Football 2025 Roster Reload: Louisiana

The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns are looking to do something they haven’t done since 2021: Win the Sun Belt.

This is arguably head coach Michael Desormeaux’s deepest roster since he took over before the 2022 season. Louisiana won the Sun Belt West Division last season, but was ultimately defeated 31-3 by Marshall in the SBC Championship game.

When Desormeaux took over his alma mater at the end of 2021, after Billy Napier took the job at Florida, the program was in a great spot. They had come off of SBC title game appearances in 2018, 2019, and what would’ve been in 2020 before the game was canceled due to COVID-19. In 2022 and 2023, the Ragin’ Cajuns took a bit of a step back, going 6-7 back to back seasons. Last season was the return to form, finishing 10-4 on the season.

All this to say: Keeping positive momentum after last season is imperative with this seasons anticipation.

The message is clear: 𝗟𝗢𝗨𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗔 is coming. 💪

🔗 https://t.co/0vJZgdqZRV #cULture | #GeauxCajuns pic.twitter.com/TYBylD3B4q

— Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns® Football (@RaginCajunsFB) July 21, 2025

Departures

When you have a team as good as Louisiana did last season, you’re unfortunately going to lose some very important members to Power Four programs.

On the offensive side of the ball, in the skill position groups, they lost running back Dre Washington (Alabama), tight end Terrance Carter Jr. (Texas Tech), wide receiver Harvey Broussard III (Houston), tight end Ty Stamey (Texas Tech), and wide receiver Trayv’on Culbert (Division II Henderson State). The five Cajuns combined for 1,835 yards and 13 touchdowns last season.

Up front on the offensive line, they also lost Devron Williams Jr (UTSA) and Quinton Williams (Sam Houston State).

Luckily, even with losing those guys they still return an incredibly strong RB duo. Bill Davis added 796 rushing yards, nine touchdowns, and 4.9 yards per carry (YPC). Zylan Perry added another 695 rushing yards and four scores.

The duo is a “one-two punch” according to the Daily Adviser.

Robert Williams and Charles Robertson are among returners that will assume a larger role in the wide receiver corps this season.

On the defensive side of the ball, Louisiana had two major exits in the secondary: Cornerbacks Caleb Anderson (Michigan) and Justin Agu (Louisville). The Cajuns also lost star linebacker Carmycah Glass (Houston), who amassed 44 solo tackles last season, among others.

While the Cajuns did lose some talented pieces, they return plenty of production from last season. Cornerback Tyree Skipper, safety Kody Jackson, and defensive lineman Jordan Lawson contribute to what many say is one of the most talented defenses in the SBC this season.

Additions

Louisiana didn’t feel like their team needed a whole lot of pieces through the portal, as they only acquired seven players total on each side of the ball.

After a solid career from quarterback Ben Wooldridge, the Cajuns were in need of a signal-caller. They ended up finding a good one in redshirt junior Walker Howard. The former four-star recruit started his career at LSU, where he was 2023 Heisman-winner Jayden Daniels’ backup. He then transferred to Ole Miss and played behind another future pro, Jaxson Dart. Not often does a quarterback sit behind two first-round NFL draft picks, but the experience of watching and learning from future pros is tremendous. Howard will now be the obvious QB1 frontrunner for Louisiana this fall.

𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝. ✍️

Welcome 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄 to the #cULture, @Walker_Howard4!#GeauxCajuns pic.twitter.com/cDpA7luQaY

— Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns® Football (@RaginCajunsFB) December 16, 2024

Sticking with SEC transfers on offense, the Cajuns also picked up LSU wide receiver transfer Shelton Sampson Jr. Sampson is another four-star prospect that just fell deep into the depth chart of a loaded wideout corps for the Tigers.

Louisiana also decided to bring in two tight end transfers with Brock Chappell from FCS Furman (214 rec. yards, two TD, 9.7 YPC) and Trey Miller (Division II Wayne State).

On the defensive side of the ball, Desormeaux went out and got two outstanding FCS transfers.

Cornerback Trae Tomlinson (Richmond) had 17 solo tackles and six pass breakups last season for the Spiders. Defensive lineman Jaelen Crider (Youngstown State) registered 3.5 sacks last season.

Louisiana also went out and added another former four-star corner Curley Reed III from Washington.

.@RaginCajunsFB lands Washington transfer CB Curley Reed III

The Lake Charles native is 6’1, 191 lbs, and has three years of eligibility after spending two season with the Huskies.

He had committed to LA Tech last month, but flipped to the Cajuns. @d1curloo #GeauxCajuns pic.twitter.com/YD4Csq3EJY

— Jamarcus Fitzpatrick (@JFitzTV) January 13, 2025

247Sports ranks Louisiana’s portal class the 13th-best in the SBC, due to the fact that they added only seven players.

It’s a big season for the Ragin’ Cajuns, as it’s SBC title-or-bust this fall. They are picked to finish first in the West in the SBC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. While Louisiana has a new quarterback, they stayed away from the mass roster turnovers or coaching changes many teams in the conference endured this offseason.

Louisiana hosts Rice in Week 1 at 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. local) from Cajun Field.