Countdown to Kickoff: Ragin' Cajuns Football 2026

Cajuns Football
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UL football coaching staff focused on starting faster this season, beginning in spring

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UL running back JJ Garner (20) is one of the backs forcing some missed tackles during the Cajuns’ last spring scrimmage. STAFF PHOTO BY BRAD KEMP

UL coach Michael Desormeaux wouldn’t say there’s one overriding offseason theme that dominates team meetings and practices.

But Desormeaux would like to see his team get off to faster starts in 2026. The Cajuns got off to a slow start in 2025 and in several individual games as well.

“That’s something we’ve talked about,” he said. "We’ve got to have more urgency throughout this offseason. Last year, we had a veteran group in a lot of places and felt really good about what we had, but we got off to a slow start and lost some games we shouldn’t have.

“The finish was great … it was fantastic the way those guys closed out the year, but we’ve got to get everything to come together sooner this season.”

Not game ready yet

The annual Red and White spring game is scheduled for 11 a.m. April 25.

Desormeaux liked his team’s ability to refocus after a week off for spring break, but he’s expecting to see much better execution in that intrasquad contest than he did in the most recent scrimmage.

Overall, he is pleased with the offensive line.

“I thought our (number) one offensive line looked good, our twos were hit-and-miss, and our threes are not very good right now,” Desormeaux said. “We’ve got to continue to get that group better. I feel really confident that by the time we get to the season, we’ll have eight or nine that we feel really good about playing, which is usually what you’re looking for.”

Desormeaux was not pleased with the play of his quarterbacks behind the offensive line in that scrimmage.

“We did not play well at quarterback, which is disappointing, because I think we had seven good days (practices) before that,” Desormeaux said. “We were not very accurate. We made good decisions, but just weren’t very accurate with the football. So we’ve got to continue to improve there.”

The other area that left the coaching staff disappointed was the tackling on defense, particularly at the second level.

“I thought (running backs) Darrell (Smith) and JJ (Garner) made some really impressive runs,” Desormeaux said. "They did some really good stuff and were able to make people miss.

“The problem with that was I thought the secondary missed too many tackles in the open field.”

Injury update

Redshirt junior tight end Caden Jensen is in a walking boot after “getting rolled up a little bit in the scrimmage” and suffering an ankle sprain.

“There’s a hairline fracture in it, so they expect him to be in the boot for about four weeks and then he’ll be back to it,” Desormeaux said. “It hurts to lose him. He’s had a good spring.”

Jensen is one of the team leaders. The only good thing about an established starter not being available is it places more responsibility on younger players at that position.

Senior Brock Chappell is the clear-cut backup tight end, but redshirt sophomore Teddy Gawlik and redshirt freshman Khristian Mackintrush are promising options further down the depth chart.

“Teddy is someone that, you know, last year we hoped was going to kind of be a little more ready, kind of wasn’t, but this year he’s a redshirt sophomore and he’s playing better,” Desormeaux said. “We need him to play well. He’s got the ability to do it. Also, Khristian Mackintrush is someone I’m really excited about as the future goes.”

Desormeaux reinforced the importance of the depth chart. The team learned that lesson when the offensive line was ravaged with injuries last season.

“(Redshirt freshman) Quandre Coates, I think, is going to be a really good player,” he said. “Is he ready right now? No, not today, but those are two guys that we watched the tape (Wednesday). You’ve got to force-feed it and try to get them ready to play. They’re just two snaps away from having to play a whole bunch for us.”

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so we need to get S&C better still.

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Anyone heading to the Spring Game?

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I’ll be there

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I’ll be there hanging with the high dollar people.

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These two positions are ones to watch in UL football’s annual spring game

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UL starting quarterback Lunch Winfield is expected to play in Saturday’s spring game, but the defense won’t be allowed to hit him. STAFF PHOTO BY BRAD KEMP

UL starting quarterback Lunch Winfield will participate in the annual Red-White spring game at 11 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium.

Just don’t expect to see him get tackled.

Last year, all of the UL quarterbacks were live in the spring game, but only the backups — Daniel Beale, Sam Altmann and Coleman Carter — will be this time around.

“They’ve been live in every scrimmage that we’ve had, which has been good for them,” UL coach Michael Desormeaux said. “They need that. Like I said, a little bit of it with some young guys on the offensive line, they had some pressure — a little bit in their face, and they’ve had to stand in there. And some of the things that, you know, stand in there and make throws, standing there and take hits.”

The format will be two 20-minute halves with no live kicking. The ball will be placed at the 30 after scores.

