Louisiana football adds former Michigan State reserve offensive guard James Ohonba

Louisiana football’s first pickup of the year from the transfer portal is an offensive guard from Michigan State.

James Ohonba appeared in 11 games last season, all as a reserve, and in all seven games for the Spartans in 2020, playing mostly on special teams. A product of Woodland High from Stockbridge, Georgia, the 6-foot-4, 325-pound Ohonba redshirted in 2018 and did not appear in any games in 2019.

Ohonba revealed his move to UL on Twitter, and on Saturday a Ragin’ Cajuns spokesman confirmed his addition to the roster.

Ohanba's offensive coordinator at Michigan State the past two seasons was former UL offensive coordinator Jay Johnson.

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New UL coach Michael Desormeaux foreshadowed the addition of at least one offensive lineman through the transfer earlier this month, saying it was needed for depth purposes.

At least one Cajun, reserve right guard David Hudson, will miss spring practice while recovering from offseason surgery.

UL already has lost starting right guard O’Cyrus Torrence and reserve offensive lineman Kam Waites to the transfer portal. Waites joined former Cajuns coach Billy Napier at Florida and Torrence visited this weekend.

Starting right tackle Max Mitchell, who has been invited to the NFL Draft combine, played his final season as a Cajun last year, as did starting center Shane Vallot, who opted not to return in 2022, and Ken Marks, a seventh-year senior in 2021.

The line, however, does get back usual starting left tackle Carlos Rubio, who was injured and out most of last season.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Louisiana football adds former Michigan State guard James Ohonba