University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
@RaginCajunsFB Begins First Full Week Of Training Camp
8/6/2018 8:38:00 PM | Football
LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Football rolled into their first full week of Training Camp with a bang, on Monday, putting the pads on and making sure that the practice fields adjacent to the Donald and Janice Mosing Student-Athlete Performance Center rang with the sounds of football.
Â
JUST A BIT WET: There's a saying that if it ain't raining then you ain't training. Louisiana Football took that to heart as they practiced Monday, under a slight drizzle but that did not stop the intensity and tempo that head coach Billy Napier has instilled into his team.
Â
Louisiana moved from station to station without missing a beat and even Coach Napier got involved nailing a corner throw into the netting to get a huge cheer from the Ragin' Cajuns' position players.
Â
BREAKING IN CAJUN FIELD: While Louisiana spent the first half of practice on the practice fields, the second half of practice transitioned to the Cajun Field for the first time this fall. It meant that for the first time during training camp Louisiana truly got under the lights.Â
Â
DION RAY MAKES A MOVE: Attempting to take advantage of the athleticism of junior Dion Ray, Coach Napier announced on Monday that he has begun to take repetitions at wide receiver in an effort to use him all over the field. Ray will see snaps during training camp at both quarterback and wide receiver as the coaching staff finds ways to use him as an offensive weapon.
Â
COACH NAPIER SPEAKS:Â Earlier in the day Coach Napier met with the media and spoke about the first three practices for Louisiana and how he feels the team is growing into their first training camp together.
Â
Opening Statement:
"I am really pleased with where the team is at from a physical standpoint, and it's very obvious within the first three days that our strength and conditioning staff did a great job during the summer. We have had leadership emerge at the player level, and we've finished the first three practices strong. We need more players that can play winning football and we need to get more consistency and performance. If we are going to be a team that is known for their effort and toughness, we have got miles to go. We have seen some young players emerge, and I have been pleased with the class that we brought in."
Â
On the Newcomers:
"Chauncey Manac has been impressive, along with Max Mitchell playing at offensive tackle. All of the corners that we signed are in position to be effective players in the future. The newcomers have been what we thought they were, and they will prove to be winning players."
Â
On Moving Dion Ray:
"We are playing Dion at the wide receiver spot, so we can add to the depth at that position. Dion has proven to be effective with the ball in his hands and his history here as a wildcat player has shown that. He is well respected by his teammates, and he is just a class act young man who is extremely intelligent and getting him in position, so he can contribute to the team was a part of the decision to get him reps at that position."
Â
On Taking the Season Week-by-Week:
"Every week, we are going to start over and evaluate each individual situation respectively and see where the team is at after each week. Right now, our focus is on training camp and getting our football team ready for the season opener."
Â
On How the Quarterbacks Have Performed:
"I've been pleased, and I do not think there is any question that they have knowledge of the system. These guys have made great improvement and, they committed themselves to our summer program. We ask a lot of our quarterbacks during the summer and both Levi Lewis and Andre Nunez have been competing and getting reps with the first and second teams. They are both capable of playing winning football."
Â
On Who's Made Improvement During the Summer:
"Both of our tight ends Johnny Lumpkin and Matt Barnes. Both have shown that they are ready to take on the roles presented to them, and both of them have had a sense of urgency to learn and improve the position. It is a tough position to learn in our offense, and assistant coach Michael Desormeaux has done a great job with those guys, and they are ready to go."
Â
TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE: Both individual tickets and season tickets are available for purchase by either heading to ragincajuns.com/tickets or by calling the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office at the Cajundome, (337) 265-2357, or by visiting the office in person.
Â
FOLLOWING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS:Â Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@RaginCajunsFB) to stay up-to-date with Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Football.
Â
Â
JUST A BIT WET: There's a saying that if it ain't raining then you ain't training. Louisiana Football took that to heart as they practiced Monday, under a slight drizzle but that did not stop the intensity and tempo that head coach Billy Napier has instilled into his team.
Â
Louisiana moved from station to station without missing a beat and even Coach Napier got involved nailing a corner throw into the netting to get a huge cheer from the Ragin' Cajuns' position players.
