UL football positional previews: Can the Cajuns' secondary live up to the hype?

Last season, the defensive back room was reloading itself after losing guys like now Baltimore Ravens cornerback Keyon Martin. It forced some of the younger guys to step up and boy did they. From true freshman standouts to rising upperclassmen, the Cajuns’ secondary returns a bulk of their weapons and they have some big expectations for this fall.

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 15 in New Orleans.

Here’s a look at the UL’s cornerbacks and safties entering 2026.

Heading into the 2026 season, UL was projected to finish first in the Sun Belt Conference West Division in preseason selections. A core reason behind the preseason honors is a solid defense that gave opponents’ pass games all kinds of issues in 2025.

Headline the Cajuns’ secondary this season will be sophomore cornerback Brent Gordon Jr. Listed at 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, Gordon earned his first start as a true freshman just a couple games into the 2025 season and he never looked back. The Cecilia alum ended the year with the third-most tackles on the team (65) and he led the Cajuns in pass breakups (11).

Those numbers earned Gordon SBC Preseason first team honors and has him ranked as the highest overall ranked player hailing from the Sun Belt in EA’s College Football 27 video game. Outside of Gordon, UL will return senior Maurion Eleam who racked up 47 total tackles, three pass breakups and a forced fumble.

Eleam also earned SBC preseason honors, making the second team. With Gordon Eleam and some incoming freshmen looking to make an immediate impact, the Cajuns’ secondary could be gearing up for a fruitful fall. Some local names to be on the lookout for are former LCA quarterback now cornerback, Braylon Walker, and former LCA safety Luke Green.

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After graduating senior safety Tyree Skipper, the Cajuns secondary is on the younger side this season with Eleam being their most experienced returner. Some other key returners on the safety side are junior Kody Jackson and sophomores Collin Jacob and Lake Bates. The trio had a somewhat up-and-down year in 2025 and will be looking to produce more in 2026.

Gordon will be a clear frontrunner for leadership entering his sophomore campaign as one of the biggest weapons at the cornerback position. Along with him, sophomore Avery Demery will look to be a go-to in the cornerback room after a somewhat lackluster freshman season. The 6-foot-2 and 195-pounder finished last season with just eight total tackles and a pass breakup.

UL will also look to get more from junior cornerback Curley Reed III after transferring from Washington in 2025. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, Reed brings size to the secondary and will look to be an asset this season after being ranked a 4-star prospect coming out of high school.

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 sbelt@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: UL football positional previews: Can the Cajuns’ secondary live up to the hype?