2019 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team explained

The 2019 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team represented the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Ragin' Cajuns played their home games at Cajun Field in Lafayette, Louisiana, and competed in the West Division of the Sun Belt Conference. They were led by second-year head coach Billy Napier. The Cajuns made it to the Sun Belt Conference Championship Game for the second consecutive year by winning the West Division, ultimately losing to Appalachian State by the score of 45–38. The Cajuns then defeated Miami (OH) in the LendingTree Bowl, to end the season with an overall record of 11–3. Following the season, head coach Billy Napier's contract was extended by two years, going into the 2025 season.^[1]

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

Doak Walker Award	Elijah Mitchell	RB	JR
Doak Walker Award	Trey Ragas	RB	R-JR
Mackey Award	Johnny Lumpkin	TE	R-JR
Outland Trophy	Robert Hunt	OL	R-SR
Wuerffel Trophy	Deuce Wallace	DB	R-SR

Sun Belt coaches poll

The Sun Belt coaches poll was released on July 18, 2019. Louisiana was picked to finish 1st in the West Division with 46 total votes and picked to finish second in the conference with 6 1st place votes behind Appalachian State's 7.^[2]

West Division

1	Louisiana	46 (6)
2	Arkansas State	42 (3)
3	Louisiana–Monroe	27
4	South Alabama	19 (1)
5	Texas State	16

East Division

1	Appalachian State	46 (7)
2	Troy	39 (1)
3	Georgia Southern	35 (2)
4	Coastal Carolina	17
5	Georgia State	13

Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference teams

Offense

1st team

• Ja'Marcus Bradley - R-SR, Wide Receiver
• Kevin Dotson – R-SR, Offensive Lineman
• Robert Hunt - R-SR, Offensive Lineman

2nd team

• Elijah Mitchell - JR, Running Back
• Trey Ragas – R-JR, Running Back

Defensive

2nd team

• Zi'Yon Hill - SO, Defensive Lineman
• Jacques Boudreaux - SR, Linebacker
• Michael Jacquet - R-SR, Defensive Back

Schedule

The 2019 schedule consists of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season. The Ragin' Cajuns will travel to Sun Belt foes Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, and South Alabama. The Cajuns will play host to Sun Belt foes Appalachian State, Louisiana-Monroe, Texas State, and Troy.

The Ragin' Cajuns will host two of the four non-conference opponents at Cajun Field, Liberty Flames, and Independent school in Division I FBS Football and the Texas Southern Tigers of the SWAC, will travel to Mid-American Conference (MAC) member Ohio, and will play host to the Mississippi State Bulldogs of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Schedule Source:^{[3] [4] [5]}

Game summaries

Mississippi State

See also: 2019 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team.

Mississippi State

-18.5

Statistics	Mississippi State	Louisiana
First downs	29	27
Total yards	497	430
Rushing yards	261	163
Passing yards	236	267
Turnovers	2	4
Time of possession	30:37	29:23

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Mississippi State	Passing		20–30, 236 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing		27 carries, 197 yards, 1 TD
Receiving		6 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD
Louisiana	Passing		24–39, 267 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing		8 carries, 80 yards
Receiving	Jamal Bell	8 receptions, 113 yards

Liberty

See also: 2019 Liberty Flames football team.

Louisiana

-14.5

Statistics	Liberty	Louisiana
First downs	20	26
Total yards	361	593
Rushing yards	142	407
Passing yards	219	186
Turnovers	1	2
Time of possession	29:17	30:43

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Liberty	Passing		21–37, 212 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing		18 carries, 133 yards, 1 TD
Receiving		6 receptions, 70 yards
Louisiana	Passing	Levi Lewis	15–23, 179 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing		9 carries, 129 yards, 1 TD
Receiving		6 receptions, 110 yards, 2 TDs

Texas Southern

See also: 2019 Texas Southern Tigers football team.