“We just want to get enough where those guys get to play and kind of get to go out there and get in the rhythm a little bit,” Desormeaux said. “It’ll be pretty short, sweet and to the point. The bulk of the work is done.”

Because of injuries and other depth-chart issues, there will be some positions with crossover players who play on both teams when necessary.

“We’ll try to split it up as evenly as possible,” Desormeaux said. “There will be some of that stuff that will be a little bit different, but really we’re just looking forward to letting the guys go out there one more time this spring.”

Among the top players missing from the spring game are wide receivers Shelton Sampson and KeDarius Wade, tight end Caden Jensen, and reserve offensive linemen Jackson Hammond and Jakoby Isom.

That’s added to other offensive linemen Cooper Fordham and George Jackson, who were already declared out for the spring.

“None of these injuries are any kind of prolonged type of injuries that are going to keep guys out a long time,” Desormeaux said.

The biggest statement from the spring on the offensive line has been Tulane redshirt sophomore transfer Jayce Mitchell.

“I would say, Jayce Mitchell was a really good get for us,” Desormeaux said. "He’s played really well. Like, extremely well to the point where it’s like, ‘Well, man, I don’t know if we’re better off moving George (Jackson) inside or moving him in and George at tackle.’

“So we’ll figure all that out as we get there — get the best five out there, but Jayce has been really good for us.”

The most interesting battles for spectators to monitor throughout the spring game are at wide receiver and cornerback.

With no Sampson or Wade, young targets such as Trenton Chaney, Russell Babineaux and Rahji Dennis have a window to impress, as well as veteran Jaydon Johnson. Landon Strother already has impressed the staff through the spring.

Desormeaux said the receivers “haven’t been consistent enough.”

“What I’ve told them is we’re going to play the ones that I know are going to go out there and make the plays,” he said.

It’s a similar scenario in the secondary.

Sophomore Brent Gordon is a constant. Redshirt sophomore Avery Demery also has shined this spring, while redshirt junior Jeremiah Moses looks ready to make an impact. Redshirt junior transfer Curley Reed of Lake Charles is another to watch.

“I think Brent and Avery have been really, really good this spring,” Desormeaux said. “Jeremiah has been really good. I think Curley’s been right on the edge of saying that. He’s one of those guys who has to get in the mix for you. He’s got to keep doing what he’s doing, keeping his eyes in the right place.”

Another big position that’ll need to develop before the season opener is inside linebacker after the Cajuns lost leading tackler Jaden Dugger.

"The guys that have been in the system — like Micah Johnson, Jake St. Andre, Ethan Veal, Conor McPherson and Pup (Kailep Edwards) — I mean, they are communicating and they are over communicating, which is good on the back end.

“You’ve got guys coming back that have played a lot, and there’s a lot of communication back there pre-snap — kind of what they’re expecting.”

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Damn. Wish they would go back to 6pm kickoff

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There’s probably been enough people bitching about it being too hot early in the season to warrant 7pm kickoffs.

I could be wrong but 7pm kickoffs were the norm at the beginning of the season for a long time ?

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I personally like 7:00 pm kickoff times. I just wish we had better opponents.

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:rat: :skull_and_crossbones: that’s for @Tmon3y_72

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Glad to hear about that transfer lineman

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Cajuns younger and hopefully healthier for 2026 football season

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UL coach Michael Desormeaux with quarterback Lunch Winfield and offensive tackle George Jackson discuss the Cajuns’ season at Sun Belt Football Media Days at the Marriott Warehouse District Hotel in New Orleans. Parker Waters/Sun Belt

The UL Ragin’ Cajuns still have the scars from last year’s turbulent 6-7, 5-3 season.

But as head coach Michael Desormeaux, quarterback Lunch Winfield and offensive tackle George Jackson took the podium as part of the Sun Belt Conference media days on Thursday at the Marriott Warehouse District Hotel in New Orleans, they’re ready to put last season behind them.

All three felt the pain and frustration of having to play 11 different starting lineups on offense in 13 games, largely because of losing the starting quarterback to injury for the fourth straight season and requiring 11 different linemen to survive the season.

“That’s something none of us ever want to go through again,” said Desormeaux, whose Cajuns were picked to finish second to Troy in the West Division race. “It was miserable to go through, but the good thing about going through something like that is you come out better on the other side.”

As for the offensive line, three starters return and many more seasoned reserves are back as well, to complement Tulane transfer Jayce Mitchell.

“I’m very comfortable with our offensive line right now,” Desormeaux said.

