2018 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team

2018 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football
Conference Sun Belt Conference
Division West Division
2018 record 3–3 (1–1 Sun Belt)
Head coach Billy Napier (1st season)
Offensive coordinator Rob Sale (1st season)
Defensive coordinator Ron Roberts (1st season)
Home stadium Cajun Field
(Capacity: 36,900)
2018 Sun Belt football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
East Division
Georgia Southern  3 –0     5 –1  
Troy  3 –0     5 –1  
Appalachian State  2 –0     4 –1  
Georgia State  1 –1     2 –4  
Coastal Carolina  1 –2     3 –3  
West Division
Louisiana  1 –1     3 –3  
Louisiana–Monroe  1 –2     3 –4  
South Alabama  1 –2     2 –5  
Arkansas State  0 –2     3 –3  
Texas State  0 –3     1 –5  
Championship: December 1, 2018
As of October 16, 2018; Rankings from AP Poll

The 2018 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team represents the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Ragin' Cajuns play their home games at Cajun Field in Lafayette, Louisiana and compete in the West Division of the Sun Belt Conference. They are led by first-year head coach Billy Napier.

Previous Season

The Ragin' Cajuns finished the 2017 season 5–7, 4–4 in Sun Belt play to finish in a three-way tie for fifth place.

On December 3, head coach Mark Hudspeth was fired.[1] He finished with a seven-year record of 51–38. However, due to NCAA sanctions in 2016 because former assistant coach David Saunders arranged fraudulent college entrance exams for recruits, his official record was 29–38.[2] On December 15, the school hired Billy Napier as head coach.[3][4]

Preseason

Recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight 40‡ Commit date
Rhys Burns
#92 P		 Melbourne, Australia Padua College 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Percy Butler
#16 CB		 Plaquemine, LA Plaquemine HS 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 172 lb (78 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Jordan Cordova
#23 LB		 Kinder, LA Kinder HS 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 210 lb (95 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Kendall Johnson Jr.
#10 CB		 Lafayette, LA St. Thomas More HS/Nevada 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 193 lb (88 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Luke Junkunc
#78 OL		 Houston, TX Strake Jesuit College Preparatory 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 256 lb (116 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Johnny Lumpkin
#88 TE		 Atlanta, GA Fredrick Douglass HS/Hutchinson CC 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 265 lb (120 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Chauncey Manac
#17 DL		 Homerville, GA Clinch County HS/Garden City CC 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 252 lb (114 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Lorenzo McCaskill
#2 LB		 Detroit, MI Southfield HS/Holmes CC 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 210 lb (95 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Garrald McDowell
#8 DL		 Covington, LA Covington HS/Ole Miss 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 270 lb (120 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Max Mitchell
#74 OL		 Monroe, LA Neville HS 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 271 lb (123 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Kris Moncrief
#4 LB		 Raleigh, MS Raleigh HS 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 235 lb (107 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Timaje Porter
#90 DL		 Grand Bay, AL Theodore HS 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 350 lb (160 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Andre Riley
#95 LB		 Plaquemine, LA Plaquemine HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Christopher Smith
#24 RB		 Nanih Waiya, MS Nanih Waiya HS 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 186 lb (84 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Asjlin Washington
#18 DB		 Houston, TX C.E. King HS 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 177 lb (80 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Max Yarbrough
#72 OL		 Friendswood, TX Friendswood HS 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 276 lb (125 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Wesley Blazek
#11 QB		 Lafayette, LA Teurlings Catholic HS 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 192 lb (87 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Eric Garror
#19 DB		 Mobile, AL McGill Toolen HS 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 180 lb (82 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Christian Waller
#21 DB		 League City, TX Clear Springs HS 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 173 lb (78 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Devon Pauley
#30 WR		 Lake Charles, LA Barbe HS 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 165 lb (75 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Michael Orphey Jr.
#33 WR		 Alexandria, LA Alexandria HS 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 185 lb (84 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Tyler Clark
#34 WR		 Alexandria, LA Peabody Magnet HS 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 208 lb (94 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Kaleb Carter
#36 WR		 Cecilia, LA Cecilia HS 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Kam Pedescleaux
#36 DB		 Houston, TX Manvel HS 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 180 lb (82 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Kenneth Almendares
#40 K		 Clute, TX Brazoswood HS 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 188 lb (85 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Keon Jean-Baptiste
#45 LB		 Lafayette, LA Carencro HS 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 238 lb (108 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Tamir Bryant
#52 DB		 New Orleans, LA Lutcher HS 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 238 lb (108 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Sammy Ochoa
#54 DB		 Lake Travis, TX Lake Travis HS 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 295 lb (134 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Pearse Migl
#86 TE		 Welsh, LA Welsh HS 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 243 lb (110 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Masry Mapieu
#93 DL		 York, NE York HS 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 294 lb (133 kg) - Feb 8, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: 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:

