LAFAYETTE — The UL Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns placed a total of 11 players on the 2018 All-Sun Belt football teams released Thursday, including former Catholic High star Zi’Yon Hill and former Erath High star Elijah Mitchell earning accolades.

Hill recorded 42 tackles, 2.5 for a loss and one sack despite only playing in 10 games this season for the Ragin’ Cajuns. Mitchell, also a sophomore, rushed for 874 yards and scored a team-high 12 rushing touchdowns. 

The postseason honors are the first for either former Teche Area high school star.

Junior offensive lineman Kevin Dotson, meanwhile, helped pave the way for an offense that averaged 33.67 points and 448.4 yards per game. Dotson, the son of former Cajun football letterman Kelcy Dotson, was the lone Cajun to earn first-team honors.

In addition to Mitchell, junior offensive lineman Robert Hunt also picked up second-team honors.

Hill wasn’t the only Cajun to earn third-team honors as three of his teammates also were selected to the team including sophomore running back Trey Ragas (1,040 rushing yards, 8 TD), junior wide receiver Ja’Marcus Bradley (team-high 516 receiving yards and 10 TD) and junior linebacker Jacques Boudreaux (team-high 83 tackles).

Four more Cajuns received honorable mention honors which includes junior running back Raymond Calais (711 rushing yards, 6 TD), junior defensive end Bennie Higgins (45 tackles, 3.5 sacks), senior linebacker Justin Middleton (58 tackles), and senior kicker and Oklahoma transfer Kyle Pfau (10-of-13 in field goals).

Troy was awarded the most All-SBC selections with 23, including seven first-team honors, with Appalachian State and Arkansas State right below them with 20 and 17 players honored.

The SBC’s individual honors were dominated by only two teams — with only one playing in this Saturday’s inaugural conference championship game.

Arkansas State redshirt senior quarterback Justice Hansen (SBC Player of the Year), Appalachian State sophomore quarterback Zac Thomas (SBC Offensive Player of the Year), Arkansas State senior defensive lineman Ronheen Bingham (SBC Defensive Player of the Year), Arkansas State freshman running back Marcel Murray (SBC Freshman of the Year), Arkansas State junior wide receiver Kirk Merritt (SBC Newcomer of the Year), and Appalachian State’s Scott Satterfield (SBC Coach of the Year).

The Sun Belt Championship Game between UL Lafayette (7-5, 5-3) and Appalachian State (9-2, 7-1) takes place Saturday at 11 a.m.in Boone, North Carolina.