University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Football Well-Represented on Pro Football Focus All-Sun Belt Teams
12/22/2020 4:24:00 PM | Football
Five Ragin’ Cajuns pick up First Team honors from PFF
LAFAYETTE – Sixteen Louisiana Football players have been named to Pro Football Focus' (PFF) All-Sun Belt Conference Teams, the national football organization announced on Tuesday.
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Running back Trey Ragas, offensive lineman Max Mitchell, defensive lineman Zi'Yon Hill, safety Bralen Trahan and return specialist Chris Smith highlighted the group with First-Team honors.
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Ragas has been a key cog for Louisiana's offense all year, ranking 22nd in the nation and second in the league with nine rushing scores and fifth in the Sun Belt with his 660 yards on the ground. The senior running back owns the third-most rushing yards (3,474) in program history and ranks sixth in career rushing touchdowns with 37.
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Mitchell is part of an offensive line that leads the league and ranks seventh nationally in tackles-for-loss allowed (3.80) and eighth nationally in sacks allowed (0.90). The line was also one of 11 in the country named Joe Moore Award Semifinalists.
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Trahan, who was recently named a Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference performer and a Third Team All-American by PFF, ranks fourth on the team in total tackles (41) and has been stellar in the defensive backfield, tying for fourth nationally in passes defended (13), fifth nationally in interceptions (4) and 20th nationally in passes broken up (9).
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His four picks are the most in a single season by a Ragin' Cajun since Sean Thomas in 2013, while his eight career interceptions tied Tracy Walker for the third-most interceptions by a Ragin' Cajun in the last 20 years.
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PFF has Trahan listed as the fifth-highest graded safety in coverage nationally with a mark of 89.6.
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Hill joined Trahan on the Sun Belt All-Conference Second Team and picked up Honorable Mention All-American honors from PFF after leading all Louisiana defensive lineman and ranking third on the team with 42 total tackles. Hill also leads the team and is tied for 12th in the Sun Belt with 4.0 sacks.
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The redshirt junior lineman also caught the eye of PFF in 2020, listed as the ninth-highest graded pass rusher nationally (86.9) according to the organization.
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Smith, who was named First Team All-Sun Belt Conference and a First Team PFF All-American on Dec. 21, is one of the most electric kick returners in the nation, boasting 572 kick return yards and two touchdowns. On the season, he ranks seventh nationally in return yards and is one of four FBS returners with two kick-return scores. His production saw him become one of just five kick returners in the nation to receive a grade of 90.0 or above by PFF.
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A native of Louisville, Miss., Smith also racked up Third Team All-Sun Belt Conference honors for All-Purpose yards after totaling 1,042 yards this season, good for 42nd in the nation.
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Second-Team performers include cornerback Eric Garror, cornerback Mekhi Garner, safety Cameron Solomon and safety Percy Butler, while quarterback Levi Lewis, running back Elijah Mitchell, offensive lineman O'Cyrus Torrence and offensive linemane Carlos Rubio earned Third-Team honors.
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Center Shane Vallot, nose tackle Tayland Humphrey and cornerback AJ Washington rounded out the team's selections with Honorable Mention recognition.Â
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Head coach Billy Napier's squad looks to pick up its second-straight bowl victory on Saturday, Dec. 26, when it faces UTSA in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast nationally on ABC.
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More information on the game, including where to purchase tickets and parking passes, can be found on Louisiana's Bowl Central page by clicking here.
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Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (@RaginCajunsFB) to stay up-to-date on Louisiana Football.
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Running back Trey Ragas, offensive lineman Max Mitchell, defensive lineman Zi'Yon Hill, safety Bralen Trahan and return specialist Chris Smith highlighted the group with First-Team honors.
Â
Ragas has been a key cog for Louisiana's offense all year, ranking 22nd in the nation and second in the league with nine rushing scores and fifth in the Sun Belt with his 660 yards on the ground. The senior running back owns the third-most rushing yards (3,474) in program history and ranks sixth in career rushing touchdowns with 37.
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Mitchell is part of an offensive line that leads the league and ranks seventh nationally in tackles-for-loss allowed (3.80) and eighth nationally in sacks allowed (0.90). The line was also one of 11 in the country named Joe Moore Award Semifinalists.
Â
Trahan, who was recently named a Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference performer and a Third Team All-American by PFF, ranks fourth on the team in total tackles (41) and has been stellar in the defensive backfield, tying for fourth nationally in passes defended (13), fifth nationally in interceptions (4) and 20th nationally in passes broken up (9).
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His four picks are the most in a single season by a Ragin' Cajun since Sean Thomas in 2013, while his eight career interceptions tied Tracy Walker for the third-most interceptions by a Ragin' Cajun in the last 20 years.
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PFF has Trahan listed as the fifth-highest graded safety in coverage nationally with a mark of 89.6.
Â
Hill joined Trahan on the Sun Belt All-Conference Second Team and picked up Honorable Mention All-American honors from PFF after leading all Louisiana defensive lineman and ranking third on the team with 42 total tackles. Hill also leads the team and is tied for 12th in the Sun Belt with 4.0 sacks.
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The redshirt junior lineman also caught the eye of PFF in 2020, listed as the ninth-highest graded pass rusher nationally (86.9) according to the organization.
Â
Smith, who was named First Team All-Sun Belt Conference and a First Team PFF All-American on Dec. 21, is one of the most electric kick returners in the nation, boasting 572 kick return yards and two touchdowns. On the season, he ranks seventh nationally in return yards and is one of four FBS returners with two kick-return scores. His production saw him become one of just five kick returners in the nation to receive a grade of 90.0 or above by PFF.
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A native of Louisville, Miss., Smith also racked up Third Team All-Sun Belt Conference honors for All-Purpose yards after totaling 1,042 yards this season, good for 42nd in the nation.
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Second-Team performers include cornerback Eric Garror, cornerback Mekhi Garner, safety Cameron Solomon and safety Percy Butler, while quarterback Levi Lewis, running back Elijah Mitchell, offensive lineman O'Cyrus Torrence and offensive linemane Carlos Rubio earned Third-Team honors.
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Center Shane Vallot, nose tackle Tayland Humphrey and cornerback AJ Washington rounded out the team's selections with Honorable Mention recognition.Â
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Head coach Billy Napier's squad looks to pick up its second-straight bowl victory on Saturday, Dec. 26, when it faces UTSA in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast nationally on ABC.
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More information on the game, including where to purchase tickets and parking passes, can be found on Louisiana's Bowl Central page by clicking here.
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Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (@RaginCajunsFB) to stay up-to-date on Louisiana Football.
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