# 2022 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team

The 2022 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team represented the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Ragin' Cajuns played their home games at Cajun Field in Lafayette, Louisiana, and competed in the West Division of the Sun Belt Conference. They were led by first-year head coach Michael Desormeaux.

## Preseason
### Recruiting class

College recruiting information :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40$^‡$ | Commit date |
| Terrance Carter TE | Killeen, Texas | Harker Heights HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 249 lb (113 kg) | – | Dec 15, 2021 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Zeon Chriss QB | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Madison Prep Academy | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 198 lb (90 kg) | – | Dec 15, 2021 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Lorenzell Dubose CB | Monroe, Louisiana | Neville HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 178 lb (81 kg) | – | Dec 15, 2021 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Kailep Edwards LB | Wallace, Louisiana | West St. John HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 223 lb (101 kg) | – | Dec 15, 2021 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Jaydon Johnson WR | Missouri City, Texas | Thurgood Marshall HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 213 lb (97 kg) | – | Dec 15, 2021 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Kaden Moreau OL | Pineville, Louisiana | Pineville HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 285 lb (129 kg) | – | Feb 2, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Trent Murphy OL | Opelousas, Louisiana | Opelousas HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 271 lb (123 kg) | – | Feb 2, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| James Ohonba OL | Stockbridge, Georgia | Woodland HS Michigan State | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 318 lb (144 kg) | – | Feb 2, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Zylan Perry RB | Franklin, Louisiana | Franklin HS | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 187 lb (85 kg) | – | Feb 2, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: |||||||
| Charles Robertson WR | Zachary, Louisiana | Zachary HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 186 lb (84 kg) | – | Feb 2, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Bryant Williams OL | Lake Charles, Louisiana | Grand Lake HS | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 323 lb (147 kg) | – | Dec 15, 2021 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Marcus Wiser DL | Corpus Christi, Texas | Calallen HS Kilgore College | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | – | Dec 15, 2021 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Damon Youngblood S | McKinney, Texas | McKinney HS | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 181 lb (82 kg) | – | Dec 15, 2021 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
Source:

### Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

#### Preseason

| Award | Player | Position | Year |
| Doak Walker Award | Chris Smith | RB | RS-JR |
| John Mackey Award | Johnny Lumpkin | TE | RS-SR |
| Outland Trophy | AJ Gillie | OG | RS-SO |
| Ray Guy Award | Rhys Byrns | P | SR |
| Wuerffel Trophy | Chris Smith | RB | RS-JR |
| Reese's Senior Bowl | Chris Smith | RB | RS-JR |
| Reese's Senior Bowl | Andre Jones Jr. | OLB | RS-SR |
| Reese's Senior Bowl | Michael Jefferson | WR | SR |

### Sun Belt coaches poll

The Sun Belt coaches poll was released on July 25, 2022. The Cajuns were picked to finish first in the West Division and first in the conference.
West Division :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes |
| 1 | Louisiana | 95 (12) |
| 2 | South Alabama | 79 (2) |
| 3 | Troy | 76 |
| 4 | Texas State | 41 |
| 5 | Southern Miss | 40 |
| 6 | Arkansas State | 37 |
| 7 | Louisiana–Monroe | 24 |
East Division :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes |
| 1 | Appalachian State | 94 (10) |
| 2 | Coastal Carolina | 77 (2) |
| 3 | Georgia State | 68 (1) |
| 4 | Marshall | 62 |
| 5 | Georgia Southern | 35 (1) |
| 6 | James Madison | 31 |
| 7 | Old Dominion | 25 |

### Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference teams
## Schedule

