The 2021 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team represented the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Ragin' Cajuns played their home games at Cajun Field in Lafayette, Louisiana, and compete in the West Division of the Sun Belt Conference. They were led by fourth-year head coach Billy Napier. The Cajuns began the season with an away matchup against Big 12's Texas and concluded their regular season at conference and in-state rival Louisiana–Monroe.
Napier was named the head coach of the Florida Gators on November 28. He announced that he would coach in the Sun Belt Championship Game on December 4 before departing. Napier led the Ragin’ Cajuns to their first outright Sun Belt championship win, defeating the Appalachian State Mountaineers, and left the Ragin’ Cajuns on a victorious note. On December 5, the same date as Napier's departure, Louisiana announced that then-offensive coordinator Michael Desormeaux would be promoted to head coach for the team's bowl game and the 2022 season. In his first game, Desormeaux defeated Marshall in the 2021 New Orleans Bowl.
Preseason
Recruiting class
Source:
Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released
Preseason Maxwell Award Levi Lewis QB SR Chuck Bednarik Award Bralen Trahan S RS-JR Davey O'Brien Award Levi Lewis QB SR Doak Walker Award Chris Smith RB RS-SO Rimington Trophy Shane Vallot C RS-JR Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Levi Lewis QB SR Mackey Award Johnny Lumpkin TE RS-JR Bronko Nargurski Trophy Bralen Trahan S RS-JR Outland Trophy O'Cyrus Torrence OL SO Ray Guy Award Rhys Byrns P JR Wuerffel Trophy Levi Lewis QB SR Paul Hornung Award Chris Smith RB RS-SO College Football Performer of the Year Levi Lewis QB SR Manning Award Levi Lewis QB SR Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Ken Marks OL RS-SR Sources:
Sun Belt coaches poll The Sun Belt coaches poll was released on July 20, 2021. The Cajuns were picked to finish first in the West Division and first in the conference.
Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference teams
Offense
1st team O'Cyrus Torrence – Offensive lineman, SO
2nd team Levi Lewis – Quarterback, SR Max Mitchell – Offensive lineman, JR
Defense
1st team Bralen Trahan – Defensive back, RS-JR
2nd team Zi'Yon Hill – Defensive lineman, RS-JR Lorenzo McCaskill – Linebacker, RS-JR Eric Garror – Defensive back, JR
Special teams
1st team Rhys Byrns – Punter, JR Chris Smith – Return Specialist, RS-SO
Personnel
Schedule The 2021 schedule consisted of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season. The Ragin' Cajuns traveled to Sun Belt foes Georgia Southern, South Alabama, Arkansas State, and Troy. The Cajuns would play host to Sun Belt foes Appalachian State, Texas State, Georgia State, and Louisiana–Monroe.
The Ragin' Cajuns would host two of the three non-conference opponents at Cajun Field, Nicholls, from NCAA Division I FCS and Ohio of the Mid-American Conference, and traveled to Texas of the Big 12 and Liberty, a FBS Independent.
Game summaries
At Texas
Statistics LouisianaTexas First downs 22 21 Total yards 358 435 Rushing yards 76 170 Passing yards 282 265 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 26:47 33:13
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 28/40, 282 yards, 1 TD Rushing Chris Smith 11 carries, 54 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jalen Williams 5 receptions, 71 yardsTexas Passing Hudson Card 14/21, 224 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Bijan Robinson 20 carries, 103 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jordan Whittington 7 receptions, 113 yards, 1 TD
Nicholls
Statistics NichollsLouisiana First downs 24 20 Total yards 511 417 Rushing yards 152 113 Passing yards 359 304 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 33:12 26:48
Team Category Player StatisticsNicholls Passing Lindsey Scott Jr. 26/37, 359 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Lindsey Scott Jr. 18 carries, 121 yards Receiving Dai'Jean Dixon 14 receptions, 198 yards, 2 TDsLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 19/33, 304 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Chris Smith 11 carries, 46 yards Receiving Michael Jefferson 3 receptions, 84 yards, 1 TD
Ohio
Statistics OhioLouisiana First downs 17 33 Total yards 250 562 Rushing yards 112 312 Passing yards 138 250 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 26:46 33:14
Team Category Player StatisticsOhio Passing Kurtis Rourke 12/22, 122 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Armani Rogers 7 carries, 58 yards Receiving Ty Walton 5 receptions, 50 yards, 1 TDLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 21/29, 212 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Montrell Johnson 13 carries, 84 yards, 4 TDs Receiving Kaleb Carter 3 receptions, 51 yards
At Georgia Southern
Statistics LouisianaGeorgia Southern First downs 18 23 Total yards 378 453 Rushing yards 129 278 Passing yards 249 175 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 27:11 32:49
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 17/28, 249 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Montrell Johnson 13 carries, 61 yards Receiving Dontae Fleming 4 receptions, 70 yards, 1 TDGeorgia Southern Passing Justin Tomlin 11/24, 175 yards, 1 INT Rushing Gerald Green 18 carries, 186 yards, 3 TDs Receiving Logan Wright 4 receptions, 85 yards
At South Alabama
Statistics LouisianaSouth Alabama First downs 17 18 Total yards 283 387 Rushing yards 225 144 Passing yards 58 243 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 23:13 36:47
