QB Aidan Armenta (left) and RB Zach Palmer-Smith (right) look to help ULM make the next step in its rebuild after a 5-1 start last season
2024 started with much promise for the ULM Warhawks football team. The Warhawks started 5-1, and things appeared to be headed in the right direction under first-year head coach Bryant Vincent.
Unfortunately, they sustained a very tough loss to South Alabama on the road, and things never went their way again for the remainder of the season.
Vincent enters his second season as the head coach for ULM and is possibly the busiest coach in college football. He is not only the head coach, but he is also the offensive coordinator and the interim athletic director. While he wears many hats, Coach Vincent is ready to see his team challenge the Sun Belt Conference.
Departures
When Ahmad Hardy entered the transfer portal, while unfortunate, it came as no surprise.
Hardy finished his freshman season with 237 carries for 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns. Hardy also had eight receptions for 72 yards. After entering the portal in December of 2024, it took just two weeks for Hardy to announce his commitment to the Missouri Tigers of the SEC. With Hardy gone, Coach Vincent had to attempt to work some magic to attract a running back to fill the large hole that Hardy left behind.
The problem is that it wasn’t just Hardy who departed from the running back position.
Hunter Smith (Temple), James Jones (Sacramento State), and Taven Curry (Akron) all hit the portal. On top of that, late spring commitment from the portal, running back Antonio Martin Jr. joined the team after spending 2024 at Southeastern Louisiana, where he had 230 carries for 1,228 yards and 11 touchdowns. His enrollment at Louisiana-Monroe lasted for two full days before he left to go to Manhattan, Kansas, to join the Kansas State Wildcats.
Wydett Williams Jr. (Ole Miss) left ULM after being the leading defender for the Warhawks. In 2024 Williams had 100 tackles, a sack, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries and three interceptions. The biggest moment for Williams Jr. in 2024 was when he intercepted a pass from Texas Starting Quarterback Arch Manning in the second quarter of their game in Austin, Texas. Against Auburn, Williams Jr. had a season high 13 tackles. His departure is a big loss for the Warhawks.
Arguably the biggest loss for Louisiana-Monroe outside of Hardy is center Carter Miller (Central Florida). Miller started all 12 games for the Warhawks in 2024, securing an honorable mention for All-Sun Belt in 2024. Miller was one of the top offensive linemen in the transfer portal and with his departure, redshirt junior Drew Hutchinson will take over as the ULM center for the 2025 season. Hutchinson saw action late in the season in 2024 against Arkansas State and Louisiana.
52 Carter Miller (@CarterMillerTBE) days until the UCF opener:
– 6’2” 300lb Redshirt Junior OL
– From Fort Worth, TX
– Transfer from Louisiana-Monroe & JMU before that
– Started all 12 games in ‘25 for ULM
– Hon Mention all All Sun Belt
– Started 8 gms at LG in ‘23 for JMU pic.twitter.com/46YBa2j8TP— ⚔️Sidelines – UCF⚔️ (@SSN_UCF) July 7, 2025
Also departing from the Warhawks is backup quarterback, and 2024 College Football All-Name First Team, General Booty. While a transfer destination has yet to be announced, nothing has indicated that he has retired from the sport. With five quarterbacks on the roster, and Aidan Armenta locking up the starting role in 2024, the departure of Booty makes sense.
Jaylan Ware (Jackson State) was one of the top defensive linemen for the Warhawks in 2024. Ware finished the season with 35 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two passes defended. Ware was very good at putting pressure on the quarterback and losing him left a big hole on the defensive line.
On the offensive side of the ball, departing the program are running back Hunter Smith (Temple), wide receiver Marc Britt II (undecided), offensive tackle Devon Smith (Western Kentucky), wide receiver Justin Kimber (UTRGV), running back James Jones (Sacramento State), wide receiver Tristan Wiley (Harding), wide receiver Artis Cole (Rice), wide receiver Jaedyn McKinstry (undecided), running back Taven Curry (Akron), quarterback General Booty (undecided), running back Ahmad Hardy (Missouri), and center Carter Miller (UCF).
On the defensive side of the ball, departing the program are safety Wydett Williams Jr. (Ole Miss), cornerback Austin Cartwright (undecided), cornerback Travor Randle (Prairie View A&M), defensive lineman Jaylan Ware (Jackson State), linebacker La’Garrius Sims (East Central CC), cornerback Charles Thomas (Arkansas-Monticello), safety Miles Hill (undecided), defensive lineman Immanuel Hawkins (undecided).
The biggest victory for Coach Bryant Vincent was the portal withdrawal of defensive end Kevontay Wells from the transfer portal. He finished 2024 with 50 tackles and 3 sacks. The return of Wells is huge for the defense.
Additions
Wide receiver Brandon Buckhaulter (UAB) was a top 10 wide receiver in the state of Mississippi for the class of 2021, according to 247Sports. In high school, Buckhaulter attended three different schools. Now joining the Warhawks, Buckhaulter will be joining his fourth college team after committing to Western Kentucky in January of 2025. With minimal chances to shine in his career, the speedy receiver looks to make an impact for ULM in 2025.
The top playmaker to make their way to Monroe, Louisiana is running back Zach Palmer-Smith (Richmond). In 2024 Palmer-Smith had 270 carries for 1,433 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also had eight receptions for 101 yards with two touchdowns. A fun fact about him is that his longest reception and longest rush were each 59 yards.
In the first round of the FCS Championship, Palmer-Smith had 22 carries for 107 yards. All signs point to him being the starting running back for the Warhawks in 2025, replacing Ahmad Hardy. Returner D’Shaun Ford will also be in contention for the role.
1K FOR ZPS💪
Congratulations to Zach Palmer-Smith on becoming the first Spider since 2015 to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a single season! #OneRichmond pic.twitter.com/vylpCgAZCm
— Richmond Spiders Football (@Spiders_FB) November 17, 2024
Former four-star safety D’Arco Perkins-McAllister (TCU, New Mexico, Chattanooga) joins the Warhawks after a productive 2024 season for Chattanooga. In 2024 he had 35 tackles, four passes defended and a trio of interceptions. Perkins-McAllister appears to be the lone incoming defensive transfer that will be a starter for the Warhawks in 2025. His best game was against East Tennessee State, where he recorded seven tackles and one tackle for loss.
On the offensive side of the ball, the new additions are- running back Tyrell Reed Jr. (Arkansas), running back Jaydon Wright (Minnesota), wide receiver Brandon Buckhaulter (UAB), wide receiver Quentin Murphy (Arkansas), running back Braylon McReynolds (South Alabama), wide receiver Nic Trujillo (New Mexico), offensive lineman Tae Woody (UAB), running back Zach Palmer-Smith (Richmond).
On the defensive side of the ball, the new additions are cornerback Jay Harper (Wisconsin), defensive end Ziggy Loa (New Mexico State), cornerback D’Arco Perkins-McAllister (Chattanooga), defensive lineman Cliff Mosley (Henderson State), linebacker Marcus Ross (Mississippi State), defensive lineman Levontae Jacobs (Norfolk State), cornerback Kamrin Canterbury (West Florida), defensive end Derek Omoregie (Southern Connecticut State).
Louisiana-Monroe’s recruiting class ranked 116th overall and 99th in the transfer portal, according to 247Sports.
Our 2025 schedule is locked in 🔒
Mark down your calendars ✍️🗓️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/9gQlNiuHJj
— ULM Football (@ULM_FB) February 28, 2025
2025 promises a much more unified ULM team, with a much-improved defense. The Warhawks take on St. Francis (Pa.) on Thursday, Aug. 28. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Malone Stadium.
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