College football season is about one-third of its way through, and four of Louisiana’s five FBS programs will begin October on byes.
So this week felt like a prime time to check in on each team’s top performers thus far in 2025 — essentially a first-trimester progress report — using PFF (Pro Football Focus) grades.
Obviously these grades — or any grading system for that matter — are not an end-all-be-all, but they do provide a useful glimpse into teams’ and players’ performances overall.
We continue this week’s series with Louisiana Tech, which is off to its best start since 2019 and is already just one more win away from tying last year’s total.
———— OVERALL NOTES ————
Louisiana Tech’s overall offensive grade (65.5) has been within a point of its 2024 mark, enjoying a nice bump in the run game (85.4) to nearly evenly make up for drop-offs in passing (56.4), receiving (61.9) and pass-blocking (60.1). But the defense, already a strength a year ago, has been particularly impressive through the first month-plus of the new season with an overall grade (90.5) that has been the program’s highest in the decade-plus of the PFF grading system, highlighted by sky-high run defense (90.6) and coverage (90.4) marks. And the Bulldogs’ overall special teams grade (82.0) has also been among the top 30 nationally.
———— TOP FIVE OFFENSIVE PERFORMERS ————
1. Clay Thevenin, sophomore RB — 86.5 overall
The south Florida native has been the big breakout performer in a running back room that entered the season with high expectations. Thevenin has led the team in all major rushing categories with 230 yards and three touchdowns on 50 carries with a consistent overall performance that earnest him his season-high in carries this past weekend. Thevenin holds easily the team’s highest PFF running grade (85.9), but also its highest marks as a receiver (78.4) with his effectiveness in catching all four of his targets for 26 yards.
2. Jonathan Denis, senior G — 73.8 overall
The veteran transfer from Central Missouri has proven a great addition as the Bulldogs’ right guard with the team’s top pass-blocking (88.7) and run-blocking (70.8) marks early in the season. PFF has yet to charge Denis with a single pressure, let alone sack, in one game off the bench and three starts.
3. Omiri Wiggins, junior RB — 72.3 overall
The former Acadiana star has been a solid complement to Thevenin as a 1-2 running back punch for the Bulldogs with his 43 carries for 168 yards and two scores. His running grade (73.5) has been similar to his 2024 campaign in which he led the team’s ground game, and his pass-blocking (54.7) and run-blocking (65.3) marks have both enjoyed solid bumps.
4. Andrew Burnette, senior RB — 70.5 overall
A third running back on in the top four, Burnette is the small-sample representative on this list with just 43 snaps graded, the fourth-most among the Bulldogs’ backs. His running grade (67.8) has been respectable, but fourth in his position group. But his pass-blocking (76.7) and receiving (74.6) marks have both stood out and both rank second among the Louisiana Tech backs. Burnette has carried 24 times for 84 yards and a touchdown and caught a 4-yard pass.
T-5. Trey Kukuk, junior QB — 69.2 overall
T-5. Blake Baker, sophomore QB — 69.2 overall
Crazy how that worked out. The Bulldogs’ two starting quarterbacks — Kukuk the first two weeks and Baker the past three — have identical overall PFF grades early in the season. Both Baker’s passing (57.3) and running (75.7) grades after slightly edged Kukuk’s marks (56.0 and 74.6, respectively). Kukuk has completed a higher-percentage of his passes, 27-for-39 (69.2%), for 220 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, while rushing 25 times for 104 yards. But the Bulldogs have been more explosive, including their three highest-scoring games, with Baker at the helm for his 44-for-71 (62%) passing for 603 yards, three touchdowns and one interception and 48 carries for 135 yards and two scores. Baker’s average depth of target (8.8 yards) has been more than twice Kukuk’s (3.4 yards). And while Baker’s time to throw (2.63 seconds) has been nearly a half-second longer than Kukuk’s (2.18 seconds) and his total sacks number (8) is twice Kukuk’s (4), he has been under more pressure overall from opposing defenses and has been more elusive with his 21.6% pressure-to-sack rate compared to Kukuk’s 36.4%.
———— TOP FIVE OFFENSIVE PERFORMERS ————
1. Alonzo Jackson Jr., freshman LB — 88.7 overall
The former Haynesville star has surged to the top of Louisiana Tech’s defensive grades in his increased opportunity the past two weeks. Jackson earned his first 16 defensive snaps of the season in Week 4 against Southern Miss, according to PFF, worked through some ups and downs and then ran with 48 snaps Saturday at UTEP, earning Louisiana vs. All Y’all’s College Defensive Player of the Week recognition as one of the Bulldogs’ top tacklers, plus a late pick-six to help seal the win. He hasn’t played as much yet as his other highly graded teammates, but his coverage (81.0) and pass-rush (81.1) marks are among the team’s top few, and his run defense (77.2) has been No. 6 on the team.
2. Sifa Leota, senior LB — 86.4 overall
The veteran linebacker has improved his PFF grades each year going back to his underclassman seasons at North Texas, and his second season in Ruston has so far been his biggest leap yet with his pass-rush (90.3) leading the team and his run defense (82.6) among the team leaders. Both marks have been career-best by a mile and have played out statistically with 28 tackles, including 4.5 for loss, with 0.5 sacks, four hurries, three breakups and an interception.
3. Kolbe Fields, senior LB — 79.6 overall
The former Archbishop Rummel star has racked up a team-leading 39 tackles, including three for loss and two sacks, and snatched a pair of interceptions, including a pivotal pick-six in Week 4 against Southern Miss. Fields has been among the Bulldogs standouts throughout the season and has earned the two highest PFF grades of his college career the past two weeks. His coverage (85.2) has led the team, and his run defense (76.9) and tackling (75.8) have both been solid as well.
4. Kam Franklin, sophomore S — 78.8 overall
Another former Louisiana high school star who has been a critical playmaker on the Bulldogs’ defense early this season with a balance of coverage and run defense plays. The former Oak Grove star and Oklahoma State signee has been a steady presence in the secondary with double-digit snaps each contest and totals of 14 tackles, one interception, one pass breakup, one forced fumble and one recovery: an 80-yard scoop-and-score touchdown. Franklin’s coverage grade (78.4) has been fourth on the team, and his run defense (71.8) has been solid.
5. Jakari Foster, senior S — 78.3 overall
The veteran safety has taken on a starting role this season and run with the opportunity with a team-best three interceptions — including a pick-six — plus two pass breakups, 15 tackles, one forced fumble and one of the team’s top coverage grades (84.1) behind only Fields. Opponents have targeted Foster 11 times thus far this season, according to PFF, and completed just two of those passes for a combined 8 yards and drawn just one penalty — meaning he has been as likely to take possession away entirely as he has been to allow any success to the offense.