Louisiana football quarterback Ben Wooldridge cleared to play, expected to be starter

Lafayette Daily Advertiser
NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana senior quarterback Ben Wooldridge will be healthy and available for preseason practice.
Ragin' Cajuns football coach Michael Desormeaux revealed to The Daily Advertiser on Tuesday morning during the team's appearance at the annual Sun Belt Media Days at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown New Orleans that the 6-3, 211-pound signal caller was officially cleared for full football activities Friday.
Desormeaux also said that he anticipates Wooldridge to be the Cajuns' starting quarterback this fall.
"In my mind, I had him written off for the beginning of the year, like, 'Alright, we just have to move past that'," Desormeaux said. "He kept telling me, 'I'm going to be ready.' He's been fully cleared. So day one, he'll be in full pads with everybody else so that's a good thing for us.
"I've been asked is it an open competition? It's not. It's Ben and whoever else kinda rises. I think it's Ben's to lose with him fully healthy."
Wooldridge's recovery has been remarkable as he is eight months removed from tearing his ACL during practice leading up to a game at Florida State last November. And leading up to full clearance, he's been working out and conditioning with the team.
Wooldridge, which initially lost the starting quarterback competition during last preseason training camp to Chandler Fields, saw some playing time early in the season before starting five games and helping UL to a big win at Marshall and an overall 3-2 record.
In 10 total games in 2022, Wooldridge threw for 1,661 yards and 15 touchdowns while completing 56% of his passes. He added two rushing touchdowns as well.
"When Ben started playing last year, it was the catalyst a little bit for us offensively. I'm comfortable with all three of those guys; Zeon had a phenomenal spring and there's no doubt his future here is really bright and Chandler played well for us down the stretch last year," Desormeaux said. "The work that kid has done and what he means to our team, I'm so happy he has the chance to go out there and compete the way he wants."