LAFAYETTE — The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team will leave here today to fly to North Carolina ahead of this weekend's Sun Belt Conference Championship Game. The Cajuns, who are playing in their second consecutive Sun Belt title game, will play Appalachian State on Saturday at 11 a.m. Central Time.
The Cajuns trip begins less than 24 hours after the conference honored head coach Billy Napier by naming him Sun Belt Coach of the Year. In his second season at the helm of the Cajuns program, Napier guided Louisiana to its first ever 10-win season and its second straight Sun Belt Western Division Championship.
The Sun Belt also honored several players by naming them to the all-conference team.
Offensive linemen Robert Hunt and Kevin Dotson were named first-team all conference. Defensive lineman Zi'yon Hill, linebacker Joe Dillon, defensive back Michael Jacquet, III, running back Elijah Mitchell, wide receiver Ja'Marcus Bradley, and punter Rhys Burns all earned second-team honors. Running back Trey Ragas and kicker Stevie Artigue received third-team designations. Linebackers Jacques Boudreaux and Chauncey Manac, wide receiver Bam Jackson, and tight end Nick Ralston received honorable mentions.
One Ragin' Cajun received double all-conference honors. Running back Raymond Calais, Jr., was named first-team all-conference on special teams for his kick returns performance this season. The Cecilia High School alumnus also received third-team honors for his offensive performance as one of the Cajuns three primary ball carriers.
The Cajuns will play in a postseason bowl. That bowl game will be determined after Saturday's conference championship game.