​NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana football took the main stage at the 2026 Sun Belt Conference Media Day, giving Cajun Nation a bit to chew on as they await the start of the season.Fifth-year coach Michael Desormeaux and players Lunch Winfield and George Jackson represented the Ragin’ Cajuns and discussed what fans can expect this fall. Here are two things we learned about UL football from Media Day.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementEvery season is a new chance to rebuild a team and for Desormeaux, that rebuild this offseason will be fueled by young guys at skill positions on offense. After losing running backs Bill Davis and Zylan Perry to the transfer portal, younger backs are looking to fill those gaps.Louisiana football’s head coach Michael Desormeaux speaks on the podium during the 2026 Sun Belt Conference Media Days on July, 16, 2026 in New Orleans.While a younger squad may make fans nervous, Desormeaux and his staff are eager for the challenge as development is a core of the Cajuns program.“In the last two years we signed 41 freshmen and I think we have a lot of talented young players that are going to have to step up,” Desormeaux said. “It’s a group that I’m excited about and I think this team has a chance to be a real good thing if we can handle some things with maturity and grow our team up fast.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIn the running back room, sophomore Steven Blanco is the oldest returner while incoming transfer from Howard, junior Anthony Reagan Jr., has the most gameday snaps. Redshirt freshmen Darrell Smith and JJ Garner make up the other backs looking to carry the rushing load this fall.“Darrell was probably the most consistent player in terms of production and assignment discipline from the course of the spring,” Desormeaux said. “Steven has a chance to be unique for us in the type of back he is as a big, physical downhill guy. JJ is truthfully the most talented top end, now he’s just got to grow up in maturity and understanding the offense.”Defensively, the Cajuns’ strength could lie in their secondary despite it also being on the younger side. Headlining the that group this fall will be sophomore cornerback Brent Gordon Jr., who led the team in pass breakups (11) in 2025.On the defensive line, UL has more gaps to fill with guys like Jaden Dugger and Jordan Lawson gone. Desormeaux will look for some young returners to step up and fill those roles such as sophomore defensive lineman Priest Ashe, junior defensive edge Lance Williams and more. He looks for UL’s D-line to be its strength on defense.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementREQUIRED READING: St. Thomas More football relies on core O-line, new faces at helmREQUIRED READING: New and returning faces fuel Lafayette football ahead of 2026 seasonLouisiana football’s offensive lineman George Jackson sits at the podium during the 2026 Sun Belt Conference Football Media Days on July 16, 2026 in New Orleans.Winfield and Jackson joining Des