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Cajuns with top class in Sun Belt, again

Second straight season
Posted at 10:07 PM, Feb 05, 2020
and last updated 2020-02-06 00:05:32-05

LAFAYETTE — For the second straight year Louisiana football has the Sun Belt's number one rated recruiting class according to 24/7 Sports.

Billy Napier added three more athletes Wednesday on National Signing Day, wide receiver Reginald Johnson, and defensive linemen Jordan Lawson and Mason Narcisse. All three are three-star prospects.

24/7 Sports gives Louisiana a near identical score as they did last season when the Cajuns topped the conference, too. Speaking Wednesday, head coach Billy Napier was hesitant, however, to put too much stock into all those rankings.

"You can get too caught up with it," Napier said. "I think they are more accurate than they were 10-15 years ago because there is so much exposure. But this is one of those jobs where there might be one guy on this list who is not well thought of but we think he's the best player in the class."

Louisiana lands 10 in-state prospects including a pair from Acadiana. LCA's Errol Rogers Jr., and Catholic High's Trey Amos signed with the team in December.

Wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator Tim Leger saying Louisiana is in good position to compete with bigger schools.

"When guys see our cost of attendance, when they see our living situation, a staff of nutritionists, the training table, all the things guys would go to a power five school for we've implemented all those things here," he said. "When you can sit down and show them, they have that, so do we; they have this, so do we; they're 9 hours away, we're in your backyard; you're leaving for, what?"

Louisiana signed 19 players in the 2020 recruiting class.

*Full recruiting roster and player bios courtesy of Louisiana Athletics

Trenayvian Amos (CB)
6’0” | 175 | New Iberia, La. | Catholic High School
Tabbed as the 63rd-best player in the state of Louisiana by 247Sports.com…Helped guide Catholic High School to a 2017 State Championship crown, a 2018 championship game appearance and a 2019 semifinal appearance…Labeled as the 7-2A District MVP in 2018…Also lettered in basketball and track…Earned a Class 2A State Championship crown in the long jump with a of 22’ 9.75 leap… Held offers from Tennessee, Southern Miss, Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech and ULM.

Caleb Anderson (CB)
6’2” | 190 | Jackson, La. | East Feliciana High School
Tabbed as the 40th-best player from the state of Louisiana and the fourth-best athlete by 247Sports.com…Also earned a three-star rating from Rivals.com…Threw for 1,234 yards and 12 touchdowns, while adding 753 yards rushing and 11 scores during his junior season…Tabbed as an All-District member six times at multiple positions (QB, DB, ATH, TE)…Earned All-District Honors in basketball and baseball…Four-year letterman in football and basketball…Academic All-State Member in football and baseball…Member of the National Honor Society…Held offers from Utah, Virginia, Tulane and Louisiana Tech.

Emani Bailey (RB)
5’ 8.5” | 200 | Denton, Texas | Denton Ryan High School
Rated as the 61st best-running back in the country by 247Sports.com…Rushed for 4,026 yards and 51 touchdowns throughout his career as a three-year starter at Denton Ryan…Rushed for 1,498 yards and 22 touchdowns on 128 carries during his senior season…Set his school’s single-game rushing record after posting 275 yards on the ground against Colleyville Heritage…Helped lead his squad to the 5A Texas High School Football State Championship game in 2019…His team made the state championship semifinals the last three seasons…Held an offer from Tulsa.

Dontae Fleming (WR)
6’0.5” | 165 | Laplace, La. | East St. John High School
Rated as the 69th-best player in the state of Louisiana by 247Sports.com…Two-time All-District member at wide receiver…Hauled in 17 passes for 351 yards and seven scores during his senior season...Earned All-District honors as a centerfielder for his high school baseball team…Held offers from Memphis, Arkansas State and ULM before signing with Louisiana.

Courtline Flowers (CB)
6’1” | 175 | Dallas, Texas | South Oak Cliff High School
Tabbed as the 140th-best player from the state of Texas by 247Sports.com and a three-star recruit by Rivals.com…Registered 39 total tackles, 11.0 tackles-for-loss, five interceptions and one forced fumble during his senior season…Had 19 receptions for 173 yards and two touchdowns during his junior year…Also carried the ball seven times for 74 yards as junior… Held offers from Arizona, Georgia Tech, Houston, Kansas and Rutgers.

Dabari Hawkins (CB)
6’2.5” | 190 | Missouri City, Texas | Stafford High School
Two-time First Team All-District defensive back at Stafford High School…Tallied 46 tackles during his senior season to go along with two tackles-for-loss, one interception and one forced fumble…Added 40 tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss, one interception and 14 interception return yards during his junior year…Blue-Grey All-America Game selection…Named captain on his football team…Also a two-time Second Team All-District basketball selection at the power forward position…Held offers from Air Force, New Mexico State, Tulane, Tulsa and Vanderbilt before signing with the Ragin’ Cajuns.

Sonny Hazard (DL)
6’0.5” | 290 | New Orleans, La. | Jesuit High School
Rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com…Two-time First Team All-District member in 2018 and 2019…All-Metro First Team selection in 2018 and 2019…His high school team made it to the Division I state playoffs during his senior season…Father and uncle played football at Louisiana State…Held offers from Tulane and ULM.

