| Liberty | Rushing | Malik Willis | 23 carries, 157 yards, 2 TDs |
| Liberty | Receiving | DJ Stubbs | 2 receptions, 32 yards |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Passing | Chandler Rogers | 16/25, 225 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Rushing | Andrew Henry | 15 carries, 80 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Receiving | Zach Jackson | 4 receptions, 47 yards |

### South Alabama

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Jaguars | 7 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 31 |
| • Warhawks | 7 | 17 | 14 | 3 | 41 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| USA –13.5 | 51 |
| Statistics | South Alabama | Louisiana–Monroe |
| First downs | 22 | 25 |
| Total yards | 409 | 555 |
| Rushing yards | 89 | 186 |
| Passing yards | 320 | 369 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 34:18 | 25:42 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Alabama | Passing | Jake Bentley | 30/41, 320 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs |
| South Alabama | Rushing | Terrion Avery | 14 carries, 87 yards |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Jalen Tolbert | 10 receptions, 155 yards, 2 TDs |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Passing | Chandler Rogers | 25/35, 369 yards, 4 TDs |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Rushing | Andrew Henry | 18 carries, 88 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Receiving | Will Derrick | 5 receptions, 135 yards, 1 TD |

### At Appalachian State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Warhawks | 0 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 28 |
| • Mountaineers | 21 | 28 | 3 | 7 | 59 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| APP –27.0 | 58 |
| Statistics | Louisiana–Monroe | Appalachian State |
| First downs | 17 | 25 |
| Total yards | 391 | 521 |
| Rushing yards | 230 | 251 |
| Passing yards | 161 | 270 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 30:06 | 29:54 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Passing | Jiya Wright | 9/17, 158 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Rushing | Jiya Wright | 20 carries, 91 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Receiving | Jevin Frett | 1 reception, 40 yards |
| Appalachian State | Passing | Chase Brice | 20/30, 256 yards, 4 TDs |
| Appalachian State | Rushing | Nate Noel | 17 carries, 132 yards, 1 TD |
| Appalachian State | Receiving | Corey Sutton | 5 receptions, 77 yards, 1 TD |

### At Texas State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Warhawks | 6 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 19 |
| • Bobcats | 10 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 27 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| TXST –3.0 | 58 |
| Statistics | Louisiana–Monroe | Texas State |
| First downs | 28 | 19 |
| Total yards | 432 | 434 |
| Rushing yards | 170 | 172 |
| Passing yards | 262 | 262 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 38:02 | 21:58 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Passing | Chandler Rogers | 28/43, 262 yards |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Rushing | Andrew Henry | 23 carries, 82 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Receiving | Will Derrick | 6 receptions, 74 yards |
| Texas State | Passing | Tyler Vitt | 16/31, 262 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas State | Rushing | Jahyml Jeter | 16 carries, 92 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas State | Receiving | Marcell Barbee | 5 receptions, 102 yards |

### Arkansas State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Red Wolves | 7 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 27 |
| Warhawks | 0 | 7 | 17 | 0 | 24 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| ULM –3.0 | 66.5 |
| Statistics | Arkansas State | Louisiana–Monroe |
| First downs | 22 | 18 |
| Total yards | 538 | 372 |
| Rushing yards | 94 | 177 |
| Passing yards | 444 | 195 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 32:23 | 27:37 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Layne Hatcher | 34/50, 444 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Lincoln Pare | 22 carries, 73 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Corey Rucker | 7 receptions, 103 yards |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Passing | Rhett Rodriguez | 12/29, 160 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Rushing | Malik Jackson | 22 carries, 166 yards, 2 TDs |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Receiving | Boogie Knight | 5 receptions, 76 yards |

### At LSU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Warhawks | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| • Tigers | 7 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 27 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| LSU –29.0 | 57.5 |
| Statistics | Louisiana–Monroe | LSU |
| First downs | 18 | 17 |
| Total yards | 311 | 411 |
| Rushing yards | 118 | 92 |
| Passing yards | 193 | 319 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 27:15 | 32:45 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Passing | Rhett Rodriguez | 12/22, 157 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Rushing | Malik Jackson | 21 carries, 78 yards |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Receiving | Boogie Knight | 5 receptions, 57 yards, 1 TD |
| LSU | Passing | Max Johnson | 22/33, 319 yards, 2 TDs |
| LSU | Rushing | Tyrion Davis-Price | 21 carries, 82 yards |
| LSU | Receiving | Malik Nabers | 4 receptions, 143 yards, 1 TD |

### At Louisiana

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Warhawks | 3 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 16 |
| • Ragin' Cajuns | 14 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| LA –21.5 | 55 |
| Statistics | Louisiana–Monroe | Louisiana |
| First downs | 20 | 17 |
| Total yards | 325 | 382 |
| Rushing yards | 164 | 165 |
| Passing yards | 161 | 217 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 30:32 | 29:28 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Passing | Rhett Rodriguez | 11/24, 145 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Rushing | Malik Jackson | 23 carries, 112 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Receiving | Boogie Knight | 2 receptions, 47 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana | Passing | Levi Lewis | 13/22, 163 yards |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Montrell Johnson | 5 carries, 62 yards |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Neal Johnson | 3 receptions, 80 yards |