2017 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team

Recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	40‡	Commit date
SchDarren Archie #11 DB	Brandon, MS	Brandon HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	-	Feb 1, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Karson Block LB	Mission Viejo, CA	Atascadero HS/Saddleback	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	-	Feb 1, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Lavante Espon OL	Greenville, MS	Washington HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	315 lb (143 kg)	-	Feb 1, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Kadon Harrison #19 QB	Port Arthur, TX	Memorial HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	-	Feb 1, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN: N/A
Bennie Higgins #15 DE	Greenwood, MS	Greenwood HS/Mississippi Delta	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	223 lb (101 kg)	-	Feb 1, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Zi'Yon Hill #39 DT	New Iberia, LA	Catholic HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	280 lb (130 kg)	-	Feb 1, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN: N/A
Ja'len Johnson #40 DB	Morgan City, LA	Central Catholic HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	-	Feb 1, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN: N/A
Andre Jones #50 DE	Angie, LA	Varnado HS	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	-	Feb 1, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Levi Lewis #17 QB	Baton Rouge, LA	Scotlandville Magnet HS	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	-	Feb 1, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN: N/A
Ryheem Malone #13 WR	Houston, TX	Bellaire HS/SMU	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	1,852 lb (840 kg)	-	Feb 1, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Elijah Mitchell #15 RB	Erath, LA	Erath HS	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	-	Feb 1, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN: N/A
Earnest Patterson #22 WR	Brenham, TX	Brenham HS/Blinn College	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)	155 lb (70 kg)	-	Feb 1, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:    ESPN: N/A
Julius Perkins #20 LB	Houston, TX	Summer Creek HS/Blinn College	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	-	Feb 1, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN: N/A
Chase Rogers #80 TE	Bay St. Louis, MS	St. Stanislaus HS	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	248 lb (112 kg)	-	Feb 1, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Carlos Rubio #65 OL	Alexandria, LA	Alexandria Senior HS	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	250 lb (110 kg)	-	Feb 1, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Bralen Trahan #24 DB	Lafayette, LA	Acadiana HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	-	Feb 1, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN: N/A
Staten Wade #70 OL	Texarkana, AR	Reedley HS/Arkansas	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	285 lb (129 kg)	-	Feb 1, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 4, 2018.

Southeastern Louisiana

The game began with a kickoff return for Louisiana by Raymond Calais. This would happen twice for Louisiana and one kickoff return for Southeaster LA. This game was an offensive battle with Southeastern LA answering the call in their first possession driving down the field and scoring on a Eugene Bethea 42-yard run to make it 7–7. Louisiana did nothing on their next possession. Southeastern LA ran back a punt for 60 to make it 14–7 SELA. Louisiana's Trey Ragas had a 54 yard run to make it 14–14. On their next possession, Southeastern LA went down the field 99 yards before scoring again on a Eugene Bethea 1 yard run to make it 21–14 SELA. In the final minutes of the 1st quarter, Raymond Calais once again ran back the kickoff for 100 yards to make it 21–21 at the end of the first quarter. To open the second quarter, Louisiana drove down the field for Jordan Davis threw to Ryheem Malone for a 15-yard touchdown pass. The first touchdown pass of the game to make it 21–28 ULL. On Southeastern LA's next possession, Julius Maracalin ran 54 yards for a touchdown to make it 28–28. On Louisiana's next possession, they ran down the field 99 yards and then replaced Jordan Davis for Dion Ray (just for that play) who ran one yard for the touchdown to make it 28-35 ULL. In the closing seconds before halftime, Southeastern LA's Zeke Jenkins threw a one yard pass to Lorenzo Nunez to make it 35–35 before halftime. There was only one score in the third quarter when Louisiana's Jordan Wright ran three yards for the touchdown to make it 35–42 ULL. In the fourth quarter, Southeastern LA's Bransen Schwebel caught a three-yard pass from Lorenzo Nunez for the score to make it 42–42. On Louisiana's next possession, Elijah Mitchell would run 2 yards and make it 42–49 ULL. On their next chance, Southeastern LA knew they had to do something big, and did they! They went down the field and scored on a Lorenzo Nunez 29 yard pass to Nih-Jer Jackson, but the 2-point conversion failed because Louisiana's Joe Dillon would pick up the ball and return it to make the final score 48–51 ULL.^[7]

