If most of the mock drafts are accurate, it won’t likely happen until the fifth round, but it’s very possible the growing tradition of UL Ragin’ Cajuns being taken in the NFL draft will continue this year.
Offensive tackle Nathan Thomas is slotted in most seven-round mock drafts. He would continue the tradition that current NFL players Robert Hunt, Kevin Dotson, O’Cyrus Torrence and Max Mitchell helped establish after their UL careers.
“It’s very motivating,” Thomas said of UL's lineage. “I take what they say to heart, because they’ve been there and done that. Even my buddy O’Cyrus Torrence who plays for the Bills. We use to hang out. We were roommates.”
Thomas said he took mental notes of each conversation he had with those former Cajuns.
“I talked to him (Torrence) about everything — him, Max Mitchell, Kevin Dotson and Rob Hunt,” Thomas said. “I talked to all of those guys through the whole process. It was encouraging, but it was a lot of learning as well.
“Everybody is telling me the same thing. The best way I can learn from that is to take what they say and go prepare myself mentally and get ready to work.”
Hunt was a second-round pick of the Dolphins in 2020. Torrence was a second-round pick of the Bills in 2023. Dotson was a fourth-round pick by the Steelers in 2020. Mitchell was a fourth-round pick by the Jets in 2022.
The Sporting News projects Thomas will soon be a teammate of Torrence as the 200th overall pick by Buffalo in the sixth round.
Sports Illustrated has Thomas going at 183 of the fifth round to the New York Giants. He is going 162 overall to Arizona, according to the 33rd Team website.
“The draft is something that no matter what you come and do out there, it can help, but at the end of the day, you’re not making the decision,” Thomas said. “For me, yes, it would be great to go higher up and be the best it can be, but I’m not going to be mad or anything like that.
“I’m not going to hold any grudges, because at the end of the day, you still have to go out there and work and go earn the job. That’s just the bottom line.”
While no other Cajuns are projected to be drafted, several others hope to latch on to NFL teams as undrafted free agents.
Wide receiver Peter LeBlanc is one of those players. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder is a seasoned receiver, starting nearly every Cajuns game for the past five seasons.
He finished his career with 140 receptions for 1,737 yards and 11 touchdowns.
“My expectation is just to get my foot in the door somewhere,” LeBlanc said. “I want to get invited to a rookie minicamp and hopefully just prove to the scouts and the team that I can play, that I’d like to stay and stay as long as I can.”
LeBlanc joins other Cajun hopefuls in tight end Neal Johnson, running back Jacob Kibodi and linebacker Jasper Williams in being groomed as special-team contributors.
“Our coaches made sure they prided us in special teams,” Williams said. “Getting to the league is easy, but if you want to stay in the league, you’ve got to be a special-teams guys.
“When your number is called, make sure you’re ready, because that’s what is going to keep you in the league the longest.”
Kibodi emerged as UL’s leading rusher with 729 yards and seven touchdowns last season. A wide receiver earlier in this career, Kibodi also caught nine balls for 79 yards and a score.
He also clearly showed his route-running and receiving skills during UL pro day activities.
“I’d say my football IQ is the thing I’ve got going for me,” Kibodi said. “So if you have a high IQ and you understand what’s going on, you can play faster.”
Johnson was full of production in his college career with 101 receptions for 1,196 yards and 11 touchdowns in 59 games.