LAFAYETTE — The Ragin’ Cajuns are looking for Trey Ragas to take the next step in 2018.

After being sidelined the entire 2016 season with an injury, the former Archbishop Shaw star emerged from a crowded and talented backfield to lead the Louisiana-Lafayette in multiple rushing categories in 2017, including attempts (142), yards (813), and touchdowns (9).

The soon-to-be redshirt sophomore has been asked to develop even further in first-year head coach Billy Napier and offensive coordinator Rob Sale’s more up-tempo offense.

“Trey is a big physical back, that can catch the ball and is good in protection as well,” Napier said. “I think that Trey has a lot of room for improvement, but he’s got a great attitude and he’s talented.”

Ragas has started the spring on the right foot as the coaching staff has asked the previously 227-pound back to shed some pounds.

“He’s had a great off season so far and we’ve asked him to lose some weight and he’s done that slimming down to 219 pounds and we’d like him down to 215,” Napier said. “We want to lean him up, so he can play faster, and that’ll give him more endurance during the games.”

“I think that losing some weight and becoming learner and faster will help my success on the field this season,” Ragas said. “I’m more focused on football and the playbook so that I can know what everyone is doing on each play from myself, to the linemen and across the field.”

1st week of spring football

Napier was pleased what he saw after his first week of spring practice.

“Our first spring practice went well today, and it was exciting to see our kids in a football setting for the first time,” Napier said Tuesday. “We had a lot of energy and positivity, but there’s also a lot that we can improve on. We’ve got work to do, but the practice was what we wanted it to be.”

The first week of spring football had a different tempo than year’s past as Napier and his staff want practice to be at a quicker pace —specifically with no lulls in between drills.

“The practices were different from what we’ve had before because of how we were moving around a lot,” junior offensive lineman Kevin Dotson said. “We moved from station to station, which kept me focused on the task at hand.”

“The first practice was great, it was high tempo and we had both the defense and offense running around getting good work in,” senior defensive back Corey Turner said. “It’s different from what it was before, but I think that the guys pretty much enjoyed it and we’re going to get better because of it.”

Learning new offense

Napier and his staff are implementing a new spread-style of offense for the Ragin’ Cajuns.

“We’re going to play in a 12 personal and we’ve moved away from playing under the center with the goal of spreading the defense out,” Napier said after Saturday’s practice. “That creates a new dynamic for the defense, and something else we’re going to try and do is play in the pistol formation and that allows us to attack the defense in a different way.”

The system, and who can master it, will go along to figuring out who will become the Ragin’ Cajuns starter at quarterback. The team started three different QBs in 2017 and all three (Jordan Davis, Andre Nunez and Levi Lewis) return — not top mention there is also redshirt freshman Jake Arceneaux, sophomore Kadon Harrison and wildcat quarterback Dion Ray.

“At quarterback we’ve got a bunch of guys who have played in some games but have also been a bit inconsistent in their play,” Napier said. 

“Each unit has work to do, but we’re going to be able to install and run our system, while catering to our personnel as we get closer to the spring game.”

Dotson for one like the competition going on at QB, as well as the rest of the team.

“I like it and I feel as though it’s going to be a healthy competition between all of them,” Dotson said. “I think that when the coaches pick a starter they’ll stick with them going forward.”

Quote of the Week

“We want to continue to establish and build an identity. I asked the players a couple of questions today, first being are you an asset for this team. And what do you need to do to become a complete player at your position. That’s where our focus is at and during this time of the year we’re trying to improve on technique and acquire knowledge on the system we’re installing.”

— Billy Napier, First-year Cajuns coach