Cowboys fans may have gotten a preview of this year’s linebacker core during last season’s finale.

With star backer and team leader in tackles Kordell Williams out for McNeese State’s game against rival Lamar, redshirt freshman Micah Davey got his chance.

The son of former LSU quarterback Rohan Davey made the most of that opportunity.

Davey finished with a career-high 18 tackles against Lamar, 12 of which were of the solo variety. He also returned a fumble 78 yards for a score in the Cowboys’ 24-20 victory.

“The ball just bounced up and hit me in the face,” Davey said of his game-changing play. “After that, I just started to run and tried not to get caught.”

Davey ended the season with 68 tackles (38 solo), including eight for 53 yards in losses. He had one sack and two forced fumbles to go with his touchdown.

Despite his limited playing time, Davey recorded 10 or more tackles in three games. He was named to the inaugural Bluebloods FCS All-Freshman Team, one of 27 freshmen in the nation to receive the honor that includes players from 12 of the 15 Football Championship Subdivision conferences.

However, he was not named to the Southland Conference preseason team.

Davey is back and bigger than ever. At 6-foot-2, 238 pounds Davey appears ready for a starring role in a defensive group that has a lot of youth in it.

“We are expecting great things from Micah,” said McNeese head coach Gary Goff. “The dude can flat play. “We really are expecting great things from him.

“He showed last season that he can make things happen when he’s out there.”

Redshirt senior Brayden Adams is back from an injury that put an end to his season early last fall. Adams (6-2, 218) is a Barbe High product who has stuck with McNeese through some tough years and says he’s ready to have one productive season.

“We have built a different culture,” Adams said. “We have a lot more belief and trust now. It has been nice to have a routine and to have our coaches back.

“I’m looking forward to this year, to help set McNeese back on track. When I was a kid I would come to these games and it would be packed. We want that back.”

Adams became a team leader last year, but as one of four seniors on the roster, he hopes to leave a legacy behind.

Adams will likely take the spot of graduated Amaud Willis-Dalton, who made 67 tackles last year.

The only other returning linebacker who lettered last season is sophomore Jordan Toaston. The 6-3, 230-pounder played in five games last fall and recorded six tackles.

One transfer who might help is Kylen Armstead, a 6-5, 211-pound newcomer from Hinds (Miss.) Community College. He will be joined by six true freshmen on the roster.

Linebackers seems to be the one area where injuries could be hard for the Cowboys to overcome.