All conference games were announced in early March 2022.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 3 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 17 (FCS) Southeastern Louisiana* | Cajun FieldLafayette, Louisiana (Cypress Mug) | ESPN3 | W 24–7 | 16,812 |
| September 10 | 6:00 p.m. | Eastern Michigan* | Cajun FieldLafayette, Louisiana | NFLN | W 49–21 | 18,079 |
| September 17 | 6:30 p.m. | at Rice* | Rice StadiumHouston, Texas | ESPN+ | L 21–33 | 18,746 |
| September 24 | 7:00 p.m. | at Louisiana–Monroe | Malone StadiumMonroe, Louisiana (Battle on the Bayou) | ESPN+ | L 17–21 | 19,077 |
| October 1 | 4:00 p.m. | South Alabama | Cajun FieldLafayette, Louisiana | ESPN+ | L 17–20 | 20,671 |
| October 12 | 6:30 p.m. | at Marshall | Joan C. Edwards StadiumHuntington, West Virginia | ESPN2 | W 23–13 | 19,905 |
| October 22 | 4:00 p.m. | Arkansas State | Cajun FieldLafayette, Louisiana | ESPN+ | W 38–18 | 15,017 |
| October 27 | 6:30 p.m. | at Southern Miss | M. M. Roberts StadiumHattiesburg, Mississippi | ESPN2 | L 24–39 | 27,332 |
| November 5 | 4:00 p.m. | Troy | Cajun FieldLafayette, Louisiana | ESPN+ | L 17–23 | 7,888 |
| November 10 | 6:30 p.m. | Georgia Southern | Cajun FieldLafayette, Louisiana | ESPN2 | W 36–17 | 11,512 |
| November 19 | 11:00 a.m. | at No. 19 Florida State* | Doak Campbell StadiumTallahassee, Florida | ACCRSN | L 17–49 | 58,597 |
| November 26 | 4:00 p.m. | at Texas State | Bobcat StadiumSan Marcos, Texas | ESPN+ | W 41–13 | 15,035 |
| December 23 | 2:00 p.m. | vs. Houston* | Independence StadiumShreveport, Louisiana (Independence Bowl) | ESPN | L 16–23 | 23,410 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game |||||||

## Game summaries
### Southeastern Louisiana

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 17 (FCS) Lions | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| • Ragin' Cajuns | 10 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| LA –13.0 | 61 |
| Statistics | Southeastern Louisiana | Louisiana |
| First downs | 12 | 18 |
| Total yards | 260 | 374 |
| Rushing yards | 111 | 133 |
| Passing yards | 149 | 241 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 29:04 | 30:56 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Southeastern Louisiana | Passing | Cephus Johnson III | 22/34, 149 yards, 1 INT |
| Southeastern Louisiana | Rushing | Carlos Washington Jr. | 10 carries, 57 yards, 1 TD |
| Southeastern Louisiana | Receiving | CJ Turner | 3 receptions, 46 yards |
| Louisiana | Passing | Chandler Fields | 13/20, 173 yards, 2 TDs |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Terrence Williams | 10 carries, 61 yards |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Johnny Lumpkin | 5 receptions, 72 yards, 2 TDs |

### Eastern Michigan

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| • Ragin' Cajuns | 0 | 0 | 21 | 28 | 49 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| LA –11.0 | 56 |
| Statistics | Eastern Michigan | Louisiana |
| First downs | 23 | 23 |
| Total yards | 361 | 459 |
| Rushing yards | 41 | 149 |
| Passing yards | 320 | 310 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 29:35 | 30:25 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Eastern Michigan | Passing | Taylor Powell | 31/50, 317 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs |
| Eastern Michigan | Rushing | Jaylon Jackson | 5 carries, 37 yards |
| Eastern Michigan | Receiving | Tanner Knue | 8 receptions, 89 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana | Passing | Ben Wooldridge | 12/13, 169 yards, 2 TDs |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Dre'lyn Washington | 8 carries, 45 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana | Receiving | John Stephens Jr. | 3 receptions, 103 yards, 1 TD |

### At Rice

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Ragin' Cajuns | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| • Owls | 3 | 10 | 6 | 14 | 33 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| LA –12.0 | 52 |
| Statistics | Louisiana | Rice |
| First downs | 9 | 26 |
| Total yards | 175 | 449 |
| Rushing yards | 61 | 146 |
| Passing yards | 114 | 303 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 18:09 | 41:51 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Louisiana | Passing | Ben Wooldridge | 6/14, 76 yards |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Chris Smith | 6 carries, 39 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Michael Jefferson | 5 receptions, 53 yards |
| Rice | Passing | TJ McMahon | 25/36, 303 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs |
| Rice | Rushing | Ari Broussard | 19 carries, 49 yards, 1 TD |
| Rice | Receiving | Luke McCaffrey | 10 receptions, 105 yards, 2 TDs |

