If nothing else, first-year coach Mark Hudspeth has injected some enthusiasm into the program at Louisiana-Lafayette.

An estimated 750 people -- maybe more, according to a report in the Morning Advertiser of Lafayette -- showed up for Hudspeth's first recruiting day bash on campus to get the word on that day's 26 signees.

Among those signees is Montrel Carter, a running back out of Cecilia, La., who says he leans on his new coach for motivation.

"I feel like I can do anything whenever I talk with coach Hud," Carter told the newspaper. "Coach Hud knows what he wants and has a lot of passion and energy."

How that translates to success on the field, of course, won't be revealed until the 26 signees join their teammates at the start of fall camp.

In addition to the list of 26 signees, three newcomers are already enrolled and when take part in spring practice.

They include quarterback Terrence Broadway, who transferred after one semester at Houston. Broadway played as a true freshman for the Cougars when veterans like Case Keenum ahead of him were injured. But their return likely would have put him back down on the depth chart.

The others are Trae Johnson, a linebacker from Mendenhall, Miss., and Blake Comminie, a defensive end who played for Mississippi Delta Community College.

TOP OF THE CLASS

DE Kevin Foster -- UCLA recruited Foster, who decided to stick closer to his New Orleans home. At 6-4, 250, he could earn a spot in Lafayette's rotation up front on defense in 2011.

CB Dexter Aucoin (Patterson, La.) -- Rivals.com gave Aucoin three stars and rated him a top 40 prospect in the state of Louisiana. He reportedly had offers from Louisiana Tech, Tulane, and Tulsa before picking the Cajuns. The Cajuns lose CB Orkeys Auriene from their secondary.

WR Jamal Robinson (Salmen High, Slidell, La.) -- The Cajuns are looking for immediate help at wideout. Robinson has nice size (6-3, 205) and had 45 catches his senior year.

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