The wide receiver position has been a season-long issue for UL, and it remains a mystery heading into the 4 p.m. Saturday road game against Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg.

All season, one or both of the expected starters, Shelton Sampson and Landon Strother, have missed games. Sampson is back but still not up to speed, and Strother is out again with his second significant injury.

The good news is there are more viable options than most expected going into August camp. One of those is redshirt freshman Trenton Chaney.

Redshirt freshman Russell Babineaux leads the team with 15 receptions, followed closely by Chaney with 14 catches for 169 yards.

"I feel like I'm getting better not just game by game, but practice after practice," Chaney said. "I'm getting more comfortable ... every day with my prep and just trusting myself ... doing the same routine over and over.

"It's just coming together slowly."

Chaney's talent level has never been in question. The issue is staying healthy as well as mastering the finer points of playing receiver at the collegiate level.

"When I was injured, it was a little tough to maintain my regular process," the 5-foot-9, 178-pound receiver said. "I couldn't do the physical activity stuff. I wouldn't say it was hard to bounce back, but you have to get back comfortable sticking your foot in the ground and cutting ... stuff like that."

Chaney has played in five of the seven games while learning the basics of the position.

"Learning the defense and my alignment, my assignment, my read before the ball is snapped. I had trouble with that stuff before fall camp, and I'm gradually fixing it," he said. "It's slowing down in my head."

The Cajuns employed more of a running strategy in the 33-6 win over Troy on Saturday, but Chaney led all receivers with four targets, three receptions and 45 yards. Sampson had one catch on three targets for 6 yards.

"Our running backs do a good job and our O-line," Chaney said. "We run the ball a good bit. We just try to be more physical on the perimeter and when the ball does come our way, we try to make the best of our opportunities."

Including the tight ends, seven different UL targets have at least double-digit receptions for triple-digit yards. KeDarius Wade leads the group in yards with 226 yards and two touchdowns on 11 grabs.

"KeDarius Wade has played all year, so you feel really good about that," UL coach Michael Desormeaux said. "I think with Russ and Trent, you got two guys that are playing really well in the same spot. Maybe that gives you an opportunity to play one or some of them a little bit more."

One advantage Chaney has is a longtime relationship with quarterback Lunch Winfield. The Lutcher graduates have been playing football together since the backyard days prior to their high school years.

"Yes, that relationship goes back before high school," Chaney said. "It's just a regular nature for us. It's just always been us."

The matchup against Southern Miss may lend itself to the running game agaub. The Golden Eagles are dead last in the Sun Belt against the run at 252 yards a game, compared to No. 4 against the pass at 194.7 yards a game.

Troy ranked significantly higher against the run than the pass but the Cajuns ran for 243 yards and passed for only 108.

Despite the lack of consistent production through seven games, Chaney said he remains confident.

"My confidence has always been through the roof," he said. "I've always been heavy on myself about confidence because without confidence, you're really nothing. If you don't have confidence, then you might not make the play. You might overthink it. I always preach to myself about having confidence."