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 9/20, 49 yards Rushing Emani Bailey 7 carries, 81 yards, 1 TD Receiving Neal Johnson 1 reception, 18 yardsSouth Alabama Passing Jake Bentley 19/29, 243 yards Rushing Bryan Hill 22 carries, 81 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Jalen Tolbert 6 receptions, 143 yards
Appalachian State
Statistics Appalachian StateLouisiana First downs 15 23 Total yards 211 455 Rushing yards 78 246 Passing yards 133 209 Turnovers 4 1 Time of possession 23:28 36:32
Team Category Player StatisticsAppalachian State Passing Chase Brice 15/26, 133 yards, 2 INTs Rushing Nate Noel 17 carries, 44 yards Receiving Malik Williams 6 receptions, 38 yardsLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 15/25, 209 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Montrell Johnson 14 carries, 103 yards, 1 TD Receiving Kyren Lacy 2 receptions, 57 yards, 1 TD
At Arkansas State
Statistics LouisianaArkansas State First downs 26 22 Total yards 546 413 Rushing yards 424 113 Passing yards 122 300 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 32:47 27:13
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 11/20, 122 yards, 1 INT Rushing Chris Smith 24 carries, 238 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Dontae Fleming 2 receptions, 47 yardsArkansas State Passing Layne Hatcher 16/31, 300 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Lincoln Pare 11 carries, 52 yards Receiving Te'Vailance Hunt 3 receptions, 83 yards, 1 TD
Texas State
Statistics Texas StateLouisiana First downs 10 24 Total yards 205 425 Rushing yards 163 165 Passing yards 42 260 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 28:47 31:13
Team Category Player StatisticsTexas State Passing Tyler Vitt 6/13, 42 yards, 1 INT Rushing Tyler Vitt 15 carries, 94 yards Receiving Marcell Barbee 1 reception, 17 yardsLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 22/32, 228 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Chris Smith 9 carries, 70 yards, 1 TD Receiving Errol Rogers Jr. 3 receptions, 44 yards
Georgia State
Statistics Georgia StateLouisiana First downs 20 21 Total yards 307 430 Rushing yards 209 143 Passing yards 98 287 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 28:46 31:14
Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia State Passing Darren Grainger 8/19, 98 yards, 1 TD Rushing Tucker Gregg 23 carries, 99 yards, 1 TD Receiving Roger Carter 3 receptions, 76 yards, 1 TDLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 19/34, 287 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Montrell Johnson 17 carries, 98 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Peter LeBlanc 9 receptions, 118 yards, 1 TD
At Troy
Statistics LouisianaTroy First downs 19 22 Total yards 370 391 Rushing yards 204 41 Passing yards 166 350 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 31:56 28:04
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 14/22, 166 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Chris Smith 15 carries, 102 yards Receiving Michael Jefferson 2 receptions, 71 yards, 1 TDTroy Passing Gunnar Watson 29/55, 350 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Kimani Vidal 11 carries, 21 yards Receiving Tez Johnson 6 receptions, 83 yards, 1 TD
At Liberty
Statistics LouisianaLiberty First downs 17 16 Total yards 296 293 Rushing yards 130 87 Passing yards 166 206 Turnovers 0 6 Time of possession 30:49 28:01
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 14/25, 166 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Emani Bailey 13 carries, 60 yards, 1 TD Receiving Peter LeBlanc 2 receptions, 38 yardsLiberty Passing Malik Willis 14/34, 162 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs Rushing T. J. Green 4 carries, 56 yards Receiving Kevin Shaa 3 receptions, 72 yards, 2 TDs
Louisiana–Monroe
Statistics Louisiana–MonroeLouisiana First downs 20 17 Total yards 325 382 Rushing yards 164 165 Passing yards 161 217 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 30:32 29:28
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana–Monroe Passing Rhett Rodriguez 11/24, 145 yards, 1 TD Rushing Malik Jackson 23 carries, 112 yards, 1 TD Receiving Boogie Knight 2 receptions, 47 yards, 1 TDLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 13/22, 163 yards Rushing Montrell Johnson 5 carries, 62 yards Receiving Neal Johnson 3 receptions, 80 yards
Appalachian State (SBC Championship)
Statistics Appalachian StateLouisiana First downs 18 20 Total yards 290 398 Rushing yards 171 188 Passing yards 119 210 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 27:23 32:37
Team Category Player StatisticsAppalachian State Passing Chase Brice 12/30, 119 yards, 1 TD Rushing Camerun Peoples 8 carries, 61 yards, 1 TD Receiving Thomas Hennigan 6 receptions, 71 yards, 1 TDLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 15/30, 210 yards, 1 TD Rushing Emani Bailey 14 carries, 114 yards, 1 TD Receiving Peter LeBlanc 4 receptions, 67 yards
Vs. Marshall (New Orleans Bowl)
Statistics LouisianaMarshall First downs 23 13 Total yards 498 286 Rushing yards 220 187 Passing yards 278 99 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 37:26 22:34
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 19/31, 270 yards, 1 TD Rushing Emani Bailey 17 carries, 94 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Michael Jefferson 3 receptions, 108 yardsMarshall Passing Grant Wells 15/26, 99 yards, 1 INT Rushing Rasheen Ali 20 carries, 160 yards, 3 TDs Receiving Corey Gammage 9 receptions, 50 yards
Rankings
References