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We wrap up the Louisiana football positional previews in the trenches, taking a look at the Ragin’ Cajuns defensive and offensive linemen.
Last season, donning the green dot on his helmet, linebacker Jaden Dugger led the Cajuns in total tackles before getting drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. With Duggar gone, fifth year head coach Michael Desormeaux will be looking for returners and a couple of new faces to lead the defense.
On the offensive line, the Cajuns are hoping for a healthier year than 2025, after seeing a handful of linemen playing through injury or missing games due to injuries. The OL will have their hannds full this fall with a younger backfield and a dual-threat quarterback to protect in Lunch Winfield.
Over the next few weeks, the Daily Advertiser will run positional previews asking two questions related to the given position as the Cajuns prepare for the fall. These will lead up into SBC media days, with the Cajuns scheduled to appear on July 16 in New Orleans.
Here's a look at the UL’s defensive line and offensive line entering 2026.
The green dot is searching for a new owner this offseason on defense, and a couple of linemen and linebackers are making strong cases for that leadership role. Among the Cajun returners, defensive lineman Fitzgerald West Jr. is a player to watch for that role after deciding to return for his third season in Lafayette.
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 300 pounds, West finished 2025 with 23 total tackles and two tackles for loss after appearing in all 13 games. He earned a spot in on the 2026 SBC Preseason second team list, the only UL defensive lineman to earn preseason honors. From the portal, the Cajuns added 6-foot-2 and 250 pounder Tito Chikere from East Texas A&M and 6-foot-2 and 305-pound Brodrick Stewart from Tarleton State.
The Cajuns linebacker room has a big hole to fill with Dugger gone, but they return some key names such as Jake St. Andre and Ashley Williams. Andre finished last season with the sixth most total tackles on the team (50) along with two quarterback hurries and two tackles for loss.
Williams brings a ton of size and strength, standing at 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds. He finished his sophomore campaign with 20 total tackles, two fumble recoveries and three quarterback hurries. UL will also look for LSU transfer Princeton Malbrue to make some noise in the linebacker room following a stellar high school career at Lafayette Christian Academy.
REQUIRED READING: Louisiana baseball's LHP Tyler Papenbrock signs with Washington Nationals
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Injuries are unavoidable in a sport like football, especially for the Cajuns, who were stretched thin on the offensive line in 2025. With Jax Harrington graduated, UL's offensive line will look a little bit different this season — but, with some familiar faces. The biggest names back on the line are fifth-year seniors George Jackson and Kaden Moreau.
Listed at 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, Jackson made the 2026 Phil Steele Preseason All-SBC second team after starting four games last season. Moreau earned All-SBC preseason second team honors after the 6-4, 305-pounder started in 11 games.
Rounding out the Cajuns’ other core five offensive linemen could be sophomores Zay Alexander and Jakoby Isom, junior Cooper Fordham and incoming transfer from Tulane Jayce Mitchell. Isom and Fordham stepped up last season when the Cajuns’ OL was dealing with injuries.
Alexander didn’t see the field in 2025 but brings a ton of size to the trenches, standing at 6-foot-7 and 322 pounds. Mitchell was the lone incoming transfer on the line after redshirting his freshman year at Tulane. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds, Mitchell was rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports coming out of Destrehan.
Shannon Belt covers high school sports, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and LSU men's basketball for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: UL positional previews: How do the Cajuns measure up in the trenches?
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Last season, donning the green dot on his helmet, linebacker Jaden Dugger led the Cajuns in total tackles before getting drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. With Duggar gone, fifth year head coach Michael Desormeaux will be looking for returners and a couple of new faces to lead the defense.
On the offensive line, the Cajuns are hoping for a healthier year than 2025, after seeing a handful of linemen playing through injury or missing games due to injuries. The OL will have their hannds full this fall with a younger backfield and a dual-threat quarterback to protect in Lunch Winfield.
Over the next few weeks, the Daily Advertiser will run positional previews asking two questions related to the given position as the Cajuns prepare for the fall. These will lead up into SBC media days, with the Cajuns scheduled to appear on July 16 in New Orleans.
Here's a look at the UL’s defensive line and offensive line entering 2026.
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Who will be UL’s new leader on defense?
The green dot is searching for a new owner this offseason on defense, and a couple of linemen and linebackers are making strong cases for that leadership role. Among the Cajun returners, defensive lineman Fitzgerald West Jr. is a player to watch for that role after deciding to return for his third season in Lafayette.
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 300 pounds, West finished 2025 with 23 total tackles and two tackles for loss after appearing in all 13 games. He earned a spot in on the 2026 SBC Preseason second team list, the only UL defensive lineman to earn preseason honors. From the portal, the Cajuns added 6-foot-2 and 250 pounder Tito Chikere from East Texas A&M and 6-foot-2 and 305-pound Brodrick Stewart from Tarleton State.
The Cajuns linebacker room has a big hole to fill with Dugger gone, but they return some key names such as Jake St. Andre and Ashley Williams. Andre finished last season with the sixth most total tackles on the team (50) along with two quarterback hurries and two tackles for loss.
Williams brings a ton of size and strength, standing at 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds. He finished his sophomore campaign with 20 total tackles, two fumble recoveries and three quarterback hurries. UL will also look for LSU transfer Princeton Malbrue to make some noise in the linebacker room following a stellar high school career at Lafayette Christian Academy.
REQUIRED READING: Louisiana baseball's LHP Tyler Papenbrock signs with Washington Nationals
REQUIRED READING: Jeanerette football hoping its star playmakers can led to a state title in 2026
Who makes up the Cajuns' core five offensive line?
Injuries are unavoidable in a sport like football, especially for the Cajuns, who were stretched thin on the offensive line in 2025. With Jax Harrington graduated, UL's offensive line will look a little bit different this season — but, with some familiar faces. The biggest names back on the line are fifth-year seniors George Jackson and Kaden Moreau.
Listed at 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, Jackson made the 2026 Phil Steele Preseason All-SBC second team after starting four games last season. Moreau earned All-SBC preseason second team honors after the 6-4, 305-pounder started in 11 games.
Rounding out the Cajuns’ other core five offensive linemen could be sophomores Zay Alexander and Jakoby Isom, junior Cooper Fordham and incoming transfer from Tulane Jayce Mitchell. Isom and Fordham stepped up last season when the Cajuns’ OL was dealing with injuries.
Alexander didn’t see the field in 2025 but brings a ton of size to the trenches, standing at 6-foot-7 and 322 pounds. Mitchell was the lone incoming transfer on the line after redshirting his freshman year at Tulane. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds, Mitchell was rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports coming out of Destrehan.
Shannon Belt covers high school sports, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and LSU men's basketball for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: UL positional previews: How do the Cajuns measure up in the trenches?
Continue reading...
