The amount of players that the Cajuns have returning is big for a team without some of their bigger names like Elijah McGuire and Otha Peters.
Earlier this week, Ben Love brought up five players for LSU that he expects to have breakout season (which you can check out here). In that sense, here are five players for the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns that I expect to have breakout seasons in 2017.
Raymond Calais, Running Back
Before succumbing to an injury last season, the former Cecilia Bulldog showed a ton of promise with 446 all-purpose yards. The talent that Calais has is unreal and if he can get back to that playing form after missing all of spring practice after having surgery at the end of the season, expect him to skyrocket up the depth chart.
Chase Rogers, Tight End
The only true freshman that I can see making an immediate impact has to be the tight end out of Saint Stanislaus. You heard me right, I said a tight end for the Ragin Cajuns will be one of the breakout players for 2017.
This may seem like a surprise considering how little that position has mattered for this team the last few years, but there’s one thing that is making me say this as we get closer to fall camp and that’s Will Hall. Do I know what the new offensive coordinator’s new schemes are? No, but there has to be a reason why the Cajuns got such a highly touted player and wouldn’t use him to his fullest potential. Hall will be looking to work the offense around the talent that he has instead of pushing a square peg into a round hole. Rogers will make the position of tight end a little more relevant.
Ryheem Malone, Wide Receiver
The SMU wide receiver showed that he deserves to have a shot at the starting lineup during the spring game. This is probably the most stacked wide receiving corps the Cajuns have had in quite some time and Malone definitely has a strong case.
It’s been two years since he took the field in a meaningful game, but he still has a lot of ability on the field so expect him to make an immediate impact alongside JaMarcus Bradley and Michael Jacquet.
Troy McCollum, Defensive Back
With Simeon Thomas out for the first two games of the season, someone will have to step up and Troy McCollum seems to be that guy in 2017. Last year he put up 11 total tackles and as a senior he will want to end his collegiate career on a high note.
LaDarrius Kidd, Defensive Tackle
Another case of a promising season cut short by injury, Kidd will be looking to be coming back from an ankle injury. The numbers may not show the potential that he has to make an impact, but if he can be healthy during fall camp, expect him to make waves in the depth chart.
-Clint Domingue