### At Louisiana–Monroe

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Ragin' Cajuns | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| • Warhawks | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| LA –9.5 | 51 |
| Statistics | Louisiana | Louisiana–Monroe |
| First downs | 18 | 15 |
| Total yards | 354 | 419 |
| Rushing yards | 86 | 227 |
| Passing yards | 268 | 192 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 32:45 | 27:15 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Louisiana | Passing | Chandler Fields | 20/34, 231 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Chris Smith | 10 carries, 41 yards |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Michael Jefferson | 5 receptions, 105 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Passing | Chandler Rogers | 14/26, 192 yards, 1 INT |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Rushing | Andrew Henry | 11 carries, 123 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Receiving | Tyrone Howell | 3 receptions, 124 yards |

### South Alabama

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Jaguars | 0 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 20 |
| Ragin' Cajuns | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 17 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| USA –8.5 | 47.5 |
| Statistics | South Alabama | Louisiana |
| First downs | 20 | 17 |
| Total yards | 361 | 274 |
| Rushing yards | 116 | 159 |
| Passing yards | 245 | 115 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 30:18 | 29:42 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Alabama | Passing | Carter Bradley | 18/41, 245 yards, 1 INT |
| South Alabama | Rushing | La'Damian Webb | 22 carries, 75 yards, 1 TD |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Caullin Lacy | 5 receptions, 112 yards |
| Louisiana | Passing | Ben Wooldridge | 18/29, 90 yards, 1 TD, INT |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Chris Smith | 12 carries, 107 yards |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Peter LeBlanc | 3 receptions, 23 yards |

### At Marshall

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Ragin' Cajuns | 3 | 0 | 13 | 7 | 23 |
| Thundering Herd | 0 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 13 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| MRSH –10.5 | 45 |
| Statistics | Louisiana | Marshall |
| First downs | 16 | 17 |
| Total yards | 338 | 276 |
| Rushing yards | 108 | 139 |
| Passing yards | 230 | 137 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 28:18 | 31:42 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Louisiana | Passing | Ben Wooldridge | 17/30, 230 yards, 2 TD |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Ben Wooldridge | 10 carries, 45 yards |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Michael Jefferson | 3 receptions, 71 yards, 1 TD |
| Marshall | Passing | Cam Fancher | 7/9, 69 yards |
| Marshall | Rushing | Khalan Laborn | 26 carries, 120 yards, 2 TD |
| Marshall | Receiving | Corey Gammage | 4 receptions, 58 yards |

### Arkansas State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Red Wolves | 0 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 18 |
| • Ragin' Cajuns | 10 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 38 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| LA –6.5 | 51.5 |
| Statistics | Arkansas State | Louisiana |
| First downs | 13 | 27 |
| Total yards | 271 | 522 |
| Rushing yards | 82 | 206 |
| Passing yards | 189 | 316 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 22:12 | 37:48 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Arkansas State | Passing | AJ Mayer | 8/23, 155 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Ja'Quez Cross | 6 carries, 33 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Daverrick Jenkins | 3 receptions, 61 yards |
| Louisiana | Passing | Ben Wooldridge | 21/34, 316 yards, 5 TD |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Terrence Williams | 11 carries, 58 yards |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Jacob Bernard | 5 receptions, 97 yards, 1 TD |

### At Southern Miss

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Ragin' Cajuns | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 24 |
| • Golden Eagles | 20 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 39 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| LA –2.5 | 43.0 |
| Statistics | Louisiana | Southern Miss |
| First downs | 17 | 15 |
| Total yards | 439 | 339 |
| Rushing yards | 103 | 150 |
| Passing yards | 336 | 189 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 26:47 | 33:13 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Louisiana | Passing | Ben Wooldridge | 21/46, 336 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Chris Smith | 11 carries, 47 yards |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Michael Jefferson | 6 receptions, 179 yards, 1 TD |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Zach Wilcke | 8/17, 137 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Frank Gore Jr. | 23 carries, 87 yards |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Jason Brownlee | 3 receptions, 102 yards, 2 TD |

