NOTE – The 2018 Demons report to preseason camp Tuesday on the Northwestern State campus.
 
NATCHITOCHES -- There's continuity, and yet significant change, as the most productive quarterback in Northwestern State history puts in place a football program that among other things, should see his school passing records obliterated.
 
Brad Laird took over late last November as head coach at his beloved alma mater. He spent last season in his third stint as the Demons' defensive coordinator, successfully upgrading the stop troops to a point where the fabled Purple Swarm nickname fit once again. But it was not enough to infuse the 2017 Demons with a winning record overall, and as a result, there was a regime change after five seasons.
 
Last year's squad was tantalizingly close to NSU's first winning records overall, and in league play, since 2008. Late-game road losses at FCS playoff entries Nicholls and Sam Houston were the difference.
 
"We're close," said Laird after being elevated to head coach. "A lot of what you need to win the Southland Conference championship is in place in this program. We were on the brink of beating two playoff teams so there's not a huge gap we have to overcome. There's progress we will make, and it's within our reach."
 
There is no need to rebuild Demon football. The core values – scholarship, citizenship, competitiveness – are solidly established. But shoring up key components of a championship program – something Laird knows a lot about – has been the primary mission since the Nov. 21, 2017 announcement.
 
His impact was obvious right away, with the players, and with how he built his staff, around cornerstone hires in the coordinator spots. Brad Smiley's offenses at Trinity Valley Community College have burned up scoreboards, and now the rapid-fire attack will bring a new dimension to Turpin Stadium. Mike Lucas has plenty of experience in Turpin, nearly all of it as a visiting coach, but in his lone season as defensive coordinator, the Purple Swarm defense created 30 turnovers in 2014.
 
What makes Laird's debut successful?
 
"As a coaching staff and team, it's about doing the right things and being the very best we can be. Our goal is to win the Southland Conference championship. That's our focus and it's attainable. There are 11 teams trying and it's a battle. Ultimately, what would make this a successful season? Being as good as we can be and seeing where that is at the end of the run."
 
Heading into his first season in charge, Laird took time to assess the Demons.
 
QUARTERBACK
 
"It's where so much starts, so we'll start there. Going into spring, we had four guys battling for the starting position with the new system brought in by Coach Smiley. We're now looking at two guys who separated themselves during the spring, Shelton Eppler and Clay Holgorsen. They'll get more reps in fall camp, helping us to make a decision. Kaleb Fletcher and Kenny Sears did some good things as they competed and they'll get opportunities during fall camp, although with limited reps compared to what they got in the spring. We don't intend to play two. If we feel that gives us an advantage, then yes, but we're pushing through looking for a starter, for one guy to take the reigns."
 
RUNNING BACK
 
"We have two good ones with experience coming back, Jared West and Stadford Anderson. They continued to improve throughout spring. The addition of Da'Von Smith is big. He was out with an ACL (last year) and now we have three who can give us what we need at that position."
 
TIGHT END
 
"Two seniors stepped up in the spring both on the field and with leadership ability. Kalen Meggs has some experience from last year and Charles Vaughn has been here for three seasons. Both can play on or off the ball to do some things Coach Smiley's system allows. Those two give us the best opportunity. Looking forward to getting Brody Griffin and Christian Baliff in and seeing how quickly they pick up the system and how they fit."
 
OFFENSIVE LINE
 
"Khalil Corbett-Canada knows the system having played for Coach Smiley at Trinity Valley, so that gives him a great advantage and benefits us. At the other tackle spot, Johnathan had experience last year and mentally and physical made good strides in spring practice.
 
"Dustin Burns is our guy at center, but can move to different positions as needed. He's smart and tough. Timmis Bonner comes back with experience at guard, and has done a great job with leadership. Frank Boudreaux is solid as a rock and is another strong senior leader. So we have guys who started or played meaningful minutes in conference games. We obviously will miss having Chris Zirkle, a returning all-conference guard, on the field, but he has done a great job in his role with leadership and coaching up young guys. He's going to be a great asset while he heals up this season.
 
"Behind them, Tyler Rapp comes with experience having started at center and played at guard. Jake Gore, Kenny Sheldon and Parker Fink are young guys who made a particular impression in spring ball."
 
