Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns
6-7(5-3)
2016 Schedule
Lost to Boise State 45-10
Beat McNeese State 30-22
Beat South Alabama 28-23
Lost to Tulane 41-39
Lost to New Mexico State 37-31
Beat Texas State 27-3
Lost to Idaho 23-13
Beat Georgia Southern 33-26
Lost to Georgia 35-21
Beat Arkansas State 24-19
Beat UL Monroe 30-3
Lost to Southern Mississippi 28-21 (New Orleans Bowl)
MVP Offense: RB Elijah McGuire
McGuire, a senior, was one constant in a very inconsistent year that saw the Cajuns scramble to go bowling by winning two of their final three games. McGuire rushed for 1127 yards and seven scores on 17.85 carries per game. He really worked for those yards, as he averaged 4.86 yards per carry.
MVP Defense: DL Joe Dillon, LB Tre'Maine Lighfoot
Joe Dillon finished up with 51 tackles on the line as a freshman. He led the team with 12.5 TFLs, and also led the squad with seven sacks on the season. He added three QB hurries and forced a fumble as well in his first college football effort.
Lightfoot led the team with 101 tackles for his senior season. He finished with a season high 17 tackles in a loss to New Mexico State, and finished with double figure tackles in three other games as well. He finished with seven TFLs, two sacks, and forced three fumbles.
Others of Note
LSU transfer Anthony Jennings was not remotely impressive as a passer. He finished with just 11 TD passes, while he was picked 13 times. He did manage to rush for nine scores on the season, but averaged just 167.5 yards per game passing.
Keenan Barnes caught six TD passes, while Al Riles caught 60 passes for 729 yards.
Otha Peters finished with 94 tackles, and recorded 11 TFLs.
Jennings was sacked 36 times for the year.
ULL only fumbled six times in 2016. The defense forced 15 fumbles.
ULL was penalized 7.2 times per game. The number of penalties at home as opposed to road games was virtually even.
Stevie Artigue hit 19/24 FG attempts.
Steven Coutts had a big year at Punter, averaging 44.14 yards per punt.
Best Win: Arkansas State
The Red Wolves were on a wildly successful winning streak when they ran into ULL, and it was the first of a two game win streak by the Cajuns, and that streak propelled the team into the New Orleans Bowl.
Worst Loss: New Mexico State
A week after a two point loss to Tulane, the Cajuns lost defensive focus in a loss to New Mexico State. This was two consecutive losses to losing teams, and was a major indicator as to the inconsistencies that this team faced all season long.
2017 Non Conference Schedule: 9/2 SE Louisiana, 9/9 at Tulsa, 9/16 at Texas A&M, 11/11 at Ole Miss
The only game that the Cajuns should be favored in in 2017 will be the SE Louisiana game, and that is no lock. I see no scenario that has ULL beating Tulsa, Texas A&M, or Ole Miss. This is a best case 1-3 run against this non con schedule.
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