LAKE CHARLES – Youth is definitely the movement for McNeese Cowboy football this season, even if it wasn't planned to be before the season started.
 
Recent research conducted by the McNeese Sports Communications staff discovered the Cowboys have the third-youngest team in the FCS according to each school's most recent two-deep offensive and defensive charts listing freshmen and sophomores (true and redshirt).
 
McNeese's current depth chart lists a total of 28 freshmen and sophomores on the 44-man depth chart, with 13 of those being freshmen.
 
"We're not using being young as an excuse," Cowboys' head coach Gary Goff has said in the past. "But we are traveling more freshmen and the young guys are seeing a significant amount of playing time now."
 
This past Saturday, redshirt freshman running back Joshon Barbie, the No. 5 back on the depth chart at the start of the season, was put into action due to the injury bug in that position room. He responded by running for 117 yards and a touchdown against the nation's No. 5 team in just his second collegiate game. It's just the second 100-yard rushing game of the season for the Cowboys.
 
True freshman wide receiver Makhi Paris continues to impress, ranking second on the team with 22 catches and 275 receiving yards (Jon McCall, 23 catches for 383 yards) and is the Southland Conference receiving leader among all league freshmen receivers.
 
"Makhi keeps doing great things for us," said Goff. "He's going to be a special player. And I was very impressed with how Barbie ran the ball. He executed when his number was called."
 
On the season, McNeese has seen 25 true or redshirt freshmen see action with seven making starts. Add in the sophomores and a total of 46 freshmen and sophomores have seen significant playing time throughout the year. This week's homecoming game against Northwestern State could see more freshmen getting playing time, including true freshman quarterback Kamden Sixkiller.
 
Charleston Southern out of the Big South/OVC leads the FCS with the most freshmen/sophomores listed on its two-deep with 32, 17 of those being freshmen. Ranked second is Weber State of the Big Sky 29 total and 15 freshmen followed by McNeese. Idaho of the Big Sky (27/13) and the United Athletic Conference's Utah Tech (27/11) round out the top five youngest teams in the nation.
 
FCS Top 10 Youngest Teams (Fr-Soph/Fr Only)
Charleston Southern (32/13)
Weber State (29/15)
McNeese (28/13)
Idaho (27/13)
Utah Tech (27/11)
Southern Utah (26/11)
Dayton (26/17)
St. Francis (25/15)
Cal Poly (25/12)
Elon (25/12)