at Tulsa

Once again, like the Southeastern LA game, this game was offensive. In Tulsa's, opening possession, they traveled down the field for a Redford Jones 46 yard field goal to make it 3-0 TUL. On Louisiana's first possession, it was the same song and dance as Tulsa going for a Stevie Antigua 38 yard field goal to make it 3-3. On Tulsa's next possession, D'Angelo Brewster ran down the field for a 50 yard score to make it 10-3 TUL. On Louisiana's next possession, QB Jordan Davis ran in the endzone for a 1 yard run to make it 10-10 at the end of the first quarter. To open the second quarter, Tulsa would go down the field for a QB Chad President 5 yard run to make it 17-10 TUL. On Louisiana's next possession, Elijah Mitchell would run down the field for a 20 yard run to make it 17-17. On Tulsa's next possession, Corey Taylor II ran 4 yards for the score to make it 24-17 TUL. On Louisiana's next possession, Jordan Davis would throw to Keenan Barnes for a 15 yard touchdown, but K Stevie Artigue missed the extra point to make it 24-23 TUL. On Tulsa's next possession, Chad President would throw to Justin Hobbs for a 69 yard touchdown to make it 31-23 TUL. Louisiana would do nothing on their possession. Tulsa would then have Corey Taylor II run 1 yard for the touchdown to make it 38-23 TUL at halftime. Louisiana would open the next quarter with fire. Jordan Davis would throw to Elijah Mitchell for a 19 yard pass to make it, but fail the 2-point attempt to make it 38-29 TUL. Tulsa would do nothing. On Louisiana's next possession, QB Jordan Davis would run 9 yards, but have the extra point missed by K Calvin Linden to make it 38-35 TUL. On Tulsa's next possession, they would hand the ball off to D'Angelo Brewer for a 1 yard touchdown run to make it 45-35 TUL. Louisiana would do nothing on their next possession. At the end of the third quarter, it was 45-35 TUL. In the fourth quarter, it was all Tulsa. Tulsa's Shamari Brooks would run for 5 yards to make it 52-35 TUL. Louisiana's Trey Ragas would run 15 yards to make it 52-49 TUL. Tulsa's D'Angelo Brewer would run 1 yard for the touchdown and QB Chad President would run 1 yard for the touchdown to make the final score 66-45 TUL.^[8]

at Texas A&M

This game was Louisiana's first SEC game since the Georgia game in 2016. The game began with Texas A&M scoring on a Kellen Mond one yard pass to Christian Kirk for the touchdown to make it 7-0 TAMU. This was the only score of the 1st quarter. In the 2nd quarter, Louisiana's first score came from a Trey Ragas three yard run to make it 7-7. On Texas A&M's next possession, they would score after a Kellen Mond pass to Jhamon Ausbon for 24 yards and the touchdown to make it 14-7 TAMU. Louisiana's Ryheem Malone would catch a pass from Jordan Davis for 8 yards and the touchdown to make it 14-14. Texas A&M would then do nothing. On Louisiana's next possession, they would do down 99 yards and finally score on a Jordan Davis touchdown pass to Ryheem Malone for 1 yard to make it 21-14 ULL at halftime. Sadly, this was Louisiana's only lead of the game. It was all Texas A&M in the 3rd and 4th quarters. To begin the 3rd quarter, QB Kellen Mond would run 5 yards to make it 21-21. Louisiana would do nothing. Texas A&M's Camron Buckley would catch a pass from Kellen Mond for 12 yards to make it 28-21 TAMU. Louisiana would do nothing. On Texas A&M's next possession, K Daniel LaCamera would score on a 28 yard field goal to make it 31-28 TAMU at the end of the 3rd quarter. In the 4th quarter, Louisiana would get picked off by Tyrel Dodson for a 40 yard interception and a touchdown to make it 38-21 TAMU. Louisiana would do nothing. Texas A&M would then score on a 67 yard run by Jacob Kibodi to make the final score 45-21 TAMU. Louisiana is now 1-65 against SEC with their one win coming in their 1996 matchup against the then Big 12 Conference team Texas A&M.^[9]

