In the first few weeks of August camp, there was an unfamiliar name coach Michael Desormeaux periodically would mention.
“I think everybody in our building is really excited about him,” Desormeaux once said. “He’s physical, he’s fast and he’s smart. He’s handled everything no matter what group we’ve put him in there with.”
That player was true freshman linebacker Harrison Kidder from Baton Rouge. The former Catholic High standout drew interest from Air Force and Navy, but “Louisiana was my best offer. I loved the coaches. I loved the place here, so it was an obvious choice.”
It was apparent early on that Kidder was further along than most freshmen.
“I was hopeful,” Kidder said. “I had confidence in my abilities. I just was able to come over there and just put my head down and kept working during the summer.”
Like most freshmen, learning the playbook and about the coaches’ expectations were first on the agenda.
“The amount of stuff that we have, it just takes some time,” Kidder said. “I was able to put the work in and get to know the system. That was the biggest adjustment. Then it was just kind of, wherever they want to put me, just be ready for any opportunity that is given to me.”
In high school, Kidder didn’t played in the box.
“I was more in space,” he said. “At first, they wanted to move me inside, but I think they were more adamant about playing ‘Sam’ (linebacker), just because it kind of fit my skills. Eventually, I kind of cross-trained at Sam and Mike.”
Even as a senior in high school, Kidder played on special teams, and that was his best chance to get on the field right away for the Cajuns. He had ideas of playing on defense eventually, but Kidder enjoyed his chances on special teams.
“It’s really fun, honestly,” Kidder said. “At the beginning, I just wanted to put something on tape and get an opportunity. I mean, you’re playing college football, like, it’s awesome. You get to run down on kickoffs and just hit somebody or on punts. You’re out there and just playing football. It’s one play and it’s not super complicated. It just kind of, you get to play free and fast and it’s really fun.”
Kidder also had to get comfortable with veteran UL linebackers coach Scott Stoker.
“He’s honestly, he’s like a genius,” Kidder said with a laugh. “Coach Stoker and coach (Jim) Salgado, they’re really smart and really helpful. Especially during the summer, I just tried to learn as much as I could from them.
“Obviously, I’m like the young guy in the room, so during fall camp, I’m just absorbing knowledge. It’s great having that type of mind helping you as a coach.”
Kidder said the linebackers’ bond has helped as well.
“Jake (St. Andre) has been there and is obviously the leader,” he said. “Conor (McPherson) and Micah (Johnson) were great role models for me during the summer and great friends with guys like (Ethan) Veal and Prince (Malbrue).
“We’re all just trying to get better and all trending up.”
Somewhere along the way, Kidder learned enough to expand his role as a true freshman.
“I don’t want to say I’m surprised, because I came here and I wanted to play as much as anybody,” he said. “I came here to work really hard and try to put myself in a good spot to whenever they needed me, I was able to go in and contribute.”
Kidder has been credited with nine tackles, including a critical fourth-down stop to halt a Southern Miss drive in the red zone, as well as a fumble recovery on a punt to set up UL’s first score in the win over Troy.
“College is much more mental than high school,” Kidder said. “Just the pace of play is different with all the motions and stuff that the offense is trying to do … just trying to mess with the linebackers and get the eyes in the wrong place.”
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