2020 Sun Belt Preseason Summer Scouting Preview

Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns

Louisiana, or Louisiana-Lafayette as it is still known to many, placed players in the second day of both the 2018 and 2020 drafts. The Ragin’ Cajuns are likely to have a pair of players selected next April, though both are late-rounders.

Running back Raymond Calais was selected in the seventh round of April’s draft by the Buccaneers. The two players he shared the ball with in 2019 should be selected a round earlier in 2020.

Elijah Mitchell and Trey Ragas offer a dangerous one-two punch in the Louisiana backfield, and each brings something different to the position.

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Mitchell is more of a downhill pounder who carries the pile and picks up a lot of yardage off initial contact. He’s rarely brought down by the first defender and looks like a runaway locomotive when he gets momentum going up the field.

Ragas is better around the corner and more apt to make defenders miss and create his own yardage. He also has about five pounds on Mitchell.

While I grade both as sixth-round prospects, scouts are all over the board on the two ball carriers. Both are graded as early as the fourth round in some areas of the community.

Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks

Since their first player was selected in 1961, Louisiana-Monroe has never had more than a single player selected in the draft. That could change next April.

Josh Johnson is a tough, downhill grinder who plays with the mentality of a feature runner. He’s powerful and picks up a lot of yardage off initial contact. While he does the little things well, Johnson lacks versatility in his game, which makes him a late-round prospect.

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Josh Pederson is an underrated move tight end with excellent hands. He gets down the field and extends to consistently come away with the difficult grab. Pederson has solid but not great speed, and he has enough skill to line up as a third tight end in the NFL.

Reminder: To view my grades and projected draft rounds for Conference USA draft-eligible prospects, scroll to the end of the article.

South Alabama Jaguars

South Alabama is the new kid on the block in the state, with a club program that joined the FBS in 2012. The Jaguars have a shiny new stadium that will host Senior Bowl practices and the game itself in 2021, and they also have a linebacker who could slide into the late rounds.

Riley Cole is a tough, hard-working defender with a great head for the game. He’s a terrific open-field tackler with great instincts who does the little things well. What he lacks is next-level size and speed. I could see a defensive coach falling in love with Cole and taking him in the late rounds for use as a seventh linebacker and special teamer.

Receiver Kawaan Baker receives love in certain areas of the scouting community, and he flashes ability. He possesses solid size and speed for the position, but he shows too much inconsistency for my tastes.

Troy Trojans

Troy has always had solid representation in the draft for a lower-level program, and it has one prospect who could surprise next April with a good season.

Khalil McClain is a big-bodied receiver with next-level athleticism. He wins on contested throws and possesses soft hands. McClain must improve his route running, but he has upside. While I grade him as a sixth-round prospect, he could move into the middle rounds with a good season and solid testing numbers in workouts before the draft.

Related | Troy linebacker Carlton Martial is one of college football’s best kept secrets

Terence Dunlap is an underrated defensive back who has been a solid corner at Troy for three years running. He has the size and skill to line up in dime packages at the next level.

Reminder: To view my grades and projected draft rounds for Conference USA draft-eligible prospects, scroll to the end of the article.

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

Moving to Division I just a few years ago, Coastal Carolina is still finding its way since joining the Sun Belt. The depth chart offers several solid UDFAs who could make a roster at the next level.

Tarron Jackson is a pass rusher who comes out of a three-point stance and stands over tackle. He plays with leverage and balance and uses his hands well. Jackson lacks top computer numbers, as he measures about 6-foot-2.5 and 271 pounds with ordinary speed. He fits as an eighth defensive lineman for a team that employs a four-man front.

Keep an eye on Kameron Brown, a transfer from Charleston Southern. He’s a big-bodied receiver who flashed impressive skill at times last season against a lower level of competition.

Page 1: Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, Georgia State
Page 2: Louisiana, Louisiana-Monroe, South Alabama, Troy, Coastal Carolina

Draft-Eligible Prospect Rankings: Sun Belt Conference

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Tony Pauline is Pro Football Network’s Chief Draft Analyst and Insider. Follow him on Twitter @TonyPauline. Follow PFN on Twitter @PFN365.