After racking up a season-high 144 yards on the ground and scoring twice in a pivotal 37-20 road victory over Arkansas State on Thursday, Oct. 17, senior running back Raymond Calais has been named the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week, the league office announced on Monday morning.

Calais is the fourth Ragin' Cajun to earn the conference's weekly honor this season and the second offensive player to do so after fellow running back Elijah Mitchell garnered the recognition on Sept. 23. The senior is now a two-time recipient of the award after winning it on Nov. 12, 2018, following a career-best performance against Georgia State.

The Breaux Bridge, La., native played a crucial role in Louisiana's ground attack against Arkansas State, racking up 144 of the Ragin' Cajuns' 315 total yards on the ground and scoring two of the team's five rushing touchdowns. The rushing total was the highest by a Ragin' Cajun this season, while is two scores upped his touchdown total to four on the year.

Calais, who only carried the ball eight times against Arkansas State, averaged 18.0 yards per touch in the victory, helped in large part to a season-high, 80-yard touchdown scamper in the second quarter. The rush was tied for the 12th-longest scoring run in program history.

Following its bye week, Louisiana returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 2, when it welcomes Texas State to Cajun Field for Homecoming. Kickoff is slated for 4:00 p.m. (CST) on ESPN+.


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