by DAVID BERRY
dberry@americanpress.com

In the span of a year, B.J. Blunt has gone from a player on McNeese State’s defense to the player. He’s the player who opposing offensive coordinators and offensive line coaches have to identify and find out where he’s lined up. Ignore Blunt at your quarterback’s expense.

The senior is on a tear to start the season. Through five games the New Orleans native has amassed 11.5 tackles for loss, which leads the Football Championship Subdivision. He’s also picked up seven sacks, which is tied for the FCS lead.

Additionally, he leads the Cowboys in tackles (36) and fumble recoveries (2).

So what’s gone into such a great start?

“A lot of preparation, you know? Putting in a lot of work in fall camp,” Blunt said. “The summer and the spring, things like that. Just playing in the park.”

What makes it all the more impressive is that Blunt came to Mc-Neese as a defensive back and transitioned to linebacker last season when Christian Jacobs got injured. In 2017, Blunt played all 11 games, starting two; he finished second on the team in tackles for loss (9.5), third in total tackles (43), and fourth in sacks (2).

This season, he’s surpassed most of his 2017 numbers and he’s close to passing the others.

Count McNeese head coach Lance Guidry as impressed with Blunt’s play. Guidry said he plans on being creative with how he uses him.

“As long as we’ve got B.J. Blunt, I feel like we got a chance,” Guidry said. “B.J.’s been playing outstanding. We blitz him a lot. On third down he does a lot of spying. We try to free him up a lot so that he can rush the quarterback. So a lot of it is scheme, but a lot of it is just him. He just plays the game the right way. He’s got a high motor. He’s very fast, he’s violent. We’re lucky that we have him here at McNeese.”

Blunt, along with the rest of the defense, will face one of its toughest tests of the season against Abilene Christian. The Wildcats statistically have the best offense in the Southland Conference. They’ve allowed three quarterback sacks, which also leads the SLC.

In Blunt’s eyes, great preparation is the key to the defense’s effectiveness.

“We come out and prepare every day like we’re playing for the national championship,” Blunt said. “As a defense we put in the work. We treat it like a boxing match. Monday is speed day, Tuesday is sparring day, Wednesday is the day that we install everything that we’re going to do in the game. Thursday we just turn it up a notch.”

Opposing teams have already taken more notice of Blunt, sending more doubleteams his away when he does rush the passer. He’s preparing for it much more now in practice to make sure when it happens in a game, he knows what to do.

“That’s a part of the game, that’s how it’s going to go,” Blunt said. “If they’ve got to double-team me, that means somebody else needs to make the play.”

‘As long as we’ve got B.J. Blunt, I feel like we got a chance. … He just plays the game the right way.’

Lance Guidry

Cowboys head coach

McNeese State senior linebacker B.J. Blunt leads the nation with 11 1/2 tackles for loss and ranks fourth in sacks with seven. His play has forced opposing defenses to account for his presence.

American Press