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.
Preseason
Recruiting class
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 first in the West Division with 46 total votes and picked to finish second in the conference with six first-place votes behind Appalachian State's seven.
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
Roster
Schedule The 2019 schedule consisted of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season. The Ragin' Cajuns would travel to Sun Belt foes Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, and South Alabama. The Cajuns would play host to Sun Belt foes Appalachian State, Louisiana-Monroe, Texas State, and Troy.
The Ragin' Cajuns would 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, would travel to Mid-American Conference (MAC) member Ohio, and would play host to the Mississippi State Bulldogs of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Schedule source:
Game summaries
Mississippi State
Statistics Mississippi StateLouisiana 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 StatisticsMississippi State Passing Tommy Stevens 20–30, 236 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Kylin Hill 27 carries, 197 yards, 1 TD Receiving Osirus Mitchell 6 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TDLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 24–39, 267 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Raymond Calais 8 carries, 80 yards Receiving Jamal Bell 8 receptions, 113 yards
Liberty
Statistics LibertyLouisiana 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 StatisticsLiberty Passing Stephen Calvert 21–37, 212 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Frankie Hickson 18 carries, 133 yards, 1 TD Receiving Antonio Gandy-Golden 6 receptions, 70 yardsLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 15–23, 179 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Trey Ragas 9 carries, 129 yards, 1 TD Receiving Ja'Marcus Bradley 6 receptions, 110 yards, 2 TDs
Texas Southern
Statistics Texas SouthernLouisiana 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 StatisticsTexas Southern Passing De'Andre Johnson 16–30, 151 yards Rushing Taylor Cook 6 carries, 31 yards Receiving Donnie Corley 6 receptions, 62 yardsLouisiana 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
Statistics LouisianaOhio 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 StatisticsLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 19–29, 188 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Elijah Mitchell 17 carries, 143 yards, 3 TDs Receiving Quintin Guice 5 receptions, 75 yards, 1 TDOhio Passing Nathan Rourke 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
Statistics LouisianaGeorgia 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 StatisticsLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 11–18, 165 yards, 1 TD Rushing Trey Ragas 16 carries, 131 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Jarrod Jackson 1 reception, 51 yardsGeorgia Southern Passing Shai Werts 6–12, 37 yards Rushing Shai Werts 21 carries, 93 yards Receiving NaJee Thompson 4 receptions, 24 yards
Appalachian State
Statistics Appalachian StateLouisiana 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 StatisticsAppalachian State Passing Zac Thomas 11–17, 147 yards Rushing Darrynton Evans 22 carries, 69 yards Receiving Corey Sutton 2 receptions, 58 yardsLouisiana 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
Statistics LouisianaArkansas 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 StatisticsLouisiana 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 yardsArkansas State Passing Layne Hatcher 23–34, 303 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Marcel Murray 35 carries, 164 yards Receiving Omar Bayless 9 receptions, 150 yards
Texas State
Statistics Texas StateLouisiana 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 StatisticsTexas State Passing Tyler Vitt 24–34, 206 yards, 2 INTs Rushing Tyler Vitt 10 carries, 38 yards Receiving Trevis Graham Jr. 6 receptions, 52 yardsLouisiana 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
Statistics LouisianaCoastal 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 StatisticsLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 26–30, 296 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Chris Smith 8 carries, 99 yards, 1 TD Receiving Ja'Marcus Bradley 7 receptions, 71 yards, 1 TDCoastal Carolina Passing Bryce Carpenter 9-20, 71 yards Rushing C. J. Marable 10 carries, 54 yards Receiving Sam Denmark 1 reception, 44 yards, 1 TD
At South Alabama
Statistics LouisianaSouth 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 StatisticsLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 16–29, 136 yards, 2 TD Rushing Elijah Mitchell 17 carries, 117 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jamal Bell 3 receptions, 51 yardsSouth Alabama Passing Desmond Trotter 8–15, 116 yards Rushing Tra Minter 22 carries, 137 yards, 1 TD Receiving Cade Sutherland 3 receptions, 64 yards
Troy
Statistics TroyLouisiana 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 StatisticsTroy Passing Kaleb Barker 15–32, 178 yards, 2 INTs Rushing DK Billingsley 10 carries, 68 yards Receiving Kaylon Geiger 6 receptions, 44 yardsLouisiana 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
Statistics Louisiana–MonroeLouisiana 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 StatisticsLouisiana–Monroe Passing Caleb Evans 22–37, 330 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Josh Johnson 13 carries, 109 yards Receiving Josh Pederson 6 receptions, 92 yards, 1 TDLouisiana 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)
Statistics LouisianaAppalachian 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 StatisticsLouisiana 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 TDsAppalachian 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)
Statistics LouisianaMiami (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 StatisticsLouisiana 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 TDsMiami (OH) Passing Brett Gabbert 22–31, 248 yards Rushing Tyre Shelton 6 carries, 59 yards Receiving Jack Sorenson 10 receptions, 107 yards
Rankings
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:
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:
Postseason Personal Accolades SBC Coach of the Year Billy Napier 2nd Year Head coach Pro Football Focus All-American Kevin Dotson 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:
Players in the NFL
Players Drafted
2 39 Robert Hunt OG Miami Dolphins 4 135 Kevin Dotson OG Pittsburgh Steelers 7 245 Raymond Calais RB Tampa Bay Buccaneers References:
Players Signed (Undrafted Free Agents) Michael Jacquet CB Philadelphia Eagles Ja'Marcus Bradley WR Cleveland Browns References:
References