  • "2018 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 4, 2018.

    Award watch lists

    Listed in the order that they were released

    Award Player Position Year
    John Mackey Award[5] Chase Rogers TE SO
    Wuerffel Trophy[6] Deuce Wallace DB JR

    Sun Belt coaches poll

    On July 19, 2018, the Sun Belt released their preseason coaches poll with the Ragin' Cajuns predicted to finish in fourth place in the West Division.[7]

    West Division
    Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
    1Arkansas State49 (9)
    2Louisiana–Monroe37
    3South Alabama26 (1)
    4Louisiana25
    5Texas State13

    Preseason All-Sun Belt Teams

    The Ragin' Cajuns had two players selected to the preseason all-Sun Belt teams.[8]

    Roster

    2018 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team roster
    Players Coaches
    Offense
    Pos.#NameClass
    WR 2 Ja'Marcus Bradley Jr
    RB 3 Ashton Johnson Jr
    RB 4 Raymond Calais Jr
    QB 6 Quentin Gibson  Jr
    QB 7 Andre Nunez Sr
    QB 8 Dion Ray Jr
    RB 9 Trey Ragas So
    TE 10 Matt Barnes Sr
    QB 11 Wesley Blazek Fr
    WR 13 Ryheem Malone Sr
    RB 15 Elijah Mitchell So
    QB 17 Levi Lewis So
    WR 18 Jalen Williams So
    WR 19 Kadon Harrison  Fr
    WR 21 Keenan Barnes Sr
    WR 22 Earnest Patterson Sr
    RB 23 Jordan Wright Jr
    WR 24 Chris Smith Fr
    WR 25 Jamal Bell So
    RB 26 Lenard Calloway Sr
    WR 30 Devon Pauley Fr
    WR 33 Michael Orphey Jr. Fr
    WR 34 Tyler Clark Fr
    WR 36 Kaleb Carter Fr
    TE 39 Peyton Aucoin So
    OL 50 Robert Hunt Jr
    OL 61 Cole Prudhomme Jr
    OL 63 Spencer Gardner  Fr
    OL 64 Shane Volt  Fr
    OL 65 Carlos Rubio  Fr
    OL 66 Rico Robinson Jr
    OL 67 Ken Marks Jr
    OL 69 Caden Cunningham Jr
    OL 70 Staten Wade Jr
    OL 71 Akkai Ward So
    OL 72 Max Yarbrough Fr
    OL 73 David Hudson  Fr
    OL 74 Max Mitchell Fr
    OL 75 Kevin Dotson Jr
    OL 76 Kendell Baker So
    OL 77 Adrian Goodacre Sr
    OL 78 Luke Junkunc Fr
    OL 79 Kordell Brewster Sr
    TE 81 Alex Allen Jr
    WR 82 Da'Ron Williams So
    WR 83 Pat Hughes  Fr
    WR 84 Leroy Franklin So
    WR 85 Calif Gossett So
    TE 86 Pearse Migl Fr
    TE 87 Chris Turner Jr
    TE 88 Johnny Lumpkin So
    WR 89 Hunter Bergeron  Fr
    TE 97 Andre Landry  Fr
    		 Defense
    Pos.#NameClass
    LB 2 Lorenzo McCaskill So
    LB 4 Kris Moncrief Fr
    DB 6 Corey Turner Sr
    LB 7 Ferrod Gardner Jr
    DE 8 Garrald McDowell Sr
    DB 9 Kamar Greenhouse Jr
    DB 10 Kendall Johnson Sr
    DB 11 Michael Jacquet III Jr
    DB 13 Vince Thomas Sr
    DE 15 Bennie Higgins Jr
    DB 16 Percy Butler Fr
    LB 17 Chauncey Manac So
    DB 18 Asjlin Washington Fr
    DB 19 Eric Garror Fr
    DB 20 Cameron Solomon So
    DB 21 Christian Walker Fr
    DB 22 Daijuane Dorsey So
    LB 23 Jordan Cordova Fr
    DB 24 Bralen Trahan So
    DB 25 Deuce Wallace Jr
    DB 26 Blair Brooks So
