Georgia Bulldogs Football: Louisiana-Lafayette's Players To Know

This coming Saturday the Georgia Bulldogs kick off their 2010 campaign against the Ragin' Cajuns of Louisiana at Lafayette. 

In the season opener "Between the Hedges," the Bulldogs will attempt to start their season off with a bang while preparing for the much tougher South Carolina Gamecocks the following week. 

Out of the Sun Belt Conference, Louisiana Lafayette may be a sleeper in its own conference. The Cajuns have a strong offense and good things could happen for them if their defense catches up to the offense. Ricky Bustle, their head coach, has had nothing but good things to say about the defensive squad thus far. 

While the team may be able to compete with the rest of the Sun Belt, it probably isn't going to hang around with the Bulldogs for too long. 

However, dangerous things happen whenever an opponent is overlooked. Here's a sneak peek at the players to know from the Louisiana-Lafayette squad. 

Chris Masson

Chris Masson will start at quarterback for this Louisiana-Lafayette squad and he's really one of the few offensive players who has a firm grasp on his spot in the depth chart. 

Last season, Masson completed 222 of his 373 pass attempts, good for a completion percentage of 59.5. The completions went for 2,406 yards and 10 touchdowns to go with the eight picks he threw. 

Masson also proved that he can do things with his legs as well as his arms last year. He ran for 192 yards and six touchdowns. 

The Junior hopes to build on his production this season. 

Julian Shankle and Robert Walker

Julian Shankle (pictured to the left) and freshman Robert Walker will be splitting carries for the Ragin' Cajuns this coming Saturday. 

Neither one of them has much experience at the collegiate level. Shankle's career consists of just 14 carries for 38 yards while Walker has yet to play a single down. 

They will also be running behind an offensive line that only returns two starters from last year's season.

Marlin Miller

Marlin Miller is Louisiana-Lafayette's No. 1 wideout this year, even if he isn't going to be the most targeted player. 

In 2009, Miller caught 37 passes for 325 yards and two touchdowns. 

He's just an inch short of six feet and will be thrown to many times throughout Saturday's game, especially if the Ragin' Cajuns are trying to make a quick comeback.

Ladarius Green

Ladarius Green is arguably Louisiana-Lafayette's best player. 

The starting tight end led his team in receiving yards last season when he caught 32 passes for 533 yards and two touchdowns. And this was despite the fact that Green missed four games due to injury. 

At 6'6" and 225 pounds, Green is an imposing player who Chris Masson will be throwing to early and often. 

Shutting down this preseason nominee for the Mackey Award, given annually to the nation's top tight end, will be a priority for the Bulldogs' defense. 

Grant Fleming

Grant Fleming, a senior linebacker for the Ragin' Cajuns, was second on the team in tackles last season with 89. He also led his team with three forced fumbles, good for second place in the entire Sun Belt Conference. 

Now that Antwyne Zanders is gone from the team, Fleming has shifted to middle linebacker and looks to be the team's leader both on and off the field. 

He received an honorable mention from the All-Sun Belt team last season and will start his campaign to make the team for real with this game. 

Spencer Ortego

In the picture on the left, Ortego is the player jumping up into the air. His role on the team, however, is far more than just celebrating.

Ortego is the team's starting punter, and thus a player that will take the field quite often this Saturday.

However, Ortego is a very good punter. Last season, he made the all-Sun Belt conference team and only allowed 21 punt return yards all season.