Football: Napier, Johnson Highlight Louisiana’™s Postseason Sun Belt Honors

Ragin’ Cajuns grab 16 All-Conference selections, including four First Team honorees

 

LAFAYETTE – Head coach Billy Napier earned Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year honors and running back Montrell Johnson was named the league’s Freshman of the Year to highlight Louisiana Football’s postseason honors, the league office announced on Thursday morning.

In addition to the superlative awards, the Ragin’ Cajuns secured 16 All-Conference selections with offensive lineman Max Mitchell, offensive lineman O’Cyrus Torrence, punter Rhys Byrns and Chris Smith (All-Purpose) earning First Team recognition.

The 16 selections are the most in program history, surpassing the previous best of 14 from the 2020 season.

Napier guided the Ragin’ Cajuns to a fourth consecutive Sun Belt West Division title and the right to host the Sun Belt Championship Game on Saturday, Dec. 4, after compiling an overall record of 11-1 and a perfect 8-0 record in league play, the first time the team has been perfect in conference play in the Sun Belt era.

Under his guidance, the team is one of just 10 programs in the country this year with 11 or more wins. With Napier at the helm, the team is 39-12 since 2018 and an astounding 32-5 since the start of the 2019 season.

Entering the title game, Napier has the squad ranked No. 20 in the AP Top 25, No. 21 in the USA Today/AFCA Coaches Poll and No. 24 in the College Football Playoff Top 25, marking the second-straight season the team has found itself ranked in all three national polls.

Napier is the only coach in program history to pick up Coach of the Year honors twice in his career.

Johnson has been stellar as a rookie, boasting 776 rushing yards on 135 carries and a team-best 11 rushing touchdowns. He is the fourth player in program history to be named the league’s Freshman of the Year, joining Tyrell Fenroy (2005), Alonzo Harris (2011) and Elijah McGuire (2013).

The freshman’s 11 scores are the third most on the ground in the Sun Belt this season and are the second-most by a Louisiana freshman since 2000 behind Fenroy’s 12 scores in 2005. He also owns a 99-yard rushing touchdown, which he recorded against Arkansas State on Oct. 21, making him one of 13 players in NCAA history to accomplish the feat.

Mitchell, who has been invited to the 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl and was named the Pro Football Focus (PFF) Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year, has started in every game for the Ragin’ Cajuns at right tackle this season. According to PFF, Mitchell has only allowed nine pressures in 12 games this season and boasts the highest PFF grade (95.1) in all of FBS.

His partner in crime, Torrence, has appeared in 10 games this season at right guard and has been equally as productive for the O-Line, which was named a Joe Moore Award Semifinalist for the second consecutive season and ranks second in the league and 35th nationally in sacks allowed (1.67).

Byrns was masterful punting the football this season with an average of 46.3 yards per boot, a mark that ranks 11th nationally and first in the Sun Belt. The Australian has sent has pinned 19 balls inside the 20 and sent 16 balls over 50 yards.

Smith, who also picked up Third Team honors as a running back, led the team with 834 rushing yards on 144 carries and scored eight touchdowns on the ground, while leading all running backs with 14 catches for 75 yards and a receiving score. Smith was also active as a kick returner with 20 returns for 427 yards, moving his season all-purpose yardage total to 1,336 yards.

Levi Lewis (Quarterback), Johnson (Running Back), Shane Vallot (Offensive Line), Zi’Yon Hill (Defensive Line), Chauncey Manac (Linebacker), Lorenzo McCaskill (Linebacker), Eric Garror (Cornerback) and Percy Butler (Safety) were all named to the league’s Second Team, while Smith (Running Back), Tayland Humphrey (Defensive Line), Andre Jones (Defensive Line) and Mekhi Garner (Cornerback) picked up Third Team honors.

Additionally, Michael Jefferson (Wide Receiver), Johnny Lumpkin (Tight End), Ferrod Gardner (Linebacker) and Bralen Trahan (Safety) earned Honorable Mention All-Conference honors.

Louisiana now turns its attention to the Sun Belt Conference Championship Game on Saturday, Dec. 4, when it hosts App State at Cajun Field. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. and will be broadcast to a national audience on ESPN.
 
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here or by calling the CAJUNDOME ticket office. Reserved parking is also available starting at $10, with tailgating spots starting at $160, and RV spots at $375. To purchase additional parking, tailgating, or RV spots, please call (337) 851-2903.

Fans are encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin’ Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.

Follow the Ragin’ Cajuns on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (@RaginCajunsFB) to stay up-to-date on Louisiana Football.