Ahmad “Mod” Johnson (LB)
6’1” | 215 | Pelahatchie, Miss.| Pelahatchie Attendance Center
Labeled as the 41st-best player and third-best linebacker in the state of Mississippi by 247Sports.com…Considered the 35th-best player from Mississippi by Rivals.com…Named the Blitz 16 Player of the Year in Mississippi…Held offers from Tennessee, Indiana and Southern Miss before signing with the Ragin’ Cajuns

Reginald Johnson (WR)
6'0 | 175 | Baton Rouge, La. | Southern University Lab School
A composite three-star prospect by 247Sports.com…Tabbed as the No. 40 prospect from Louisiana, the highest ranked in-state player in Louisiana's class…As a senior at Southern Lab, he caught 65 passes for 1,306 yards and hauled in 20 touchdowns…Also rushed the ball four times for 96 yards and two scores…Received offers from Houston, Virginia, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana Monroe, SMU, Southern Miss and Utah State, among others.

Kyren Lacy (WR)
6’2” | 210 | Thibodaux, La. | Thibodaux High School
Labeled as the eighth-best receiver in the state of Louisiana by 247Sports.com…Had an incredible senior season, tallying 54 receptions for 864 yards along with 18 touchdowns…Earned a First Team All-District nod in 2019…Was a highly regarded high school basketball player who won the 5A State Championship…Currently averaging 20.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 6.0 blocks per game for his basketball team…Held offers from Miami, Virginia, Houston, Southern Miss, Louisiana Tech and ULM.

Jordan Lawson (DL)
6'3 | 270 | Brandon, Miss. | Brandon High School
A highly-regarded defensive lineman out of Mississippi…During his senior season, he was credited with 134 tackles, 16 tackles-for-loss, 16 quarterback hurries and six sacks…As a junior, he recorded 60 tackles, two sacks, one tackle-for-loss and 11 quarterback hurries…Held offers from FIU, ULM and South Alabama, among others.

Cory Marshall (OL)
6’3” | 330 | Shreveport, La. | Northwood High School
Rated as the 58th-best player from the state of Louisiana by 247Sports.com…Played on both sides of the ball at Northwood High School, posting 97 tackles, 18.0 tackles-for-loss and 8.0 sacks over his time on the varsity team…Named to the Louisiana FBU team two times…2019 Preseason All-State selection…Two-time All-District member…Held offers from Tulane, Colorado State, Southern Miss and Louisiana Tech before signing with Louisiana.

Jack McKenzie (OL)
6’3”| 330 | McComb, Miss. | Parklane Academy
Regarded as the sixth-best offensive lineman in the state of Mississippi by 247Sports.com…Class 6A Defensive Player of the Year…MAIS All-Conference Member as a defensive lineman…MAIS All-State Team defensive lineman…Named a 2019 MAIS All-Star…Member of the Honors Society…Held offers from Air Force, Louisiana Tech and Southern Miss.

Mason Narcisse** (DL)
6'2.5" | 310 | Reserve, La. | St. Charles Catholic High School
Rated within the Top 150 defensive tackles in the country and a Top 70 prospect within the state of Louisiana by 247Sports.com…Recorded 58 tackles, 10.5 tackles-for-loss and 6.5 sacks during his junior campaign…Earned District Defensive MVP Honors, an All-Metro Team spot and was recognized as an All-State member as a junior…Had offers from UCF, Memphis, Louisiana Tech, Tulane and Colorado.

Andray Pope (RB)
6’0.5” | 200 | Evergreen, Ala. | Hillcrest High
Tabbed as a Top 35 player from the state of Alabama by 247Sports.com…Received a three-star rating by ESPN…Rushed from 1,493 yards and 22 touchdowns as a junior in high school…Was recognized as an All-Region selection, a two-time Second Team All-State member and earned First Team All-State recognition…Held offers from Central Michigan, Army, Tulane and UAB before signing with Louisiana.

Dominique Ratcliff (DL)
6’2” | 270 | Conroe, Texas | Conroe High School
Ranked within the Top 150 among defensive tackles rated on 247Sports.com…During his time on the varsity team, he was a two-time District 15-6A member, a two-time First Team All-County selection and ranked as a top 100 Player by the Houston Chronicle and Houston Vype Magazine…Finished his career with 118 tackles, 33.0 tackles-for-loss, 11.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, one pick and one blocked punt…Fielded offers from Air Force, Army, Liberty, Navy, Texas State and Toledo.

Errol Rogers, Jr. (WR)
5’11” | 185 | Lafayette, La. | Lafayette Christian Academy
Rated as the 16th-best wide receiver in the state of Louisiana by 247Sports.com…Named First Team All-District, Second Team All-District and All-State during his time in high school…Participated in the I-10 Bowl in 2019…Won three state football championships at Lafayette Christian Academy…Held offers from Colorado State, Louisiana Tech and ULM before signing with Louisiana.

Christian Sabatini (TE)
6’1.5” | 245 | Plano, Texas | Plano Senior High School
Rated as the 128th-best tight end in the country by 247Sports.com…First Team All-District member during his senior year…VTO Sports Second Team All-American in 2018…Caught 21 passes for 347 yards and four touchdowns during his senior season…Had 11 catches for 171 yards and one touchdown during his junior year…Owned offers from Southern Miss, Marshall, Army and ULM.

Tyree Skipper (S)
6’1” | 185 | New Orleans, La. | Sophie B. Wright Charter School
Rated as a three-star prospect by ESPN…Rated as a Top 250 athlete in the country and 12th-best athlete in the state of Louisiana by 247Sports.com…Earned All-District honors as a junior…Played both quarterback and safety in high school…Had six interceptions, 20 tackles and six catches for 185 yards during his junior season…Played basketball for Sophie B. Wright Charter School.