Louisiana

-47.0

Statistics	Texas Southern	Louisiana
First downs	20	26
Total yards	361	593
Rushing yards	142	407
Passing yards	219	186
Turnovers	1	1
Time of possession	29:17	30:43

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Texas Southern	Passing		16–30, 151 yards
Rushing	Taylor Cook	6 carries, 31 yards
Receiving	Donnie Corley	6 receptions, 62 yards
Louisiana	Passing	Levi Lewis	10–13, 181 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing	T. J. Wisham	11 carries, 105 yards
Receiving	Peter LeBlanc	1 reception, 53 yards, 1 TD

At Ohio

See also: 2019 Ohio Bobcats football team.

Ohio

-3.0

Statistics	Louisiana	Ohio
First downs	25	23
Total yards	489	380
Rushing yards	285	103
Passing yards	204	277
Turnovers	1	5
Time of possession	32:00	28:00

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Louisiana	Passing	Levi Lewis	19–29, 188 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing		17 carries, 143 yards, 3 TDs
Receiving	Quintin Guice	5 receptions, 75 yards, 1 TD
Ohio	Passing		18–38, 277 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs
Rushing	Nathan Rourke	9 carries, 37 yards
Receiving	Shane Hooks	3 receptions, 96 yards, 1 TD

At Georgia Southern

See also: 2019 Georgia Southern Eagles football team.

Louisiana

-3.0

Statistics	Louisiana	Georgia Southern
First downs	23	18
Total yards	440	252
Rushing yards	275	215
Passing yards	165	37
Turnovers	2	0
Time of possession	26:04	33:56

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Louisiana	Passing	Levi Lewis	11–18, 165 yards, 1 TD
Rushing	Trey Ragas	16 carries, 131 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving	Jarrod Jackson	1 reception, 51 yards
Georgia Southern	Passing	Shai Werts	6–12, 37 yards
Rushing	Shai Werts	21 carries, 93 yards
Receiving		4 receptions, 24 yards

Appalachian State

See also: 2019 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team.

Louisiana

-3.0

Statistics	Appalachian State	Louisiana
First downs	21	16
Total yards	343	254
Rushing yards	196	123
Passing yards	147	131
Turnovers	0	0
Time of possession	34:38	25:22

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Appalachian State	Passing	Zac Thomas	11–17, 147 yards
Rushing		22 carries, 69 yards
Receiving	Corey Sutton	2 receptions, 58 yards
Louisiana	Passing	Levi Lewis	13–24, 131 yards, 1 TD
Rushing	Elijah Mitchell	13 carries, 68 yards
Receiving	Jarrod Jackson	5 receptions, 68 yards

At Arkansas State

See also: 2019 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team.

Louisiana

-5.0

Statistics	Louisiana	Arkansas State
First downs	26	27
Total yards	496	473
Rushing yards	315	170
Passing yards	181	303
Turnovers	1	1
Time of possession	26:50	33:10

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Louisiana	Passing	Levi Lewis	17–24, 181 yards, 1 INT
Rushing	Raymond Calais	8 carries, 144 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving	Ja'Marcus Bradley	6 receptions, 72 yards
Arkansas State	Passing		23–34, 303 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing	Marcel Murray	35 carries, 164 yards
Receiving		9 receptions, 150 yards

Texas State

See also: 2019 Texas State Bobcats football team.

Louisiana

-23.0

Statistics	Texas State	Louisiana
First downs	17	24
Total yards	264	479
Rushing yards	58	296
Passing yards	206	183
Turnovers	2	1
Time of possession	29:28	30:32

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Texas State	Passing	Tyler Vitt	24–34, 206 yards, 2 INTs
Rushing	Tyler Vitt	10 carries, 38 yards
Receiving	Trevis Graham Jr.	6 receptions, 52 yards
Louisiana	Passing	Levi Lewis	13–21, 183 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing	Elijah Mitchell	13 carries, 126 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Jalen Williams	3 receptions, 50 yards

At Coastal Carolina

See also: 2019 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football team.

Louisiana

-14.0

Statistics	Louisiana	Coastal Carolina
First downs	30	14
Total yards	564	236
Rushing yards	225	103
Passing yards	339	133
Turnovers	0	1
Time of possession	33:26	26:34

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Louisiana	Passing	Levi Lewis	26–30, 296 yards, 3 TDs
Rushing		8 carries, 99 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Ja'Marcus Bradley	7 receptions, 71 yards, 1 TD
Coastal Carolina	Passing	Bryce Carpenter	9-20, 71 yards
Rushing		10 carries, 54 yards
Receiving	Sam Denmark	1 reception, 44 yards, 1 TD

At South Alabama

See also: 2019 South Alabama Jaguars football team.