2021 Sun Belt All-Conference Honors
Player of the Year
Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina

Offensive Player of the Year
Jalen Tolbert, South Alabama

Defensive Player of the Year
D’Marco Jackson, App State

Newcomer of the Year
Chase Brice, App State

Freshman of the Year
Montrell Johnson, Louisiana

Coach of the Year
Billy Napier, Louisiana

All-Sun Belt First Team Offense
QB – Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina
RB – Nate Noel, App State
RB – Shermari Jones, Coastal Carolina
OL – Max Mitchell, Louisiana
OL – Cooper Hodges, App State
OL – O’Cyrus Torrence, Louisiana
OL – Shamarious Gilmore, Georgia State
OL – Baer Hunter, App State
TE – Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina
WR – Jalen Tolbert, South Alabama
WR – Jaivon Heiligh, Coastal Carolina
WR – Corey Sutton, App State

All-Sun Belt First Team Defense
DL – Josiah Stewart, Coastal Carolina
DL – Demetrius Taylor, App State
DL – Javon Salomon, Troy
DL – CJ Brewer, Coastal Carolina
LB – D’Marco Jackson, App State
LB – Carlton Martial, Troy
LB – Silas Kelly, Coastal Carolina
DB – Steven Jones Jr., App State
DB – Darrell Luter Jr., South Alabama
DB – Shaun Jolly, App State
DB – Antavious Lane, Georgia State
DB – D’Jordan Strong, Coastal Carolina

All-Sun Belt First Team Special Teams
K – Chandler Staton, App State
P – Rhys Byrns, Louisiana
RS – Alan Lamar, Arkansas State
AP – Chris Smith, Louisiana

All-Sun Belt Second Team Offense
QB – Levi Lewis, Louisiana
RB – Camerun Peoples, App State
RB – Montrell Johnson, Louisiana
OL – Malik Sumter, Georgia State
OL – Shane Vallot, Louisiana
OL – Austin Stidham, Troy
OL – Willie Lampkin, Coastal Carolina
OL – Dylan Bradshaw, Troy
TE – Roger Carter, Georgia State
WR – Malik Williams, App State
WR – Thomas Hennigan, App State
WR – Corey Rucker, Arkansas State

All-Sun Belt Second Team Defense
DL – Jeffrey Gunter, Coastal Carolina
DL – Kivon Bennett, Arkansas State
DL – Zi’Yon Hill, Louisiana
DL – CJ Wright, Georgia Southern
DL – Will Choloh, Troy
LB – Chauncey Manac, Louisiana
LB – Trey Cobb, App State
LB – Lorenzo McCaskill, Louisiana
DB – Keith Gallmon Jr., South Alabama
DB – Percy Butler, Louisiana
DB – Kaiden Smith, App State
DB – Eric Garror, Louisiana

All-Sun Belt Second Team Special Teams
K – Blake Grupe, Arkansas State
P – Anthony Beck II, Georgia Southern
RS – Jalen Virgil, App State
AP – Alan Lamar, Arkansas State

All-Sun Belt Third Team Offense
QB – Chase Brice, App State
RB – Chris Smith, Louisiana
RB – Tucker Gregg, Georgia State
OL – Anderson Hardy, App State
OL – Trey Carter, Coastal Carolina
OL – Dalton Cooper, Texas State
OL – Pat Bartlett, Georgia State
OL – Khalil Crowder, Georgia Southern
TE – Lincoln Sefcik, South Alabama
WR – Tez Johnson, Troy
WR – TeVailance Hunt, Arkansas State
WR – Boogie Knight, ULM

All-Sun Belt Third Team Defense
DL – Richard Jibunor, Troy
DL – Tayland Humphrey, Louisiana
DL – Dontae Wilson, Georgia State
DL – Andre Jones, Louisiana
LB – Nick Hampton, App State
LB – Eldrick Robinson II, Georgia Southern
LB – Blake Carroll, Georgia State
DB – Quavian White, Georgia State
DB – Anthony Wilson, Georgia Southern
DB – Alex Spillum, Coastal Carolina
DB – Mekhi Garner, Louisiana
DB – TJ Harris, Troy

All-Sun Belt Third Team Special Teams
K – Calum Sutherland, ULM
P – Ryan Hanson, Arkansas State
RS – Jaivon Heiligh, Coastal Carolina
AP – Caleb Spurlin, App State

All-Sun Belt Honorable Mentions
App State
TE – Henry Pearson
DL – Jordon Earle
LB – T.D. Roof
DB – Ryan Huff

Arkansas State
OL – Andre Harris Jr.
TE – Emmanual Stevenson
DL – Joe Ozougwu
DB – Elery Alexander

Coastal Carolina
RB – Brayden Bennett
WR – Kameron Brown
LB – Teddy Gallagher
SPUR – Enock Makonzo

Georgia Southern
RB – Logan Wright
OL – Aaron Dowdell
WR – Khaleb Hood
DL – Justin Ellis

Georgia State
RB – Jamyest Williams
TE – Aubry Payne
DL – Thomas Gore
LB – Jordan Veneziale

Louisiana
TE – Johnny Lumpkin
WR – Michael Jefferson
LB – Ferrod Gardner
DB – Bralen Trahan

ULM
DL – Ty Shelby
DL – Caleb Thomas
LB – Traveion Webster
LB – Zack Woodard

South Alabama
QB – Jake Bentley
WR – Jalen Wayne
DL – Wy’Kevious Thomas
P – Jack Brooks

Texas State
OL – Kyle Hergel
DL – Jordan Revels
DL – Caeveon Patton
K – Seth Keller

Troy
RB – Kimani Vidal
LB – KJ Robertson
DB – Reddy Steward
LS – Cameron Kaye