RUSTON, La. – Conference USA released the 2021 preseason watch list, as selected by the league's 14 head coaches, on Monday. Five student-athletes from each of the conference's 14 member institutions were recognized as key players to watch ahead of the 2021 season.
 
Louisiana Tech graduate transfer running back Marcus Williams Jr., senior linebacker Trey Baldwin, junior offensive lineman Joshua Mote, sophomore defensive back BeeJay Williamson and sophomore punt returner Smoke Harris were named to the 2021 preseason watch list.
 
Williams transferred to Louisiana Tech from App State where he appeared in 42 games and made six starts. The Rocky Mount, N.C., native rushed for more than 500 yards in each of his four seasons played (2017-20). He finished his App State career with 2,216 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 5.5 yards per carry, and had six career-games with 100-plus rushing yards. Williams appeared in eight games with two starts as senior in 2020, registering 503 rushing yards on 68 attempts for three touchdowns.
 
Baldwin was named second team all-C-USA and earned a spot on the Phil Steele All-Conference USA third team in 2020. The Orange, Texas, native finished the season second on the team with 85 total tackles, including a team-best 53 solo tackles. Baldwin posted a career-high 18 tackles, including 14 solo, at UTSA on Oct. 24. His 18 tackles tied for the 11th most nationally in the season, while his 14 solo tackles ranked second in the nation. He ranked first in C-USA and 11th in the FBS in solo tackles with 5.9 per game and was third in the conference in tackles per game at 9.4. Baldwin registered 7.0 tackles for loss, including 1.0 sacks, five pass breakups, one interception and one quarterback hurry during the 2020 campaign.
 
Mote was an all-Conference USA honorable mention in 2020 and earned a spot on the Phil Steele All-Conference USA Fourth Team. He was part of an offensive front that ranked first in C-USA and second in the FBS in fourth down conversions at 88.9 percent (16-of-18). The native of Oak Grove, La., helped the offense rank fourth in C-USA and 53rd in the FBS in red zone offense at 84.6 percent (33-of-39). Mote assisted the offense in averaging 315.8 yards of total offense, including a 216.6 passing yard average and a 99.2 rushing yard average.
 
Williamson was named first team all-Conference USA by both the league and Phil Steele in 2020. The native of Dallas, Texas, was third on the team with 56 total tackles, including 32 solo, while also registering 2.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, three interceptions, three pass breakups, one quarterback hurry and one forced fumble. Williamson recorded two interceptions against UAB and forced a fumble at the goal line to give LA Tech the game-winning possession. He registered multiple tackles in every game of the 2020 campaign.
 
Harris was named second team all-C-USA and Phil Steele All-Conference USA First Team as a punt returner in 2020. During the campaign, he averaged 21.50 yards per punt return after returning six punts for 129 total yards. The native of St. Francisville, La., had a career-long 60-yard punt return at the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (Dec. 23). Harris totaled 463 all-purpose yards which was the third most on the team.
 
The Conference USA slate opens on Saturday, Aug. 28, and the league's 17th Conference USA Football Championship Game is scheduled for the first week in December.
 
Louisiana Tech opens the 2021 season at Mississippi State on Saturday, Sept. 4, at 3 p.m. Tech will then open a three-game home stretch against Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday, Sept. 11, at 6 p.m. inside Joe Aillet Stadium.

Season tickets for the 2021 Louisiana Tech football season are on sale now. Fans can purchase season tickets online at LATechSports.com/tickets or by calling the LA Tech Ticket Office at (318) 257-3631.
 
For all the latest in Bulldog Football, follow them on Twitter (@LATechFB), Instagram (@LATechFB) and Facebook (LATechFootball) or visit the official website at LATechSports.com.
 
OFFENSE
QB          Grant Wells, RS Fr., Marshall
QB          Bailey Zappe, GS, WKU
RB           Frank Gore, Jr., Fr., Southern Miss
RB           Sincere McCormick, Jr., UTSA
RB           DeWayne McBride, So., UAB
RB           D'Vonte Price, Sr., FIU
RB           Marcus Williams Jr., GS, Louisiana Tech
WR         Jason Brownlee, Jr., Southern Miss
WR         Jacob Cowing, So., UTEP
WR         Jarrin Pearce, RS Sr., Middle Tennessee
WR         Brandon Robinson, RS Sr., Florida Atlantic
WR         Bradley Rozner, RS Jr., Rice
WR         Jyaire Shorter, RS So., North Texas
WR         Victor Tucker, RS Sr., Charlotte
OL           Shea Baker, RS Jr., Rice
OL           Jacob Brammer, RS Jr., North Texas
OL           Spencer Burford, Sr., UTSA
OL           Bobby DeHaro, RS Jr., UTEP
OL           D'Mitri Emmanuel, RS Sr., Charlotte
OL           Arvin Fletcher, RS Sr., Southern Miss
OL           Lyndell Hudson, Jr., RS So., FIU
OL           Alex Mollette, RS Sr., Marshall
OL           Joshua Mote, Jr., Louisiana Tech
OL           Jordan Palmer, Jr., Middle Tennessee
OL           Nick Saldiveri, RS So., Old Dominion
OL           Cole Spencer, RS Jr., WKU
OL           Kadeem Telfort, RS Jr., UAB
OL           Khalique Washington, Sr., Southern Miss
OL           Isaac Weaver, Sr., Old Dominion
OL           Nick Weber, RS Jr., Florida Atlantic
 
DEFENSE
DL           Praise Amaewhule, RS So., UTEP
DL           Evan Anderson, Fr., Florida Atlantic
DL           Jamare Edwards, RS Jr., Marshall
DL           Jordan Ferguson, RS Jr., Middle Tennessee
DL           Elijah Garcia, RS Sr., Rice
DL           Jaylon Haynes, Sr., UTSA
DL           DeAngelo Malone, Sr. WKU
DL           Antonio Moultrie, RS Jr., UAB
DL           Dion Novil, Sr., North Texas
DL           Davon Strickland, RS So., FIU
DL           Markees Watts, Sr., Charlotte
LB           Trey Baldwin, Sr., Louisiana Tech
LB           KD Davis, Jr., North Texas
LB           Tyler Murray, RS Sr., Charlotte
LB           Jordan Young, Sr., Old Dominion
DB          Reed Blankenship, Sr., Middle Tennessee
DB          Richard Dames, Sr., FIU
DB          Zyon Gilbert, Sr., Florida Atlantic
DB          Steven Gilmore, Jr., Marshall
DB          Joe Joe Headen, Sr., Old Dominion
DB          Dy'Vonne Inyang, Sr., UTEP
DB          Antwon Kincade, Sr., WKU
DB          Kristopher Moll, Sr., UAB
DB          Naeem Smith, Sr., Rice
DB          BeeJay Williamson, So., Louisiana Tech
DB          Rashad Wisdom, Jr., UTSA
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
K             Briggs Bourgeois, RS Jr., Southern Miss
K             Jonathan Cruz, Sr., Charlotte
K             Brayden Narveson, RS So., WKU
K             Nick Rice, Sr., Old Dominion
P             Lucas Dean, Jr., UTSA
P             Kyle Greenwell, Jr., UAB
P             Matt Hayball, RS Jr., Florida Atlantic
P             Tommy Heatherly, Sr., FIU
P             Kyle Ulbrich, RS Jr., Middle Tennessee
PR           Justin Garrett, RS Sr., UTEP
PR           Smoke Harris, So., Louisiana Tech
PR           Talik Keaton, RS So., Marshall
LS            Nate Durham, RS Jr., North Texas
LS            Campbell Riddle, Jr., Rice