Louisiana–Monroe

This was Louisiana's first overtime game since New Mexico State in 2016 and double overtime since Tulane also in 2016, while this was Louisiana-Monroe's first overtime since their South Alabama game since 2016 and double-overtime since their FIU game in 2010. The game began with Louisiana-Monroe going down the field and scoring on a Caleb Evans 7 yard run to make it 7-0 ULM. Louisiana's first possession didn't end too well with Louisiana-Monroe sacking the ball carrier in the endzone for the safety to make it 9-0 ULM at the end of the 1st quarter After the safety, Louisiana was forced to punt and Louisiana-Monroe used that to their advantage after Caleb Evans once again lit up the scoreboard with a 38 yard run and the touchdown to make it 16-0 ULM. Louisiana finally decided to get things started when Elijah Mitchell had a 1 yard run after they had gone down the field 99 yards to make it 16-7 ULM. Louisiana making the touchdown didn't stop Louisiana-Monroe as Derrick Gore ran 2 yards for the touchdown to make it 23-7 ULM. Louisiana then decided to score again with another Elijah Mitchell touchdown, this time coming from a 10 yard run, by K Stevie Artigue missed the extra point once more to make it 23-13 ULM at halftime. Louisiana received the ball to begin the second half with a Stevie Artigue 20 yard field goal which grew confidence in Louisiana and made it 23-16 ULM, but as soon as Louisiana-Monroe received the ball again, they were just getting started. Louisiana-Monroe's Caleb Evans decided to run once more, this time for 7 yards and make it 30-16. Louisiana wasn't going down that easily though. Louisiana's backup quarterback Dion Ray would have a 6 yard run, but once more, K Stevie Artigue would miss the extra point and make it 30-22 ULM at the end of the 3rd Quarter. To begin the 4th quarter, Louisiana-Monroe would score after Caleb Evans had two consecutive touchdowns, once on a 5 yard run, then on a 6 yard run to make it 43-22 ULM. Louisiana wouldn't go down that easily though after scoring 3 consecutive touchdowns. Once on a Trey Ragas 1 yard run, Second on a Andre Nunez pass to Jarrod Jackson for 12 yards, and another pass by Andre Nunez to Ja'Marcus Bradley for 14 yards to make it 43-43 at the end of regulation. They would then go into overtime where Louisiana-Monroe would score on a Caleb Evans 15 yard pass to RJ Turner to make it 50-43 ULM, but Louisiana would also have a chance at the ball where QB Andre Nunez would run 6 yards to make it 50-50 at the end of the 1st overtime. It would be all Louisiana-Monroe in the second overtime, this time on a Derrick Gore 8 yard run to make Louisiana-Monroe take home this years' trophy with a 56-50 ULM win in this tough battle in the Battle on the Bayou.

at Idaho

In this low scoring game, the first of this matchup since 2006, Louisiana would take home the victory in a 21-16 win. The game began with a 8:49 drive for Idaho that would end with Idaho's most versatile player, DL/FB D.J. Henderson touchdown on a 1 yard run and a Cade Coffey kick to make it 0-7. Louisiana would bring it back on a 2:05 drive that would result in a QB sneak by Dion Ray and a K Stevie Artigue kick to make it 7-7. To begin to the 2nd quarter, Louisiana's star running back Trey Ragas would run 1 yard after a 9:19 drive and a K Stevie Artigue kick to make it 14-7. Idaho takes over and leads it to 4th Down. They have to settle for a K Cade Coffey kick, one of three in a row, to make it 14-10. Louisiana would take over and let QB Andre Nunez fire it after he throws it to WR Ja'Marcus Bradley for a 45 yard touchdown and a K Stevie Artigue kick to make it 21-10. Idaho would then have back-to-back K Cade Coffey field goals to make the final score 21-16.

Texas State

at Arkansas State

at South Alabama

at Ole Miss

New Mexico State

Georgia Southern

at Appalachian State