Â
BREAKING IN CAJUN FIELD: While Louisiana spent the first half of practice on the practice fields, the second half of practice transitioned to the Cajun Field for the first time this fall. It meant that for the first time during training camp Louisiana truly got under the lights.Â
Â
DION RAY MAKES A MOVE: Attempting to take advantage of the athleticism of junior Dion Ray, Coach Napier announced on Monday that he has begun to take repetitions at wide receiver in an effort to use him all over the field. Ray will see snaps during training camp at both quarterback and wide receiver as the coaching staff finds ways to use him as an offensive weapon.
Â
COACH NAPIER SPEAKS:Â Earlier in the day Coach Napier met with the media and spoke about the first three practices for Louisiana and how he feels the team is growing into their first training camp together.
Â
Opening Statement:
"I am really pleased with where the team is at from a physical standpoint, and it's very obvious within the first three days that our strength and conditioning staff did a great job during the summer. We have had leadership emerge at the player level, and we've finished the first three practices strong. We need more players that can play winning football and we need to get more consistency and performance. If we are going to be a team that is known for their effort and toughness, we have got miles to go. We have seen some young players emerge, and I have been pleased with the class that we brought in."
Â
On the Newcomers:
"Chauncey Manac has been impressive, along with Max Mitchell playing at offensive tackle. All of the corners that we signed are in position to be effective players in the future. The newcomers have been what we thought they were, and they will prove to be winning players."
Â
On Moving Dion Ray:
"We are playing Dion at the wide receiver spot, so we can add to the depth at that position. Dion has proven to be effective with the ball in his hands and his history here as a wildcat player has shown that. He is well respected by his teammates, and he is just a class act young man who is extremely intelligent and getting him in position, so he can contribute to the team was a part of the decision to get him reps at that position."
Â
On Taking the Season Week-by-Week:
"Every week, we are going to start over and evaluate each individual situation respectively and see where the team is at after each week. Right now, our focus is on training camp and getting our football team ready for the season opener."
Â
On How the Quarterbacks Have Performed:
"I've been pleased, and I do not think there is any question that they have knowledge of the system. These guys have made great improvement and, they committed themselves to our summer program. We ask a lot of our quarterbacks during the summer and both Levi Lewis and Andre Nunez have been competing and getting reps with the first and second teams. They are both capable of playing winning football."
Â
On Who's Made Improvement During the Summer:
"Both of our tight ends Johnny Lumpkin and Matt Barnes. Both have shown that they are ready to take on the roles presented to them, and both of them have had a sense of urgency to learn and improve the position. It is a tough position to learn in our offense, and assistant coach Michael Desormeaux has done a great job with those guys, and they are ready to go."
ONE MONTH TO GO: Louisiana opens up the 2018 regular season on Saturday, Sept. 1, when the Ragin' Cajuns host Grambling at Cajun Field during the 17th Annual Herbert Heymann Classic. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. It's the first of six Saturday home games at Cajun Field throughout the season, with Coastal Carolina coming to Lafayette on Sept. 22 for the second home game during the month of September.? The Regimen is finished, but the work is ongoing.
— Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns® Football (@RaginCajunsFB) August 5, 2018
?? For the #cULture! pic.twitter.com/XqBJCA1WRa
Â
TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE: Both individual tickets and season tickets are available for purchase by either heading to ragincajuns.com/tickets or by calling the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office at the Cajundome, (337) 265-2357, or by visiting the office in person.
Â
FOLLOWING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS:Â Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@RaginCajunsFB) to stay up-to-date with Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Football.
Â
- #GEAUXCAJUNSÂ -
Players Mentioned
TE
/ Football
QB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
LB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
QB
/ Football
Michael Desormeaux Media Availability (Sep 15, 2025)
Monday, September 15
Michael Desormeaux Media Availability (Sep 8, 2025)
Monday, September 08
Bill Davis Media Availability (Sept 6, 2025)
Sunday, September 07
Jalen Clark Media Availability (Sept 6, 2025)
Sunday, September 07
