Football: Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns running back Trey Ragas makes 2021 NFL Draft decision

Tim Buckley, The Advertiser, Dec. 7, 2021

Running back Trey Ragas has decided against remaining at UL one more season and instead has declared intent to enter the 2021 NFL Draft.

“I will forever cherish the memories and relationships I have made with my teammates,” he posted Thursday night on Twitter. “Leaving it all out on the field with them will be what I miss most.”

Ragas ran 131 times for 758 yards and 10 touchdowns over 11 games as a fifth-year senior in 2020, including 19 carries for 131 yards in a late-October win at Texas State.

The product of Archbishop Shaw High in the New Orleans area redshirted as a freshman in 2017.

He finished with 596 attempts for 3,572 career yards and 39 rushing TDs in 49 career games as a Ragin’   Cajun, including a career-high 1,181 yards on 207 carries over 14 games as a redshirt sophomore in 2018.

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Ragas also had five career touchdown catches, including two this past season.

An East-West Shrine Bowl invitee, he could have played another season at UL with the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA to all FBS players because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But Ragas chose otherwise and thanked “Cajun Nation” for “giving me the opportunity to be a Ragin’ Cajun.”

“You welcomed me with open arms,” the power back wrote, “and I will be forever grateful for the endless love and support you have shown me over the past five years.”

Ragas also thanked coach Billy Napier, running backs coach Jabbar Juluke, assistant coach Michael Desormeaux “and the entire coaching staff and support staff for being such great mentors, helping me become a better player and person.”

Ragas is the first Cajun this year to declare his intent to go pro.

Since UL’s Dec. 26 First Responder Bowl win over UTSA, four Cajun seniors have expressed plans to return in 2021 via the team’s official Twitter account: starting nose tackle Tayland Humphrey, an NFL prospect; starting outside linebacker Chauncey Manac; safety Cam Solomon, a rotation regular; and Blair Brooks, a reserve safety who plays on special teams.

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Levi Lewis, UL’s two-year starting quarterback, said a few weeks before the bowl that he’s decided to remain in 2021.  

All-Sun Belt Conference running back Elijah Mitchell, MVP of the First Responder Bowl, has not yet announced his plans. Mitchell accepted a Senior Bowl invitation during the season, but after the bowl he said he had not yet made a decision.

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