Like many Cowboys, Phillip Bradford suffered through being undersized and out of position last season.

It was not a lot of fun.

The redshirt freshman came to McNeese State the year before expecting to continue his career as a solid defensive end. 

At 6-foot-6, 290 pounds Bradford looked the part. Athletic and strong he was expected to help stop the run and rush the passer.

But he never got the chance to play that role last season.

During the spring of 2023, Bradford was losing weight and feeling sick. He was diagnosed with diabetes and his weight dropped down to 227.

“It was scary at first,” Bradford said. “I didn’t know what was happening. Then you have to adjust.”

Bradford was forced to move to linebacker and played in just three games. 

“It was very frustrating,” Bradford said. “I wanted to get in and help. I had to learn a new position and a new body.”

Bradford has bounced back with medication and better care of himself and is ready to help the Cowboys turn things around.

He is back up to 283 pounds and feeling great. He is also back to playing on the defensive end.

“I am back up to speed,” Bradford said. “I feel perfect. I’m excited to get out there and play football like I can again.”

McNeese head coach Gary Goff has called Bradford “somebody to “really watch” this season. It is Bradford’s third year in the program and he has a better sense of urgency. 

“Going through last year I want to make the most of this chance,” Bradford said. “We all want to have a better season and are looking forward to that.”

Bradford is part of a new-look defensive line that includes four transfers from the FBS level. While those guys are getting a lot of attention, there is also a group forced into action last year and is ready to use those hard experiences as learning moments ahead of this season.

“We are a lot better for sure, but so are the guys who were here,” Bradford said. “We have worked hard to get bigger and stronger.”

Bradford and the rest of the D-line know that in order to be better McNeese must stop the run first. Opponents ran for almost 250 yards a game last season.

“We have to stop the run and play more physical and aggressive,” said Bradford. “We are going to do that.”

Bradford also said that putting back on the weight was pretty easy.

“Most of it came back by working out and eating right,” he said.

Bradford hopes heading back to the line’s edge can be just as easy of a return.

“It’s where I am used to playing and I feel comfortable again,” Bradford said. “I just want to get back to feeling good and playing football like I know I can.”

It’s what everybody returning on defense is hoping for this fall.