### Troy

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Trojans | 0 | 0 | 7 | 16 | 23 |
| Ragin' Cajuns | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| TROY –5.5 | 43 |
| Statistics | Troy | Louisiana |
| First downs | 21 | 21 |
| Total yards | 377 | 315 |
| Rushing yards | 154 | 203 |
| Passing yards | 223 | 112 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 30:08 | 29:52 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Troy | Passing | Gunnar Watson | 21/35, 223 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT |
| Troy | Rushing | Kimani Vidal | 21 carries, 117 yards, 1 TD |
| Troy | Receiving | RaJae' Johnson | 5 receptions, 79 yards |
| Louisiana | Passing | Ben Wooldridge | 13/29, 112 yards |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Chris Smith | 18 carries, 97 yards |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Michael Jefferson | 6 receptions, 50 yards |

### Georgia Southern

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
| • Ragin' Cajuns | 7 | 20 | 3 | 6 | 36 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| LA –3.5 | 63.0 |
| Statistics | Georgia Southern | Louisiana |
| First downs | 24 | 22 |
| Total yards | 430 | 435 |
| Rushing yards | 72 | 242 |
| Passing yards | 358 | 193 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 28:18 | 31:42 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Kyle Vantrease | 28/49, 325 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Gerald Green | 10 carries, 44 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Derwin Burgess Jr. | 5 receptions, 75 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana | Passing | Ben Wooldridge | 17/31, 193 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Chris Smith | 17 carries, 80 yards |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Michael Jefferson | 3 receptions, 53 yards, 1 TD |

### At No. 19 Florida State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Ragin' Cajuns | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
| • No. 19 Seminoles | 21 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 49 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| FSU –25.0 | 52.5 |
| Statistics | Louisiana | Florida State |
| First downs | 18 | 23 |
| Total yards | 291 | 440 |
| Rushing yards | 132 | 251 |
| Passing yards | 159 | 189 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 29:16 | 30:44 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Louisiana | Passing | Chandler Fields | 19/36, 159 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Dre'lyn Washington | 10 carries, 57 yards |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Michael Jefferson | 6 receptions, 60 yards, 1 TD |
| Florida State | Passing | Jordan Travis | 9/14, 112 yards, 1 TD |
| Florida State | Rushing | Trey Benson | 16 carries, 80 yards, 1 TD |
| Florida State | Receiving | Kentron Poitier | 1 reception, 45 yards |

### At Texas State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Ragin' Cajuns | 7 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 41 |
| Bobcats | 3 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 13 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| LA –5.0 | 45.0 |
| Statistics | Louisiana | Texas State |
| First downs | 27 | 15 |
| Total yards | 436 | 356 |
| Rushing yards | 165 | 223 |
| Passing yards | 271 | 133 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 30:34 | 29:26 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Louisiana | Passing | Chandler Fields | 16/26, 187 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Dre'lyn Washington | 10 carries, 73 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Lance Legendre | 4 receptions, 81 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas State | Passing | Layne Hatcher | 13/27, 133 yards, 1 INT |
| Texas State | Rushing | Lincoln Pare | 4 receptions, 81 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas State | Receiving | Charles Brown | 3 receptions, 60 yards |

### Vs. Houston (Independence Bowl)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Cougars | 0 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 23 |
| Ragin' Cajuns | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| HOU –5.0 | 58.0 |
| Statistics | Houston | Louisiana |
| First downs | 21 | 21 |
| Total yards | 363 | 323 |
| Rushing yards | 139 | 129 |
| Passing yards | 224 | 194 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 30:19 | 29:41 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Houston | Passing | Clayton Tune | 19/28, 224 yards, 3 TDs |
| Houston | Rushing | Clayton Tune | 11 carries, 55 yards |
| Houston | Receiving | KeSean Carter | 4 receptions, 112 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana | Passing | Chandler Fields | 17/25, 169 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Chris Smith | 14 carries, 48 yards |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Lance Legendre | 5 receptions, 56 yards |

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Coaches | RV | RV | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | Not released |