The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns captured the most selections on the 2020-21 Louisiana Sports Writers Association All-Louisiana College football team.
A total of 10 Ragin’ Cajuns highlighted the 50-member squad, including Coach of the Year Billy Napier, which was picked by an LSWA panel of media and sports information contacts. Napier guided the Cajuns to a No. 15 final ranking in the Associated Press Top 25, a Sun Belt Conference Co-Championship, their third straight West Division title and second consecutive bowl win, a 31-24 victory over UTSA in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl.
The diverse ballot featured seven LSU Tigers and Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and six each from Nicholls and Southeastern Louisiana in a nod to the state’s most successful teams.
SLU quarterback Cole Kelley, who earned the Walter Payton Award this weekend, is the Offensive Player of the Year after propelling a prolific Lions offense. Kelley threw for 2,663 yards with 27 total touchdowns and four interceptions as he led the FCS in passing yards and points responsible for.
A pair of defensive linemen shared Defensive Player of the Year honors in McNeese’s Isaiah Chambers and Louisiana Tech’s Milton Williams.
Chambers captured Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors as he led the league with 7.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss.
Williams, a third-team Pro Football Focus All-American, was active along Tech’s front with 44 tackles (10 for loss with 4.5 sacks). Chambers, a transfer from Houston, also took home Newcomer of the Year honors.
LSU receiver Kayshon Boutte was rewarded for his impressive finish to his season with the Freshman of the Year award. Boutte led LSU with 735 receiving yards on 45 catches and five touchdowns, setting the LSU and Southeastern Conference record with 308 receiving yards against Ole Miss.
LSWA All-LOUISIANA COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Cole Kelley, SLU, QB
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: Isaiah Chambers, DL, McNeese; Milton Williams, DL, Louisiana Tech
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Isaiah Chambers, DL, McNeese
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU
COACH OF THE YEAR: Billy Napier, Ragin Cajuns
First Team Offense OL – P.J. Burkhalter, Nicholls; Kody Russey, Louisiana Tech; Jalen Bell, Southeastern Louisiana; Max Mitchell, Louisiana; Jair Joseph, Nicholls
TE – Josh Pederson, ULM
WR – Terrace Marshall, LSU; Dai’Jean Dixon, Nicholls
QB – Cole Kelley, Southeastern Louisiana
RB – Elijah Mitchell, Louisiana; Cameron Carroll, Tulane
First Team Defense
DL – Isaiah Chambers, McNeese; Milton Williams, Louisiana Tech; Jordan Lewis, Southern; Zi’yon Hill, Louisiana
LB – Dorian Williams, Tulane; Jabril Cox, LSU; Tyler Grubbs, Louisiana Tech
DB – Derek Stingley Jr., LSU; Bralen Trahan, Louisiana; BeeJay Williamson, Louisiana Tech; Ferlando Jordan, Southeastern Louisiana
First Team Specialists
K – Cade York, LSU
P– Ryan Wright, Tulane
RS – Chris Smith, Louisiana
Second Team Offense
OL – Evan Roussel, Nicholls; Dallas Black, Southern; Ethan McMullan, Southeastern Louisiana; Sincere Haynesworth, Tulane; O’Cyrus Torrence, Louisiana
TE – Ethan Howard, Southern
WR – Kayshon Boutte, LSU; CJ Turner, Southeastern Louisiana
QB – Levi Lewis, Louisiana
RB – Scooter Adams, NSU; Trey Ragas, Louisiana
Second Team Defense
DL – Ali Gaye, LSU; Micah Latin, Louisiana College; Mason Kinsey, McNeese; Tayland Humphrey, Louisiana
LB – Trey Baldwin, Louisiana Tech; Alexis Ramos, Southeastern Louisiana; Jomard Valsin, Northwestern State
DB – Eli Ricks, LSU; Kevin Moore III, Nicholls; Andre Sam, McNeese; Pig Cage, Nicholls
Second Team Specialists
K – Jacob Barnes, Louisiana Tech
P – Zach Von Rosenberg, LSU
RS – Wayne Toussant, Louisiana Tech