Louisiana Preview, Best Players, Top Transfers, Season Prediction, Win Total 2024

Louisiana College Football Preview 2024

Take a wee bit of a step back here for a second.

Yes, Louisiana had two straight 6-7 seasons under Michael Desormeaux after winning 34 games in the last three seasons of the Billy Napier era, but this is a different Sun Belt now.

Last year’s team played six Sun Belt teams that ended up going bowling. This year’s team has to deal with a loaded conference schedule with Coastal Carolina and Appalachian State from the East, and back-to-back games with South Alabama and Troy, and …

Most of the tough Sun Belt games are at home, there’s only one game against a Power Four team - at Wake Forest - and there’s no James Madison or Marshall to deal with.

There’s more experience on this team in Year Four under Desormeaux, and again, while things weren’t perfect over the last two seasons, the Ragin’ Cajuns went to bowl games.

No, it probably won’t be a double-digit win season, but a 12th bowl appearance in 14 seasons and being in the hunt for the Sun Belt West title in November isn’t all that bad in the improved league.

Louisiana Football Preview 2024: Offense

- That’s a little more like it. The Louisiana offense sputtered in 2022 and stepped up in 2023 with more consistency and a bit more pop. It wasn’t as explosive as the program got used to under Billy Napier, but the ground attack was still okay for the balanced attack.

More production should start with a veteran line that wasn’t too bad at keeping defenses out of the backfield. Left guard AJ Gillie is the best of the bunch, and the right side should be a plus.

- Can Chandler Fields take control of the job? Ben Wooldridge is a veteran who split time with Fields, and JUCO transfer - and former Illinois recruit - Samari Collier will be in the mix, but Fields is the most dangerous passer of the bunch. Wooldridge runs a bit better.

The receiving combination of Jacob Bernard and Robert Williams is steady, but the offense spreads the ball around. Seven Ragin’ Cajuns came up with at least 17 catches, and that includes utilizing the tight ends.

- There won’t be too much running from the quarterbacks - at least with dangerous runner Zeon Chriss taking off to Houston - and leading rusher Jacob Kibodi is done. Dre’lyn Washington is a smallish, quick back, and Zylan Perry and Elijah Davis are good young runners in the rotation.

Louisiana Football Preview 2024: Defense

- That wasn’t the season the defense needed to have. For the first time since 2018 the Louisiana D allowed more than 300 points, and it starts with being able to come up with third down stops. But …

- The pass rush was terrific. There wren’t enough tackles for loss, but the Ragin’ Cajuns got to the quarterback.

Hybrid edge rusher Cameron Whitfield is back after leading the way with eight sacks, Jordan Lawson returns after making seven sacks, and the interior of the line has size. Mason Narcisse is a 290-pounder on the nose, and LSU transfer Fitzgerald West will be a factor.

Leading tackler KC Ossai made 95 stops in the middle, but the rest of the linebackers have to do a little more with all-around playmaker Kendre Gant leaving for Houston.

- Three starters are back in the secondary. Keyon Martin is the best corner of the bunch, and safety Tyrone Lewis is the best tackler with 74 stops. The versatile Courtline Flowers can work corner or safety - he’ll be at safety this year - and safeties Jalen Clark and Tyree Skipper return after they both tied Lewis for the team lead with three picks.

Key To The Louisiana Football Season

Do what you do, Louisiana running game.
The Ragin’ Cajun offense isn’t just about the ground attack when it’s all working - it was a strongly balanced style. But when the running game worked, the team won. When it didn’t, it didn’t.

Louisiana was 6-0 when running for 200 yards or more, and 0-7 when it didn’t. Over the last two years it’s 1-9 when not running for at least 133 yards.

Louisiana Key Player

Dre’lyn Washington, RB Jr.
The offense has its share of backs who can rotate into the mix, but it needs someone to be the lead of the attack with at least 130 carries. Washington wasn't a workhorse, and only had one giant game with a 103-yard day against Buffalo, but he averaged 5.6 yards per carry.

Louisiana Football Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss

Top Transfer In: Jaden Dugger, S Jr.
An interesting 6-4, 200-pound safety, he should be a factor in some way instantly after making 43 tackles with three sacks and two picks with nine broken up passes last year for Georgetown. He can be used in a variety of ways.

Top Transfer Out: Kendre Gant, LB Sr.
Okay as a sophomore, he blew up as an all-around playmaker in his junior year making 64 tackles with six sacks and 12 tackles for loss with three forced fumbles. He was a key disruptive force who’ll now be a factor for Houston.

Louisiana Key Game

at Coastal Carolina, Oct. 19
The date at Texas State comes after this, but realistically, the hardest games on the Sun Belt slate other than this against Coastal Carolina - Troy, Appalachian State, South Alabama, Arkansas State - will all be played on Cajun Field.

10 Best Louisiana Football Players

1. KC Ossai, LB Sr.
2. AJ Gille, OG Sr.
3. Keyon Martin, CB Sr.
4. Tyrone Lewis, S Sr.
5. Cameron Whitfield, EDGE Jr.
6. Jacob Bernard, WR Sr.
7. Chandler Fields, QB Sr.
8. Dre’lyn Washington, RB Jr.
9. Kenneth Almendares, PK Sr.
10. Courtline Flowers, S Jr.

Louisiana 2023 Fun Stats

- Total Yards: Louisiana 2,817, Opponents 2,795

- Fumbles: Louisiana 27 (lost 12), Opponents 16 (lost 9)

- 4th Down Conversions: Opponents 23-of-31 (74%), Louisiana 11-of-20 (55%)

Louisiana Football 2024 Win Total Prediction: What to Expect This Season

If the Louisiana offense can use its experience and balance to take control of games again like it did a few years ago, this is a relatively manageable.

But the Sun Belt is nasty again, and there’s no let up considering the conference starts on the road at Southern Miss and ends at ULM. Both are more than winnable for the Ragin’ Cajuns, but both games are on the road.

Beating Grambling State and Kennesaw State is a must, and there should be enough tight wins at home against an Arkansas State here and a South Alabama there, but getting bowl eligible might be more of a fight than the team would like.

Set The Louisiana Win Total At … 6.5

Likely Wins: Grambling State, at Kennesaw State

50/50 Games: Appalachian State, Arkansas State, at Coastal Carolina, South Alabama, at Southern Miss, at Texas State, Tulane, Troy, at ULM

Likely Losses: at Wake Forest

2024 Louisiana Football Schedule

Aug 31 Grambling State
Sept 7 at Kennesaw State
Sept 14 OPEN DATE
Sept 21 Tulane
Sept 28 at Wake Forest
Oct 5 at Southern Miss
Oct 12 Appalachian State
Oct 19 at Coastal Carolina
Oct 26 OPEN DATE
Oct 29 at Texas State
Nov 9 Arkansas State
Nov 16 South Alabama
Nov 23 Troy
Nov 30 at ULM

Missing: Georgia Southern, Georgia State, James Madison, Marshall, Old Dominion