The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns football team placed five members on the 2024 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference squad, the league office announced on Monday. Two of those five led the way on first team with AJ Gillie and Zylan Perry.
Joining Gillie and Perry were second-team picks linebacker K.C. Ossai, defensive lineman Jordan Lawson, and defensive back Tyrone Lewis Jr.
Louisiana was picked to finish third in the SBC West Division behind Texas State and Troy in the Sun Belt Preseason poll.
Here’s a look at each of these players’ accolades from the 2023 season:
Gillie, a third-team All-SBC selection in 2023, started in all 13 games at left guard while helping the Ragin’ Cajuns rank second in the SBC in rushing offense and second in the league in scoring. The Natchitoches, La., native tallied 41 knockdowns during the regular season and posted a season-high grade of 94 percent at Minnesota.
Perry finished the season as the FBS leader in kick return yards (862) and appeared in all 13 games for the Ragin’ Cajuns. The Franklin, La., native finished among the SBC leaders with 1,100 all-purpose yards (213 rushing, 25 receiving, 862 kick returns).
He posted a season-high 178 all-purpose yards in Louisiana’s SBC opener at Old Dominion (Sept. 9), including a season-high 167 in kick return yards.
Ossai, the leader on the Ragin’ Cajuns defensive unit, played in all 13 games while starting in 12 for the Ragin’ Cajuns. Ossai, an honorable mention All-Sun Belt Conference pick in 2023, finished as the team leader with 95 total tackles with 4.5 tackles for a loss. The senior capped off the 2023 season with a career high 18 tackles and 2.5 tackles for a loss against Jacksonville State in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
Lawson appeared in all 13 games for the Ragin’ Cajuns and recorded 43 tackles on the season with 8.5 tackles for a loss and 7.0 sacks. He opened the season with six tackles and a pair of sacks in a win against Northwestern State and added three tackles with 2.0 sacks in the regular-season finale against ULM.
Lewis started in all 13 games for the Cajuns while tying for the team-lead with three interceptions. The former Hammond High product and Kansas State transfer finished third overall on the team with 74 tackles. Lewis had a pair of interceptions and three tackles in a win at South Alabama.
He posted season-high 11 stops at Troy (Nov. 18) and had nine tackles in a win against Texas State.
Louisiana will report for fall camp on August 1 before officially opening the season on August 31 against in-state opponent Grambling at Cajun Field.
Source: Louisiana Athletics