    DB 27 Caleb Glenn  Fr
    DB 28 Ja'Len Johnson  Fr
    DB 29 Koa Hayes Sr
    DB 30 Julius Perkins Sr
    LB 31 Alonzo Brown Jr
    DB 33 Jamarius Williams Sr
    LB 34 Brayden Bailey Sr
    LB 35 Chaiziere Malbrue Sr
    DB 36 Kam Pedescleaux Sr
    DB 37 Errol Brown Sr
    DB 38 Terik Miller Jr
    DE 39 Carols Robinson Jr
    LB 40 Jourdon Quibodeaux  Fr
    LB 44 Tanner Wiggins So
    LB 45 Keon Jean-Baptiste Fr
    LB 50 Andre Jones So
    LB 51 Ken Jones  Fr
    DL 52 Tamir Bryant Fr
    LB 53 Chandler Wachholtz Jr
    DL 54 Sammy Ochoa Fr
    LB 55 Tommy Whitted Jr
    LB 58 Justin Middleton Sr
    LB 59 Jacques Boudreaux Jr
    DL 90 Timaje Porter Fr
    DL 93 Masry Mapieu Fr
    DL 94 Zi'Yon Hill  Fr
    LB 95 Andre Riley Fr
    DE 96 Malcolm Rollins  Fr
    DT 98 Ladarrius Kidd Sr
    DT 99 Tra'Vonte Booker Jr
    		 Special teams
    Pos.#NameClass
    K 40 Kenneth Almendares Fr
    K 41 Calvin Linden Sr
    K 46 Kyle Pfau Sr
    LS 49 Paul Boudreaux  Fr
    LS 57 Jackson Ladner Sr
    P 92 Rhys Byrns Fr
    Head coach
    Coordinators/assistant coaches
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • Injured
    • Redshirt

    Roster
    Last update: August 18, 2018

    Schedule

    The 2018 schedule consists of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season. The Ragin' Cajuns will host Sun Belt foes Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, and South Alabama. The Cajuns will travel to Sun Belt foes Appalachian State, Louisiana-Monroe, Texas State, and Troy.

    The Ragin' Cajuns will host two of the four non-conference opponents, Grambling State of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and the New Mexico State, an Independent school, and will travel to Southeastern Conference (SEC) members Alabama and Mississippi State.

    DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
    September 16:00 p.m.Grambling State*
    		ESPN3W 49–1728,866
    September 156:30 p.m.at No. 16 Mississippi State*
    		ESPN2L 10–5656,505
    September 226:00 p.m.Coastal Carolina
    • Cajun Field
    • Lafayette, LA
    		ESPN+L 28–3017,125
    September 2911:00 a.m.at No. 1 Alabama*
    		SECNL 14–56101,471
    October 66:00 p.m.at Texas State
    		ESPN+W 42–2717,062
    October 134:00 p.m.New Mexico State*dagger
    • Cajun Field
    • Lafayette, LA
    		ESPN+W 66–38
    October 202:30 p.m.at Appalachian State
    		ESPN+
    October 276:00 p.m.Arkansas State
    • Cajun Field
    • Lafayette, LA
    		ESPN+
    November 32:30 p.m.at Troy
    		ESPN+
    November 104:00 p.m.Georgia State
    • Cajun Field
    • Lafayette, LA
    		ESPN+
    November 174:00 p.m.South Alabama
    • Cajun Field
    • Lafayette, LA
    		ESPN3
    November 242:00 p.m.at Louisiana–Monroe
    		ESPN+
    • *Non-conference game
    • daggerHomecoming
    • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
    • All times are in Central time
    Schedule Source:[9]

