The Louisiana Ragin Cajuns football team, coming off of one of the best seasons in program history, has one of the most experienced teams in the Sun Belt Conference heading into the 2021 season.
That’s something Athlon Sports noticed and rewarded with 20 spots on their Preseason All-Sun Belt Team. The Cajuns led the conference with the most selections from any school, headlined by first-team selections Chris Smith, Max Mitchell, Zi’Yon Hill, Rhys Byrns and Eric Garror.
Smith was named Preseason First-Team All-Sun Belt for his ability as a running back, but also for his kick return skills. He was one of the most productive returners all year, taking back 23 kicks for 617 yards and two touchdowns.
The Mississippi native ran for 362 yards and a touchdown and led the Cajuns backs with 170 receiving yards and a touchdown off of 16 receptions.
Mitchell started in 10 games and was an integral part of an offensive line that was named a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award.
Hill was one of the impact players on the defensive side of the football in 2020, leading the defensive line with 49 total tackles, four sacks, and two fumble recoveries.
Byrns was a key cog in the Cajuns success with his ability to flip the field. The punter from Melbourne, Australia pinned an impressive 14 of his 36 punts inside the 20-yard line and only two were touchbacks.
Below is the complete list of Athlon Sports’ Preseason All-Sun Belt team with Cajuns players in Bold.
First-Team Offense
QB Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina
RB Camerun Peoples, Appalachian State
RB Reese White, Coastal Carolina
RB/AP Chris Smith, Louisiana
WR Jaivon Heiligh, Coastal Carolina
WR Jalen Tolbert, South Alabama
TE Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina
C Baer Hunter, Appalachian State
OL Max Mitchell, Louisiana
OL Trey Carter, Coastal Carolina
OL Shamarious Gilmore, Georgia State
OL Austin Stidham, Troy
First-Team Defense
DL Demetrius Taylor, Appalachian State
DL Jeffrey Gunter, Coastal Carolina
DL C.J. Brewer, Coastal Carolina
DL Zi’Yon Hill, Louisiana
LB Carlton Martial, Troy
LB D’Marco Jackson, Appalachian State
LB Silas Kelly, Coastal Carolina
DB D’Jordan Strong, Coastal Carolina
DB Shaun Jolly, Appalachian State
DB Derrick Canteen, Georgia Southern
DB Keith Gallmon, South Alabama
First-Team Specialists
K Noel Ruiz, Georgia State
P Rhys Byrns Louisiana
KR Chris Smith, Louisiana
PR Eric Garror, Louisiana
Second-Team Offense
QB Levi Lewis, Louisiana
RB Kimani Vidal, Troy
RB Destin Coates, Georgia State
AP Kaylon Geiger, Troy
WR Sam Pinckney, Georgia State
WR Corey Sutton, Appalachian State
WR Marcell Barbee, Texas State
TE Roger Carter, Georgia State
C Dylan Bradshaw, Troy
OL Cooper Hodges, Appalachian State
OL Willie Lampkin, Coastal Carolina
OL O’Cyrus Torrence, Louisiana
OL Aaron Dowdell, Georgia Southern
Second-Team Defense
DL Hardrick Willis, Georgia State
DL Nico Ezidore, Texas State
DL Will Choloh, Troy
DL Dontae Wilson, Georgia State
LB Teddy Gallagher, Coastal Carolina
LB Lorenzo McCaskill, Louisiana
LB Nick Mobley, South Alabama
CB Jarron Morris, Texas State
CB Quavian White, Georgia State
S Bralen Trahan, Louisiana
S Antavious Lane, Georgia State
Second-Team Specialists
K Massimo Biscardi, Coastal Carolina
P Anthony Beck, Georgia Southern
KR Jalen Virgil, Appalachian State
PR Khaleb Hood, Georgia Southern
Third-Team Offense
QB Layne Hatcher, Arkansas State
RB Logan Wright, Georgia Southern
RB Brock Sturges, Texas State
WR/AP Thomas Hennigan, Appalachian State
WR Dahu Green, Arkansas State
WR Reggie Todd, Troy
TE Henry Pearson, Appalachian State
C Shane Vallot, Louisiana
OL Ken Marks, Louisiana
OL Andre Harris, Arkansas State
OL Brian Miller, Georgia Southern
OL Dalton Cooper, Texas State
Third-Team Defense
DL Richard Jibunor, Troy
DL C.J. Wright, Georgia Southern
DL Gi’Narious Johnson, South Alabama
DL Tayland Humphrey, Louisiana
LB Traveion Webster, ULM
LB Brendan Harrington, Appalachian State
LB Blake Carroll, Georgia State
DB Percy Butler, Louisiana
DB Eric Garror, Louisiana
DB Kaiden Smith, Appalachian State
DB Alex Spillum, Coastal Carolina
Third-Team Specialists
K Diego Guajardo, South Alabama
P Jack Brooks, South Alabama
KR Reggie Todd, Troy
PR Malik Williams, Appalachian State
Fourth-Team Offense
QB Cornelious Brown IV, Georgia State
RB J.D. King Georgia Southern
RB Marcel Murray, Arkansas State
RB Calvin Hill, Texas State
AP Malik Williams, Appalachian State
AP Amare Jones, Georgia Southern
WR Kyren Lacy, Louisiana
WR Cornelius McCoy, Georgia State
WR Corey Rucker, Arkansas State
WR Jalen Wayne, South Alabama
TE Reed Tyler, Arkansas State
C Sam Thompson, Coastal Carolina
OL Malik Sumter, Georgia State
OL Jake Andrews, Troy
OL Carlos Rubio, Louisiana
OL Antwine Loper, Coastal Carolina
Fourth-Team Defense
DL TW Ayers, Arkansas State
DL Ty Shelby, ULM
DL Terry Hampton, Arkansas State
DL Javon Solomon, Troy
DL Caleb Spurlin, Appalachian State
LB Ferrod Gardner, Louisiana
LB Enock Makonzo, Coastal Carolina
LB Trey Cobb, Appalachian State
LB Chauncey Manac, Louisiana
DB Dell Pettus, Troy
DB T.J. Harris, Troy
DB Antonio Fletcher, Arkansas State
DB Devin Rockette, South Alabama
DB Derick Bush, Coastal Carolina
DB Mekhi Garner, Louisiana
Fourth-Team Specialists
K Blake Grupe, Arkansas State
P Seamus O’Kelly, Texas State
KR Shemari Jones, Coastal Carolina
PR Jaivon Heiligh, Coastal Carolina