RECEIVER
 
"Jaylen Watson had 35 catches in his first year last season. He continued to get better as the year went along. Marquisian Chapman also had 35 catches and did make a lot of progress in spring. Bryson Bourque showed signs of what he can do moving forward, winning the Delaney Bowl Offensive MVP. Those are three cornerstone seniors.
 
"Kendrick Price really developed in the spring and can give us great depth at the receiver spot. Tanner Ash and Myles Ward are redshirt freshmen who bring a lot to the table, and will finally have the opportunity to get back out there healthy in fall camp after surgeries last year.
 
"Then we add a very exciting player in Jazz Ferguson, who has length, great ability and is a guy who can be a difference maker. It will be a very busy group in Coach Smiley's offense."
 
DEFENSIVE LINE
 
"At Buck end, Obi (Iheoma) made his presence felt as a pass rusher in 2017. We wanted to see consistency this spring, and what helped with that were Rashaud Powell and Landon King pushing him. We have three who can come off the edge and make plays.
 
"We have inside guys who played meaningful snaps last year. Jalon Sangster, Christian Bluiett are proven commodities. As a true freshman, Damien Thompson showed signs, when healthy, of what he can become. Christian is coming off a surgery and we hope he can make it back out this season.
 
"At the other end, Zak Krolczyk is the most consistent player up front, and brings a lot of experience and production to the table.  As a true freshman, Braylon Daigle got into the mix and has continued to progress.
 
"Desmond Prejean helped himself late last fall and again in the spring. He's coming into his own as a playmaker."
 
LINEBACKER
 
"Look at any position across the board, we took the biggest hit here. Lot of inexperience here. Isaiah Longino is the only one who did play, in a spot role late in the year as a true freshman.  Brice Borgeson moved back to linebacker when we shifted Landon King to Buck end, and that helped both of them.
 
"Blake Stephenson and Quindarrius Whitley came in as junior college transfers and showed they can help us right now. Blake really stood out."
 
SAFETY
 
"Nick Forde started every game last fall from the star position. Now he's moved to free safety to be the quarterback on the back end. Ryan Reed had a lot of quality snaps at the weak safety position las year.  Kevin Ratliff really came on in spring after redshirting in 2017. Hayden Bourgeois was hampered by injuries last year and in spring. Fall camp will be huge for him. Ian Edwards has the ability and has to develop more consistency.
 
"Ronald Malbrough could be a force at one of those safety spots."
 
CORNERBACK
 
"There is experience back with five guys who have played or started. Dylan Wilson had a lot of meaningful reps last year. D'Ronne Littleton played a lot of snaps. Rashaun Croney started some last year. Darian Raymond has plenty of game experience. Malik Sonnier moved from safety to corner, a more natural position for him, and should contribute."
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
 
"Parker Pastorello punted 53 times last year, he's been there and done well. Austyn Fendrick does all three – punts, kickoffs, placement kicks, and has a very powerful leg. The ball jumps off his foot. Maybe paring down his role will help with consistency.
 
"Brandon Eberts, McKane Kinchen, Dustin Burns all are deep snappers, and we brought in Evan Gibson, so we will have competition at a critical position.
 
"Pastorello is the obvious choice to hold. The kickers and punters work together so much in practice and Parker's become very good at it.
 
"In the return game, Hayden Bourgeois had some exciting returns, one kickoff that put in position to win at Houston Baptist, and several punt runbacks that were close to going all the way. Jaylen Watson did a good job of fielding punts. It will be interesting to see Myles Ward on kickoffs, with his speed and ability, and Ryan Reed has been back there for us. Hayden and Jaylen are also good options on kickoffs."
 
COACH LAIRD'S KEYS
"Quarterback - find the guy who's going to lead this team. The development of the offensive line, finding the right fit, and also developing depth up front. Making plays at receiver, and being consistent at running back.

"Defense starts up front. We have depth at the Buck end, and we've got to be sure we have that across the front. The biggest task is our development at linebacker with so many new faces and youth. We need to stay healthy in the secondary, find the right fits."