Louisiana

-27.5

Statistics	Louisiana	South Alabama
First downs	23	23
Total yards	391	467
Rushing yards	255	351
Passing yards	136	116
Turnovers	1	0
Time of possession	30:02	29:58

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Louisiana	Passing	Levi Lewis	16–29, 136 yards, 2 TD
Rushing	Elijah Mitchell	17 carries, 117 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Jamal Bell	3 receptions, 51 yards
South Alabama	Passing		8–15, 116 yards
Rushing	Tra Minter	22 carries, 137 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Cade Sutherland	3 receptions, 64 yards

Troy

See also: 2019 Troy Trojans football team.

Louisiana

-12.0

Statistics	Troy	Louisiana
First downs	22	28
Total yards	359	598
Rushing yards	156	254
Passing yards	203	344
Turnovers	3	0
Time of possession	27:04	32:56

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Troy	Passing	Kaleb Barker	15–32, 178 yards, 2 INTs
Rushing	DK Billingsley	10 carries, 68 yards
Receiving		6 receptions, 44 yards
Louisiana	Passing	Levi Lewis	21–33, 273 yards, 1 TD
Rushing	Chris Smith	5 carries, 87 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Ja'Marcus Bradley	5 receptions, 96 yards, 1 TD

Louisiana–Monroe

See also: 2019 Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks football team and Battle on the Bayou.

Louisiana

-19.5

Statistics	Louisiana–Monroe	Louisiana
First downs	25	20
Total yards	570	522
Rushing yards	240	252
Passing yards	330	270
Turnovers	0	1
Time of possession	27:46	32:14

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Louisiana–Monroe	Passing		22–37, 330 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing		13 carries, 109 yards
Receiving		6 receptions, 92 yards, 1 TD
Louisiana	Passing	Levi Lewis	15–23, 270 yards, 3 TDs
Rushing	Raymond Calais	8 carries, 107 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Ja'Marcus Bradley	4 receptions, 127 yards, 1 TD

At Appalachian State (Sun Belt Championship game)

See also: 2019 Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game and 2019 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team.

Appalachian State

-6.0

Statistics	Louisiana	Appalachian State
First downs	31	20
Total yards	513	416
Rushing yards	159	267
Passing yards	354	149
Turnovers	3	1
Time of possession	29:49	30:11

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Louisiana	Passing	Levi Lewis	24–46, 354 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT
Rushing	Elijah Mitchell	18 carries, 85 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Peter LeBlanc	3 receptions, 118 yards, 2 TDs
Appalachian State	Passing	Zac Thomas	9–17, 149 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing	Daetrich Harrington	9 carries, 89 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Darrynton Evans	2 receptions, 63 yards, 2 TDs

Vs. Miami (OH) (LendingTree Bowl)

See also: 2019 Miami RedHawks football team and 2020 LendingTree Bowl (January).

Louisiana

-14.0

Statistics	Louisiana	Miami (OH)
First downs	18	22
Total yards	401	351
Rushing yards	155	103
Passing yards	246	248
Turnovers	0	1
Time of possession	28:17	31:43

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Louisiana	Passing	Levi Lewis	19–26, 246 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing	Levi Lewis	8 carries, 62 yards
Receiving	Ja'Marcus Bradley	7 receptions, 88 yards, 2 TDs
Miami (OH)	Passing		22–31, 248 yards
Rushing	Tyre Shelton	6 carries, 59 yards
Receiving	Jack Sorenson	10 receptions, 107 yards

Postseason

All-Sun Belt Conference Football Team

Offense

1st team

• Kevin Dotson - SR, Offensive Lineman
• Robert Hunt – SR, Offensive Lineman

2nd team

• Elijah Mitchell – JR, Running Back
• Ja'Marcus Bradley – SR, Wide Receiver

3rd team

• Raymond Calais – SR, Running Back
• Trey Ragas – JR, Running Back

Defensive

2nd team

• Zi'Yon Hill – SO, Defensive Lineman
• Joe Dillon – JR, Linebacker
• Michael Jacquet – SR, Defensive Back

