(Photo Credit: John David Mercer/USA Today Sports)
Key Players Returning:
QB Levi Lewis, WR Kyren Lacy, WR Peter LeBlanc, WR Jalen Williams, OG Ken Marks, OT Max Mitchell, OT Carlos Rubio, DE Andre Jones, DE Zi’Yon Hill, NT Tayland Humphrey, LB Chauncey Manac, LB Ferrod Gardner, LB Lorenzo McCaskill, LB Jourdan Quibodeaux, LB Andre Riley, CB/PR Eric Garror, CB A.J. Washington, NB Jalen Johnson, NB Kam Pedescleaux, FS Percy Butler, WS Bralen Trahan, KR Chris Smith, and PK Kenneth Almendares.
Key Players Departing:
RB Elijah Mitchell, and RB Trey Ragas.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: WR John Stephens (TCU transfer), DL Nijel McGriff (Senatobia, Mississippi), RB Terrence Williams (Many, Louisiana), S Tyrone Lewis (Kansas State transfer), RB Montrell Johnson (New Orleans, Louisiana), WR Robert Williams (Cedar Hill, Texas), OT George Jackson (Stone Mountain, Georgia), RB Jacob Kibodi (Incarnate Word transfer), DL Ja’Marian Peterson (New Orleans, Louisiana), and LB K.C. Ossai (Conroe, Texas).
2020 Results:
G01 at #23 Iowa State W 31-14
G02 at Georgia State W | OT 34-31
G03 GEORGIA SOUTHERN W 20-18
G04 COASTAL CAROLINA L 27-30
G05 at UAB W 24-20
G06 at Texas State W 44-34
G07 ARKANSAS STATE W 27-20
G08 SOUTH ALABAMA W 38-10
G09 at UL-Monroe W 70-20
G10 at Appalachian State W 24-21
BOWL vs. UTSA W 31-24
Team Info:
2020 Overall: 10-1 (1st in Sun Belt West/Co-Sun Belt Champions)
Home: 3-1
Away: 6-0
Neutral: 1-0
SBC: 7-1
Non SBC: 3-0
Head Coach: Billy Napier
Louisiana: 28-11
Career: 28-11
Bowls: 2-1
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Levi Lewis (177-297, 2274 yards, 59.6%, 7.7 avg., 19 TD, 7 INT)
Rushing: Chris Smith (62 car., 350 yards, 5.6 avg., 1 TD)
Receiving: Kyren Lacy (28 rec., 364 yards, 13.0 avg., 4 TD)
TD’s Scored: Levi Lewis (5)
Sacks: Ferrod Gardner (4.5)
Tackles: Lorenzo McCaskill (83)
Interceptions: Bralen Trahan (4)
Pass Deflections: Bralen Trahan (9)
Tackles For Loss: Ferrod Gardner (7.0)
Forced Fumbles: Percy Butler (2)
Kick Returns: Chris Smith (23 ret., 617 yards, 26.8 avg., 2 TD)
Punt Returns: Eric Garror (20 ret., 156 yards, 7.8 avg., 1 TD)
Kicking: Kenneth Almendares (5-5 fg/fga., 100%, 23-23 xp/xpa., 38 pts.)
Punting: Rhys Byrns (36 punts, 1567 yards, 43.5 avg., 14 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 1 Levi Lewis (SR)
RB: 21 Chris Smith (RS SO)
WR: 29 Peter LeBlanc (SO)
WR: 18 Jalen Williams (RS SR/TR)
WR: 2 Kyren Lacy (FR)
TE: 87 Neal Johnson (SO)
LT: 65 Carlos Rubio (RS JR)
LG: 67 Ken Marks (RS SR)
OC: 64 Shane Vallot (RS JR)
RG: 58 O’Cyrus Torrence (SO)
RT: 74 Max Mitchell (JR)
KR: 21 Chris Smith (RS SO)
PK: 45 Kenneth Almendares (RS SO)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 10 Andre Jones (RS JR)
NT: 99 Tayland Humphrey (RS SR/TR)
DE: 4 Zi’Yon Hill (RS JR)
LB: 17 Chauncey Manac (RS SR/TR)
LB: 2 Lorenzo McCaskill (RS JR/TR)
LB: 7 Ferrod Garnder (RS SR/TR)
LB: 95 Andre Riley (RS SO)
CB: 19 Eric Garror (JR)
CB: 20 Mekhi Garner (RS SO/TR)
FS: 9 Percy Butler (JR)
WS: 24 Bralen Trahan (RS JR)
PR: 19 Eric Garror (JR)
PT: 47 Rhys Byrns (JR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: A
Kickers: B
Punters: B
Schedule:
09/04 at Texas Longhorns | Louisiana trails the series 0-2. The Ragin’ Cajuns lost (3-60) the last meeting between schools in 2005.
09/11 NICHOLLS COLONELS | Louisiana leads the series 4-0. The Ragin’ Cajuns are won (70-7) the last meeting between schools in 2013.
09/16 OHIO BOBCATS | Louisiana trails the series 1-2. The Ragin’ Cajuns won (45-25) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
09/25 at Georgia Southern Eagles | Louisiana leads the series 3-1. The Ragin’ Cajuns won (20-18) last season’s meeting between schools, and their only series loss (24-34) was in 2017.
10/02 at South Alabama Jaguars | Louisiana leads the series 7-2. The Ragin’ Cajuns won (38-10) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series loss (25-32) was in 2015.
10/12 APPALACHIAN STATE MOUNTAINEERS | Louisiana trails the series 1-8. The Ragin’ Cajuns won (24-21) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series loss (38-45) was in 2019.
10/21 at Arkansas State Red Wolves | Louisiana leads the series 27-21-1. The Ragin’ Cajuns are 6-4 since 2011, and their last series loss (3-47) was in 2017.
10/30 TEXAS STATE BOBCATS | Louisiana leads the series 8-0. The Ragin’ Cajuns have won the past eight prior meetings, dating back to 2013, by an average of 20.5 points per game.
11/04 GEORGIA STATE PANTHERS | Louisiana leads the series 5-0. The Ragin’ Cajuns have won the past five prior meetings, dating back to 2013, by an average of 7.2 points per game.
11/13 at Troy Trojans | Louisiana leads the series 12-9. The Ragin’ Cajuns are 5-2 since 2011, and they won (53-3) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
11/20 at Liberty Flames | Louisiana won (35-14) the only prior meeting between schools in 2019.
11/27 UL-MONROE WARHAWKS | Louisiana leads the series 31-25. The Ragin’ Cajuns are 8-2 since 2011, and their last series loss (50-56 OT) was in 2017.
Predictions:
Home: 7-0
Away: 4-2
Neutral: 0-0
SBC: 8-0
Non-SBC: 3-2
Overall: 11-2 (Sun Belt Champions)
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