Louisiana head coach Mike Desormeaux has put together a pair of 6-7 finishes in his first two seasons at the helm in Lafayette, losing both of his bowl game appearances in 2022 and 2023. It’s a stark contrast in the Acadiana Region of south Louisiana after the Ragin’ Cajuns won three consecutive bowl games from 2019-21, winning at least 10 games in each of those years
While Desormeaux hopes the third season will be the charm, what returners do the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns have in 2024?
Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Top 10 Returning Players
10) Kenneth Almendares, K
The team’s primary kicker the last two seasons, Kenneth Almendares, enters 2024 coming off a career-best campaign in 2023. He knocked through 14 of 16 field goal attempts and 50-51 extra points.
9) Courtline Flowers, S
A fifth-year junior, Courtline Flowers has 13 starts over the last two seasons, including 10 in 2023. With 46 tackles last year, Flowers has 80 career tackles while playing for the Ragin’ Cajuns.
8) Jacob Bernard, WR
A sixth-year senior, Jacob Bernard is returning after leading Louisiana in receptions last season, hauling in 39 passes for 476 yards and a touchdown.
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For his career, Bernard has 55 catches for 751 yards and three scores.
7) Keyon Martin, CB
After transferring in from Youngstown State, Keyon Martin has been in the Ragin’ Cajuns DB rotation each of the last two seasons. Last year, Martin started all 13 games, registering 53 tackles and an interception.
6) Tyrone Lewis Jr., S
Initially a Kansas State transfer, Tyrone Lewis Jr. is entering his fourth season with the Ragin Cajuns. He had his best year last season with 74 tackles, three interceptions, and three pass breakups.
5) Cameron Whitfield, EDGE
After biding his time his first two seasons in Lafayette, Cameron Whitfield got on the field full-time last year and made the most of his opportunity. In eight starts, he racked up 44 tackles, nine for a loss, and a whopping eight sacks last season.
4) AJ Gillie, OG
A sixth-year senior and fourth-year starter for Louisiana, AJ Gillie enters the 2024 season fresh off an All-Sun Belt Third Team nod last year. Listed at 6’2″, 328 pounds, Gillie made the 2024 Outland Trophy preseason watch list.
3) Dre’lyn Washington, RB
Dre’lyn Washington may not have the stats yet, finishing second on the team in rushing yards last year with 515 yards and two scores, but he’s primed for a major ascension due to the combo of his talent and Louisiana’s pension for creating stud running backs.
Washington made the most of his time off the bench last year, averaging 5.6 yards per carry.
2) Chandler Fields/Ben Woolridge, QB
When QB Zeon Chriss left Lafayette for the Houston Cougars, the Ragin’ Cajuns had the rare luxury of already having two former starters on the roster in Chandler Fields and Ben Woolridge.
Fields, a sixth-year senior on the team since 2019, has 12 career starts in Lafayette, throwing 19 touchdowns to seven picks.
Woolridge, in his seventh year after spending the first three of his career with Fresno State (2018-20), has eight starts with five touchdowns to one pick.
While Fields is anticipated to be the starter for the first game, it’s a close battle, and Desormeaux is keeping it close to the vest, declaring, “It’s none of y’all damn business.”
1) K.C. Ossai, LB
A 2023 All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention, K.C. Ossai tops our list of Louisiana returners in 2024 after leading the Cajuns in tackles last year with 95, adding 4.5 for a loss and a sack.
In three years with Louisiana, Ossai has notched 163 tackles, 6.5 for a loss, with one sack and three forced fumbles.
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