For the second consecutive season, the duo of Elijah Mitchell and Trey Ragas have been selected to the Doak Walker Preseason Watch List.
The University of Louisiana is one of eight programs featuring two running backs on the preseason list, joining Georgia, Penn State, USC, Iowa, North Carolina, Tulsa and Buffalo.
Mitchell, a former all-state player at nearby Erath High, is coming off a season in which he rushed for 1,147 yards and 16 touchdowns. Mitchell’s yardage total ranked fourth in the Sun Belt and made him just the sixth player in Ragin’ Cajuns history to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark, while his touchdown total ranked 11th nationally.
Mitchell’s best single-game performance from 2019 came against Ohio in which he rushed for 143 yards on 17 carries and three touchdowns to earn Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week honors. Mitchell would earn second team All-SBC honors for the season.
Ragas meanwhile carried the ball 116 times for 886 yards and 11 touchdowns. The New Orleans native joined Mitchell as one of the most productive backs in the conference, ranking fifth in touchdowns and eighth in rushing yards.
Ragas had a season-high 131 yards and two touchdowns in a victory on the road against Georgia Southern in 2019. Ragas also earned third team All-SBC honors last season.
The duo helped UL set the school record for the most rushing yards (3,604) and most rushing touchdowns (42) in a single season.
UL opens the 2020 season on Saturday, September 5, when it welcomes in-state foe McNeese State to Cajun Field.