Louisiana Ragin Cajuns College Football Preview 2023: Keys To The Season, Top Players, What Will Happen
Louisiana Preview 2023: Keys To The Season, Top Players, What Will Happen
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2023 Louisiana Preview, Offense, Defense
- Louisiana Schedule, Picks For Every Game
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Key To The Season
When there’s a chance to score, SCORE. The offense might be a bit better and a tad bit more dynamic, but it won’t be strong enough to overcome so many problems in the red zone again. The Ragin’ Cajuns scored just 77% of the time when they got inside the 20 and came up with touchdowns just 55% of the time.
They lost to ULM, South Alabama, Troy, and in the bowl game to Houston all by seven points or fewer. There was an empty trip in the red zone in each game. To put this all into perspective, Louisiana hadn’t been close to dipping below 80% in any season since 2010.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Top Transfer, Biggest Loss
EDGE Trey Fite in from SMU, CB Trey Amos gone to Alabama. It’s a bit of a problem - there isn’t a lot happening through the transfer portal coming in to throw a few new options into the mix. The 6-4, 219-pound Fite has the size and length to fit right in at a need spot on the outside, but he has yet to see the field.
The secondary looked like it would be a major plus, but not having the top playmaker around hurts. Amos broke up 13 passes over the last two years with the quickness to find a role somewhere in the Bama D.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Key Player
Nathan Thomas, OT Jr. The line play was solid last year, but it needs to be even more dominant, especially for a ground game that wasn’t consistent enough. The 6-5, 328-pound Thomas brings the bulk and experience to pivot into a dominant factor at left tackle who can dictate how the rest of the line shakes out.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Key Game
at South Alabama, Oct. 28. The Ragin’ Cajuns should be able to hang around against everyone on the Sun Belt schedule, but the two other big boys in the division are on the road. The date at Troy is a big deal no matter what, but that’s at the end of a run of three road games in four weeks. That starts with a date at South Alabama - Louisiana lost 20-17 last year. Win, and November is about making a run to take the West.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns 10 Best Players
1. KC Ossai, LB Jr.
2. Sonny Hazard, DT Jr.
3. Dre'lyn Washington, RB Soph.
4. Neal Johnson, TE Sr.
5. Chandler Fields, QB Jr.
6. Kenneth Almendares, PK Jr.
7. Ben Wooldridge, QB Sr.
8. Terrence Williams, RB Jr.
9. Nathan Thomas, OT Jr.
10. Jax Harrington, OG Soph.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns 2022 Fun Stats
- Field Goals: Louisiana 20-of-27, Opponents 12-of-14
- Rushing Yards: Louisiana 1844, Opponents 1841
- Fumbles: Louisiana 20 (lost 9), Opponents 13 (lost 8)
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen
Set The Win Total At: 7.5
It was supposed to take a year to reload a bit, but the parts still aren’t there through the transfer portal or from the work done last season to be appreciably better. However, you are what your record says it is, and Louisiana should come up with more than six wins.
It biffed winnable games against ULM and Rice, but those were the only two losses to teams that finished with a losing record. This year’s schedule is about the same, but two of the big home losses of last year are now on the road.
The Ragin’ Cajuns lost to both Troy and South Alabama, and now those two have to be dealt with away from Lafayette. They’ll be the underdog in both, and getting by Minnesota on the road will be a tall task, but everything else is winnable.
Northwestern State, Buffalo, Texas State, and yes, this year, ULM. Those four home games have to be wins. That’s a good enough base to build of off, and Georgia State, Southern Miss, at UAB, at Old Dominion, at Arkansas State are at worst 50/50 battles. They’ll win at least two of those, more likely three.
And that might be good enough. It’ll take something amazing for this year’s team to push for the Sun Belt title, but it’s a tough year in the conference and there’s still rebuilding to do.
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2023 Louisiana Preview, Offense, Defense
- Louisiana Schedule, Picks For Every Game
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