Special teams

1st team

• Raymond Calais – SR, Return Specialist

2nd team

• Rhys Burns – SO, Punter

3rd team

• Stevie Artigue – SR, Kicker
• Raymond Calais – SR, All-Purpose

Honorable Mention

• Jacques Boudreaux – SR, Linebacker
• Jarrod Jackson – R-SR, Wide Receiver
• Chauncey Manac – R-JR, Linebacker
• Nick Ralston – GR, Tight End

References:^[6]

Louisiana Sports Writers Association All-Louisiana Team

Offense

1st team

• Kevin Dotson - SR, Offensive Lineman
• Robert Hunt – SR, Offensive Lineman
• Elijah Mitchell – JR, Running Back

2nd team

• Ja'Marcus Bradley – SR, Wide Receiver

Defensive

1st team

• Jacques Boudreaux – SR, Linebacker

2nd team

• Zi'Yon Hill – SO, Defensive Lineman

Special teams

1st team

• Raymond Calais – SR, Return Specialist
• Rhys Burns – SO, Punter

Honorable Mention

• Joe Dillon – R-SR, Linebacker

References:^[7]

Postseason Personal Accolades

SBC Coach of the Year		2nd Year	Head coach
Pro Football Focus All-American		SR	OL
Sports Illustrated First Team All-American	Kevin Dotson	SR	OL
USA Today First Team All-American	Kevin Dotson	SR	OL
Associated Press First Team All-American	Kevin Dotson	SR	OL
FootballScoop running backs coach of the Year	Jabbar Juluke	3rd Year	RB Coach
Park Place Hospital Male Student–Athlete Comeback of the Year	Joe Dillon	R-SR	LB

References:^{[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]}

Players in the NFL

Players Drafted

See also: 2020 NFL draft.

2	39		OG	Miami Dolphins
4	135		OG	Pittsburgh Steelers
7	245		RB	Tampa Bay Buccaneers

References:^[15]

Players Signed (Undrafted Free Agents)

	CB	Philadelphia Eagles
	WR	Cleveland Browns

References:^[16]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Louisiana, Napier Agree to Two-Year Contract Extension . Louisiana Athletics . 5 July 2020 . en.
2. Web site: Eight Ragin' Cajuns Named to Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference Teams . Ragin' Cajuns Athletics . Ragin' Cajuns Athletic Department.
3. Web site: 2019 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Football Schedule. February 3, 2019.
4. Web site: 2019 Louisiana Football Schedule . FBSchedules.com . 5 July 2020.
5. Web site: Kelley . Kevin . Sun Belt early season 2019 football TV schedule announced . FBSchedules.com . 5 July 2020 . 30 May 2019.
6. Web site: Rodgers . Scottie . 2019 Sun Belt Football Postseason Awards Announced . sunbeltsports.org . 29 May 2020 . en.
7. Web site: Louisiana Places Nine Players on LSWA Teams . Louisiana Athletics . 5 July 2020 . en.
8. Web site: Staff Reports . Chatsworth native Napier named Sun Belt football coach of the year . The Daily Citizen . 5 July 2020 . en.
9. Web site: Kevin Dotson Named Pro Football Focus All-American . Louisiana Athletics . 5 July 2020 . en.
10. Web site: Kevin Dotson Named Sports Illustrated First Team All-American . Louisiana Athletics . 5 July 2020 . en.
11. Web site: Kevin Dotson Earns USA Today First Team All-American Honors . Louisiana Athletics . 5 July 2020 . en.
12. Web site: Dotson Adds Associated Press First Team All-America Honors . Louisiana Athletics . 5 July 2020 . en.
13. Web site: Jabbar Juluke Named the 2019 FootballScoop Running Backs Coach of the Year . Louisiana Athletics . 5 July 2020 . en.
14. Web site: Joe Dillon Awarded Male Student-Athlete Comeback of the Year . Louisiana Athletics . 5 July 2020 . en.
15. Web site: 2020 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Draft . 247Sports . 5 July 2020.
16. Web site: Buckley . Tim . Cajuns coach Napier: NFL scouts 'flip over every rock' . The Advertiser . 5 July 2020 . en.