Football: Meet 13 former Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns football players who hope to make NFL rosters

Tim Buckley, The Advertiser, August 15, 2021

Thirteen former UL football players are in NFL training camps.

Active rosters must be trimmed to 53 players by Aug. 31.

Two earlier cutdown dates are scheduled this year. The first is Tuesday, when rosters must be down to 85 players.

A list of the Ragin’ Cajuns hoping to make it:

Ja’Marcus Bradley

WR, Cleveland Browns

Bradley played three games as an undrafted rookie. He had five catches in a Week 16 game against the New York Jets, his first NFL start.

Raymond Calais Jr.

RB, Los Angeles Rams

Selected in the seventh round by Tampa Bay last year, the Cecilia High product played four games for the Rams as a kick returner.

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Kevin Dotson

OG, Pittsburgh Steelers

The fourth-round draft pick played 13 games last year, starting four. He’s currently listed as Pittsburgh’s starting left guard.  

Justin Hamilton

DL, Dallas Cowboys

Hamilton played 10 games for Dallas last season. He also played eight games for Kansas City from 2017-18.

Robert Hunt

OL, Miami Dolphins

The second-round draft pick played 16 games, including 11 late-season starts as a rookie last year. He’s played tackle but currently is listed as Miami’s starting right guard.

Michael Jacquet

CB, Philadelphia Eagles

Undrafted Jacquet played seven games and started two as a rookie last season. He had seven tackles, including a sack in his first start against Arizona in December. He’s currently listed as Philadelphia’s backup right cornerback.  

Elijah McGuire

RB, Kansas City Chiefs

McGuire played two seasons for the Jets after getting drafted (sixth round) in 2016. The Vandebilt Catholic product from Houma won a Super Bowl ring as a Chiefs practice squad player. He’s also been on practice squads in Dallas, Miami and Cleveland.

Elijah Mitchell

RB, San Francisco 49ers

A sixth-round draft choice, the rookie from Erath High is battling in a crowded 49ers backfield.

Trey Ragas

RB, Las Vegas Raiders

After sharing time in UL’s backfield with Elijah Mitchell last season, undrafted Ragas has been promised a good preseason look by Raiders coach Jon Gruden.

Nick Ralston

FB, Dallas Cowboys

A graduate transfer from Arizona State, Ralston played tight end in his lone season at in 2019 but is trying to make it at fullback.

Christian Ringo

DL, New Orleans Saints

Ringo played for Green Bay, Detroit and Cincinnati from 2016-18. The 2015 Packers sixth-round draft pick was on the Saints’ practice squad late last season, then signed a reserve/futures contact.

Tracy Walker

S, Detroit Lions

Walker has played 44 games, including 19 starts the past two seasons, since Detroit drafted him in 2018. He’s returning to free safety, where he thrived in 2019, after playing strong safety last year.

Deuce Wallace

DB, New Orleans Saints

The undrafted rookie’s best shot for sticking is on special terms or the practice squad. The St. Thomas More product walked on at UL.