2019 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team
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 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.
Previous Season
The Ragin' Cajuns completed the 2018 season 7–7, 5–3 in Sun Belt play to finish in a two-way tie for first place in the West Division, along with Arkansas State, in their first year of Divisional play in the Sun Belt Conference. The Ragin' Cajuns, winning their regular season game to Arkansas State, won the chance to play in the inaugural Sun Belt Conference Championship Game, losing to Appalachian State 30-19. The Cajuns, finishing second in the Sun Belt, were invited to play in the Cure Bowl, their first time. They played in-state rival Tulane and lost 41-24.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 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.| 1 | Louisiana | 46 |
| 2 | Arkansas State | 42 |
| 3 | Louisiana–Monroe | 27 |
| 4 | South Alabama | 19 |
| 5 | Texas State | 16 |
Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference teams
Offense1st team
- Ja'Marcus Bradley - R-SR, Wide Receiver
- Kevin Dotson – R-SR, Offensive Lineman
- Robert Hunt - R-SR, Offensive Lineman
- Elijah Mitchell - JR, Running Back
- Trey Ragas – R-JR, Running Back
2nd team
- Zi'Yon Hill - SO, Defensive Lineman
- Jacques Boudreaux - SR, Linebacker
- Michael Jacquet III - R-SR, Defensive Back
Roster
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 member Ohio, and will play host to the Mississippi State Bulldogs of the Southeastern Conference at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Game summaries
Mississippi State
| 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 | Tommy Stevens | 20-30, 236 yards, 2 TDs |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Kylin Hill | 27 carries, 197 yards, 1 TD |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Osirus Mitchell | 6 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana | Passing | Levi Lewis | 24-39, 267 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Raymond Calais | 8 carries, 80 yards |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Jamal Bell | 8 receptions, 113 yards |
Liberty
| 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 | Stephen Calvert | 21-37, 212 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Liberty | Rushing | Frankie Hickson | 18 carries, 133 yards, 1 TD |
| Liberty | Receiving | Antonio Gandy–Golden | 6 receptions, 70 yards |
| Louisiana | Passing | Levi Lewis | 15-23, 179 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Trey Ragas | 9 carries, 129 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Ja'Marcus Bradley | 6 receptions, 110 yards, 2 TDs |
Texas Southern
| 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 | DeAndre Johnson | 16-30, 151 yards |
| Texas Southern | Rushing | Taylor Cook | 6 carries, 31 yards |
| Texas Southern | Receiving | Donnie Corley | 6 receptions, 62 yards |
| Louisiana | Passing | Levi Lewis | 10-13, 181 yards, 2 TDs |
| Louisiana | Rushing | T. J. Wisham | 11 carries, 105 yards |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Peter LeBlanc | 1 reception, 53 yards, 1 TD |
@ Ohio
| 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 |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Elijah Mitchell | 17 carries, 143 yards, 3 TDs |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Quintin Guice | 5 receptions, 75 yards, 1 TD |
| Ohio | Passing | Nathan Rourke | 18-38, 277 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs |
| Ohio | Rushing | Nathan Rourke | 9 carries, 37 yards |
| Ohio | Receiving | Shane Hooks | 3 receptions, 96 yards, 1 TD |
@ Georgia Southern
| 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 |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Trey Ragas | 16 carries, 131 yards, 2 TDs |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Jarrod Jackson | 1 reception, 51 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Shai Werts | 6-12, 37 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Shai Werts | 21 carries, 93 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | NaJee Thompson | 4 receptions, 24 yards |
Appalachian State
| 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 |
| Appalachian State | Rushing | Darrynton Evans | 22 carries, 69 yards |
| Appalachian State | Receiving | Corey Sutton | 2 receptions, 58 yards |
| Louisiana | Passing | Levi Lewis | 13-24, 131 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Elijah Mitchell | 13 carries, 68 yards |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Jarrod Jackson | 5 receptions, 68 yards |
@ Arkansas State
| 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 |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Raymond Calais | 8 carries, 144 yards, 2 TDs |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Ja'Marcus Bradley | 6 receptions, 72 yards |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Layne Hatcher | 23-34, 303 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Marcel Murray | 35 carries, 164 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Omar Bayless | 9 receptions, 150 yards |