    Game summaries

    Grambling State

    1 2 3 4 Total
    Tigers 3 7 0 7 17
    Ragin' Cajuns 21 14 14 0 49
    Overall record Last meeting Result
    First meeting

    at Mississippi State

    1 2 3 4 Total
    Ragin' Cajuns 3 0 0 7 10
    No. 16 Bulldogs 14 21 14 7 56
    Overall record Last meeting Result
    3–10 2017 MSU, 57–21

    Coastal Carolina

    1 2 3 4 Total
    Chanticleers 3 13 7 7 30
    Ragin' Cajuns 7 0 14 7 28
    Overall record Last meeting Result
    First meeting

    at Alabama

    1 2 3 4 Total
    Ragin' Cajuns 0 0 0 14 14
    No. 1 Crimson Tide 28 21 7 0 56
    Overall record Last meeting Result
    0–8 1990 BAMA, 25–6

    at Texas State

    1 2 3 4 Total
    Ragin' Cajuns 7 21 7 7 42
    Bobcats 0 0 13 14 27
    Overall record Last meeting Result
    5–0 2017 ULL, 24–7

    New Mexico State

    1 2 3 4 Total
    Aggies 14 7 10 7 38
    Ragin' Cajuns 28 17 7 14 66
    Overall record Last meeting Result
    8–5 2018 ULL, 66–38

    at Appalachian State

    1 2 3 4 Total
    Ragin' Cajuns 0
    Mountaineers 0
    Overall record Last meeting Result
    0–4 2017 APST, 63–14

    Arkansas State

    1 2 3 4 Total
    Red Wolves 0
    Ragin' Cajuns 0
    Overall record Last meeting Result
    24–21–1 2017 ARST, 47–3

    at Troy

    1 2 3 4 Total
    Ragin' Cajuns 0
    Trojans 0
    Overall record Last meeting Result
    11–8 2015 TROY, 41–17

    Georgia State

    1 2 3 4 Total
    Panthers 0
    Ragin' Cajuns 0
    Overall record Last meeting Result
    3–0 2015 ULL, 23–21

    South Alabama

    1 2 3 4 Total
    Jaguars 0
    Ragin' Cajuns 0
    Overall record Last meeting Result
    4–2 2017 ULL, 19–14

    at Louisiana–Monroe

    1 2 3 4 Total
    Ragin' Cajuns 0
    Warhawks 0
    Overall record Last meeting Result
    28–25 2017 ULM, 56–50

    References

    1. ↑ http://www.katc.com/story/36981498/ul-fires-hudspeth-as-head-coach
    2. ↑ "UL fires head football coach Hudspeth, citing inconsistent play, declining support". The Advertiser. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
    3. ↑ "Louisiana-Lafayette hires Billy Napier as football coach". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
    4. ↑ "UL-Lafayette hires former Alabama assistant Billy Napier as football coach". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
    5. ↑ "2018 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List Released" (PDF). July 20, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
    6. ↑ "Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List". July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
    7. ↑ http://sunbeltsports.org/news/2018/7/18/mountaineers-red-wolves-selected-as-division-favorites-in-2018-sun-belt-football-coaches-preseason-poll.aspx
    8. ↑ http://www.sunbeltsports.org/news/2018/7/20/sun-belt-announces-2018-preseason-all-conference-football-teams.aspx
    9. ↑ "2018 Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns Football Schedule". Retrieved January 5, 2018.
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