Louisiana Football is well represented in the National Football League entering the 2020 season with five Ragin' Cajuns on active 53-man rosters and three on NFL practice squads ahead of Sunday's games.

Of the five on active rosters, Robert Hunt, Kevin Dotson and Raymond Calais were selected in the 2020 NFL Draft, tied for the most picks in a single draft in program history. The three Ragin' Cajuns taken also marked the most for a Sun Belt Conference program in 2020, leading Appalachian State and Georgia Southern, which both had two draft picks.

Hunt, who was selected with the 45th overall pick in the Second Round by the Miami Dolphins, is projected to start the year as a back-up on the offensive line.

With his selection by the Dolphins, Hunt became third-highest Louisiana selection in the NFL Draft behind Charles Tillman, who was picked by the Chicago Bears 35th overall in 2003 and Anthony Clement, who was chosen 36th overall by the Arizona Cardinals in 1998.

Dotson, who earned multiple First Team All-America nods following the 2019 season, will compete for playing time after being drafted in the Fourth Round by the Pittsburgh Steelers, while Calais, taken by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Seventh Round, has since been picked up by the Los Angeles Rams and will look to contribute both in the backfield and as a return specialist.

Tracy Walker, who has already been named a starter in the defensive backfield for the Detroit Lions. Entering his third year, Walker led the Lions with 103 tackles in 13 games in 2019 to go along with eight pass breakups, six tackles-for-loss, one interception and a forced fumble.

Fellow defensive back Simeon Thomas returns for his second year with the Washington Football Team and his third in the league after being credited with eight tackles in 12 appearances a season ago.

Ja'Marcus Bradley (Cleveland Browns), Justin Hamilton (Dallas Cowboys) and Elijah McGuire (Dallas Cowboys) all enter the 2020 season on practice squads. Bradley finished his Louisiana career ranked second in receiving touchdowns (23) and fourth in receiving yards (2,359 yards) before signing with the Browns.

Hamilton joined the Cowboys in January of 2020 and has been credited with three tackles and 0.5 sack in eight appearances during his career, while McGuire just finished a stint on the practice squad with the Kansas City Chiefs and earned a Super Bowl ring with the team.

Louisiana returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 19, when it travels to Atlanta to open Sun Belt Conference play against Georgia State. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. CST and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.

Should disruptions or modifications to the 2020 season occur due to the coronavirus, the Department of Athletics will quickly communicate plans to fans and season ticket holders regarding accommodations for pre-purchased tickets.


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