Texas State
| 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 |
| Texas State | Rushing | Tyler Vitt | 10 carries, 38 yards |
| Texas State | Receiving | Trevis Graham Jr. | 6 receptions, 52 yards |
| Louisiana | Passing | Levi Lewis | 13-21, 183 yards, 2 TDs |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Elijah Mitchell | 13 carries, 126 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Jalen Williams | 3 receptions, 50 yards |
@ Coastal Carolina
| 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 |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Chris Smith | 8 carries, 99 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Ja'Marcus Bradley | 7 receptions, 71 yards, 1 TD |
| Coastal Carolina | Passing | Bryce Carpenter | 9-20, 71 yards |
| Coastal Carolina | Rushing | CJ Marable | 10 carries, 54 yards |
| Coastal Carolina | Receiving | Sam Denmark | 1 reception, 44 yards, 1 TD |
@ South Alabama
| 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 |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Elijah Mitchell | 17 carries, 117 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Jamal Bell | 3 receptions, 51 yards |
| South Alabama | Passing | Desmond Trotter | 8-15, 116 yards |
| South Alabama | Rushing | Tra Minter | 22 carries, 137 yards, 1 TD |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Cade Sutherland | 3 receptions, 64 yards |
Troy
| 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 |
| Troy | Rushing | DK Billingsley | 10 carries, 68 yards |
| Troy | Receiving | Kaylon Geiger | 6 receptions, 44 yards |
| Louisiana | Passing | Levi Lewis | 21-33, 273 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Chris Smith | 5 carries, 87 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Ja'Marcus Bradley | 5 receptions, 96 yards, 1 TD |
Louisiana–Monroe
| 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 | Caleb Evans | 22-37, 330 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Rushing | Josh Johnson | 13 carries, 109 yards |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Receiving | Josh Pederson | 6 receptions, 92 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana | Passing | Levi Lewis | 15-23, 270 yards, 3 TDs |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Raymond Calais | 8 carries, 107 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Ja'Marcus Bradley | 4 receptions, 127 yards, 1 TD |
@ Appalachian State (Sun Belt Championship Game)
| 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 |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Elijah Mitchell | 18 carries, 85 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Peter LeBlanc | 3 receptions, 118 yards, 2 TDs |
| Appalachian State | Passing | Zac Thomas | 9-17, 149 yards, 2 TDs |
| Appalachian State | Rushing | Daetrich Harrington | 9 carries, 89 yards, 1 TD |
| Appalachian State | Receiving | Darrynton Evans | 2 receptions, 63 yards, 2 TDs |
vs. Miami (OH) (LendingTree Bowl)
| Statistics | Louisiana | Miami |
| 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 |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Levi Lewis | 8 carries, 62 yards |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Ja'Marcus Bradley | 7 receptions, 88 yards, 2 TDs |
| Miami | Passing | Brett Gabbert | 22-31, 248 yards |
| Miami | Rushing | Tyre Shelton | 6 carries, 59 yards |
| Miami | Receiving | Jack Sorenson | 10 receptions, 107 yards |
Rankings
Postseason
All-Sun Belt Conference Football Team
Offense1st team
- Kevin Dotson - SR, Offensive Lineman
- Robert Hunt – SR, Offensive Lineman
- Elijah Mitchell – JR, Running Back
- Ja'Marcus Bradley – SR, Wide Receiver
- Raymond Calais – SR, Running Back
- Trey Ragas – JR, Running Back
2nd team
- Zi'Yon Hill – SO, Defensive Lineman
- Joe Dillon – JR, Linebacker
- Michael Jacquett III – SR, Defensive Back
1st team
- Raymond Calais – SR, Return Specialist
- Rhys Burns – SO, Punter
- Stevie Artigue – SR, Kicker
- Raymond Calais – SR, All-Purpose
- Jacques Boudreaux – SR, Linebacker
- Jarrod Jackson – R-SR, Wide Receiver
- Chauncey Manac – R-JR, Linebacker
- Nick Ralston – GR, Tight End
Louisiana Sports Writers Association All-Louisiana Team
Offense1st team
- Kevin Dotson - SR, Offensive Lineman
- Robert Hunt – SR, Offensive Lineman
- Elijah Mitchell – JR, Running Back
- Ja'Marcus Bradley – SR, Wide Receiver
1st team
- Jacques Boudreaux – SR, Linebacker
- Zi'Yon Hill – SO, Defensive Lineman
1st team
- Raymond Calais – SR, Return Specialist
- Rhys Burns – SO, Punter
- Joe Dillon – R-SR, Linebacker
Postseason Personal Accolades
References:Players in the NFL
Players Drafted
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
| 2 | 39 | Robert Hunt | OG | Miami Dolphins |
| 4 | 135 | Kevin Dotson | OG | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 7 | 245 | Raymond Calais | RB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
References: