The 2022 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team represented the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Ragin' Cajuns played their home games at Cajun Field in Lafayette, Louisiana, and competed in the West Division of the Sun Belt Conference. They were led by first-year head coach Michael Desormeaux.
Preseason
Recruiting class
Source:
Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released
Preseason Doak Walker Award Chris Smith RB RS-JR John Mackey Award Johnny Lumpkin TE RS-SR Outland Trophy AJ Gillie OG RS-SO Ray Guy Award Rhys Byrns P SR Wuerffel Trophy Chris Smith RB RS-JR Reese's Senior Bowl Chris Smith RB RS-JR Andre Jones Jr. OLB RS-SR Michael Jefferson WR SR
Sun Belt coaches poll The Sun Belt coaches poll was released on July 25, 2022. The Cajuns were picked to finish first in the West Division and first in the conference.
Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference teams
Defense
1st team Zi'Yon Hill-Green – Defensive line, RS-SR Eric Garror – Defensive back, SR
2nd team Andre Jones Jr. – Linebacker, RS-SR
Special teams
1st team Rhys Byrns – Punter, SR Chris Smith – All-Purpose, RS-JR
Personnel
Schedule All conference games were announced in early March 2022.
Game summaries
Southeastern Louisiana
Statistics Southeastern LouisianaLouisiana First downs 12 18 Total yards 260 374 Rushing yards 111 133 Passing yards 149 241 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 29:04 30:56
Team Category Player StatisticsSoutheastern Louisiana Passing Cephus Johnson III 22/34, 149 yards, 1 INT Rushing Carlos Washington Jr. 10 carries, 57 yards, 1 TD Receiving CJ Turner 3 receptions, 46 yardsLouisiana Passing Chandler Fields 13/20, 173 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Terrence Williams 10 carries, 61 yards Receiving Johnny Lumpkin 5 receptions, 72 yards, 2 TDs
Eastern Michigan
Statistics Eastern MichiganLouisiana First downs 23 23 Total yards 361 459 Rushing yards 41 149 Passing yards 320 310 Turnovers 5 0 Time of possession 29:35 30:25
Team Category Player StatisticsEastern Michigan Passing Taylor Powell 31/50, 317 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs Rushing Jaylon Jackson 5 carries, 37 yards Receiving Tanner Knue 8 receptions, 89 yards, 1 TDLouisiana Passing Ben Wooldridge 12/13, 169 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Dre'lyn Washington 8 carries, 45 yards, 1 TD Receiving John Stephens Jr. 3 receptions, 103 yards, 1 TD
At Rice
Statistics LouisianaRice First downs 9 26 Total yards 175 449 Rushing yards 61 146 Passing yards 114 303 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 18:09 41:51
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Ben Wooldridge 6/14, 76 yards Rushing Chris Smith 6 carries, 39 yards, 1 TD Receiving Michael Jefferson 5 receptions, 53 yardsRice Passing TJ McMahon 25/36, 303 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs Rushing Ari Broussard 19 carries, 49 yards, 1 TD Receiving Luke McCaffrey 10 receptions, 105 yards, 2 TDs
At Louisiana–Monroe
Statistics LouisianaLouisiana–Monroe First downs 18 15 Total yards 354 419 Rushing yards 86 227 Passing yards 268 192 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 32:45 27:15
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Chandler Fields 20/34, 231 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Chris Smith 10 carries, 41 yards Receiving Michael Jefferson 5 receptions, 105 yards, 1 TDLouisiana–Monroe Passing Chandler Rogers 14/26, 192 yards, 1 INT Rushing Andrew Henry 11 carries, 123 yards, 1 TD Receiving Tyrone Howell 3 receptions, 124 yards
South Alabama
Statistics South AlabamaLouisiana First downs 20 17 Total yards 361 274 Rushing yards 116 159 Passing yards 245 115 Turnovers 2 3 Time of possession 30:18 29:42
Team Category Player StatisticsSouth Alabama Passing Carter Bradley 18/41, 245 yards, 1 INT Rushing La'Damian Webb 22 carries, 75 yards, 1 TD Receiving Caullin Lacy 5 receptions, 112 yardsLouisiana Passing Ben Wooldridge 18/29, 90 yards, 1 TD, INT Rushing Chris Smith 12 carries, 107 yards Receiving Peter LeBlanc 3 receptions, 23 yards
At Marshall
Statistics LouisianaMarshall First downs 16 17 Total yards 338 276 Rushing yards 108 139 Passing yards 230 137 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 28:18 31:42
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Ben Wooldridge 17/30, 230 yards, 2 TD Rushing Ben Wooldridge 10 carries, 45 yards Receiving Michael Jefferson 3 receptions, 71 yards, 1 TDMarshall Passing Cam Fancher 7/9, 69 yards Rushing Khalan Laborn 26 carries, 120 yards, 2 TD Receiving Corey Gammage 4 receptions, 58 yards
Arkansas State
Statistics Arkansas StateLouisiana First downs 13 27 Total yards 271 522 Rushing yards 82 206 Passing yards 189 316 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 22:12 37:48
Team Category Player StatisticsArkansas State Passing AJ Mayer 8/23, 155 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Ja'Quez Cross 6 carries, 33 yards Receiving Daverrick Jenkins 3 receptions, 61 yardsLouisiana Passing Ben Wooldridge 21/34, 316 yards, 5 TD Rushing Terrence Williams 11 carries, 58 yards Receiving Jacob Bernard 5 receptions, 97 yards, 1 TD
At Southern Miss
Statistics LouisianaSouthern Miss First downs 17 15 Total yards 439 339 Rushing yards 103 150 Passing yards 336 189 Turnovers 4 2 Time of possession 26:47 33:13
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Ben Wooldridge 21/46, 336 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing Chris Smith 11 carries, 47 yards Receiving Michael Jefferson 6 receptions, 179 yards, 1 TDSouthern Miss Passing Zach Wilcke 8/17, 137 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing Frank Gore Jr. 23 carries, 87 yards Receiving Jason Brownlee 3 receptions, 102 yards, 2 TD
Troy
Statistics TroyLouisiana First downs 21 21 Total yards 377 315 Rushing yards 154 203 Passing yards 223 112 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 30:08 29:52
Team Category Player StatisticsTroy Passing Gunnar Watson 21/35, 223 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing Kimani Vidal 21 carries, 117 yards, 1 TD Receiving RaJae' Johnson 5 receptions, 79 yardsLouisiana Passing Ben Wooldridge 13/29, 112 yards Rushing Chris Smith 18 carries, 97 yards Receiving Michael Jefferson 6 receptions, 50 yards
Georgia Southern
Statistics Georgia SouthernLouisiana First downs 24 22 Total yards 430 435 Rushing yards 72 242 Passing yards 358 193 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 28:18 31:42
Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia Southern Passing Kyle Vantrease 28/49, 325 yards, 1 TD Rushing Gerald Green 10 carries, 44 yards Receiving Derwin Burgess Jr. 5 receptions, 75 yards, 1 TDLouisiana Passing Ben Wooldridge 17/31, 193 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT Rushing Chris Smith 17 carries, 80 yards Receiving Michael Jefferson 3 receptions, 53 yards, 1 TD
At No. 19 Florida State
Statistics LouisianaFlorida State First downs 18 23 Total yards 291 440 Rushing yards 132 251 Passing yards 159 189 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 29:16 30:44
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Chandler Fields 19/36, 159 yards, 1 TD Rushing Dre'lyn Washington 10 carries, 57 yards Receiving Michael Jefferson 6 receptions, 60 yards, 1 TDFlorida State Passing Jordan Travis 9/14, 112 yards, 1 TD Rushing Trey Benson 16 carries, 80 yards, 1 TD Receiving Kentron Poitier 1 reception, 45 yards
At Texas State
Statistics LouisianaTexas State First downs 27 15 Total yards 436 356 Rushing yards 165 223 Passing yards 271 133 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 30:34 29:26
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Chandler Fields 16/26, 187 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Dre'lyn Washington 10 carries, 73 yards, 1 TD Receiving Lance Legendre 4 receptions, 81 yards, 1 TDTexas State Passing Layne Hatcher 13/27, 133 yards, 1 INT Rushing Lincoln Pare 4 receptions, 81 yards, 1 TD Receiving Charles Brown 3 receptions, 60 yards
Vs. Houston (Independence Bowl)
Statistics HoustonLouisiana First downs 21 21 Total yards 363 323 Rushing yards 139 129 Passing yards 224 194 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 30:19 29:41
Team Category Player StatisticsHouston Passing Clayton Tune 19/28, 224 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Clayton Tune 11 carries, 55 yards Receiving KeSean Carter 4 receptions, 112 yards, 1 TDLouisiana Passing Chandler Fields 17/25, 169 yards, 1 TD Rushing Chris Smith 14 carries, 48 yards Receiving Lance Legendre 5 receptions, 56 yards
Rankings
References