“Of course, we’re all taking care of our bodies, how, you know, our time is really made a great plan for us

“We’re all trying to take care of our bodies,” Jackson said. “Coach (Mark) Hocke (director of athletic performance) has put together a great plan for us.”

Even Winfield underwent ankle surgery in the offseason, and is ready to hit August camp running.

“I just look at this season as a great opportunity for me and for us,” Winfield said. “I’m playing college football, man, and I got a big fan base behind me. People want to see the Cajuns play. We’re ready to go out there and win.”

Winfield ran for 677 yards and nine touchdowns last season, but is hoping to improve upon completing 59% of his passes.

Around Winfield, though, there isn’t a lot of playing experience at the skill positions. Even preseason All-Sun Belt performer Shelton Sampson missed multiple games with an injury at receiver last year.

The two leading rushers — Zylan Perry and Bill Davis — both transferred.

No matter, the upbeat Winfield isn’t concerned.

“I’ve got all the confidence in the world in those guys,” he insisted. “We’ve been working hard together for a long time.”

Still, the overall relative youth on both sides this season, after losing valuable defenders, has this team reminding Desormeaux of the 2023 club.

“That was a young team, but a talented team,” Desormeaux said. “I think this team is young and very talented as well. It remains to be seen how mature this team can be. That (2023) team started out 4-2, but every time we had a big win, they didn’t handle it properly and messed up the next game.”

Chasing Troy

In addition to health, the team the Cajuns are chasing in the Sun Belt West is returning champion Troy.

The Trojans were 8-6, 6-2 last season, despite giving up 59 sacks for 384 yards.

As a result, coach Gerad Parker is utilizing more of an NFL approach with co-offensive line coaches to address the issue.

“There’s only one way to get better — got to put more resources into it,” Parker said. “So we have two great men (Caleb Carbine, Kevin Reihner) to share responsibility equally to help put together an offensive line you want to be proud of.”

Returning quarterbacks Goose Crowder and Tucker Kilcrease will help keep the Trojans on track.

“Goose Crowder is as good a leader as we have in our program and has been for quite some time,” Parker said. “He’s healthy, he’s having a great offseason and having the comfort of having him here to make us all feel better.”

On defense, the Trojans were No. 3 in the league in total defense last season — led by Donnie Smith (11 sacks, 13.5 CBLs).

But Parker reminded the media Thursday the Trojans have 53 new players on the roster.

Tech relishes new league

As if predicting the West Division race isn’t difficult enough in this era, now there’s a new school with Louisiana Tech joining the league.

The Bulldogs are coming off an 8-5 breakthrough season as coach Sonny Cumbie’s enters his fifth season. Moreover, Tech returns as many starters as any team in the league, including its top two quarterbacks in Blake Baker and Trey Kukuk.

“I’m excited about the retention of a lot of our better players,” Cumbie said. “I like the continuity and chemistry of our team. We picked up where we left off last year.”

Baker suffered an injury last season and Kukuk filled in well.

“Baker did a phenomenal job of attacking his rehab and I think he’s on the verge of having a great season,” Cumbie added. “Trey is the ultimate team player, the ultimate competitor. He willed us to a few wins last year.”

As a result, Tech ranked fourth nationally with 138 points in the fourth quarter, scoring the most points overall (335) since 2019.

Jags chasing upgrade

South Alabama struggled through a 4-8, 3-5 season a year ago.

Coach Major Applewhite has focused on a few key areas to upgrade this fall.

“You’ve got to take care of the ball and be able to take it away,” he said. “We’ve got to get going on offense earlier. Too many times, we fell too far back. So really it’s taking care of the ball best and get more takeaways.”

One way to achieve that is being one of five West teams with a returning quarterback in Bishop Davenport. The other potential solution is new defensive coordinator Todd Orlando, who worked with Applewhite at Houston.

“In the coaching profession, you’re looking for someone with character and Todd has tremendous character,” Applewhite said. “He’s also a great communicator of information. He can create a connection and trust with the players.”

USM’s hurdle

New Southern Miss coach Blake Anderson knows he’s got a huge task ahead of him in his first season.

Asked how far ahead of ground zero his roster was, Anderson quickly replied, “Under, we were under ground zero.”

The Eagles have more than 70 new players on their roster, with just one returning starter on either side of the ball. No team in America returns less production than the Golden Eagles.

“And our entire staff is new, with the exception of just a couple guys I retained,” said Anderson, whose Eagles will play both James Madison and Old Dominion. “It’s a challenge, but it’s a lot of fun. It’s exciting to see what we’re able to do.”