Acadiana Wreckin' Rams | Spring 3-2-1 Spotlight

Acadiana returned to the practice field with physicality and focus just more than five months removed from having its 2022 postseason end at the hands of crosstown rival Carencro.   The Wreckin' Rams carry a strong mix of experience and talent into 2023 with aspirations as always to add another to their impressive run the past two decades.   Acadiana was among the first stops of Prep Redzone Louisiana's spring practice tours and a series of "Spring 3-2-1" spotlights looking at three key returning standouts, two notable breakout candidates and one underclassman to know sooner than later.     <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/embed/ffU4NJOKLpQ </div></figure>     3 WELL-KNOWN RETURNERS   [player_tooltip player_id='421603' first='Dominick' last='McKinley'] — 6-7, 270 DL — Acadiana (2024)   The big defensive lineman with a rare combination of size and athleticism established himself as one of Louisiana's top players to know this fall with a huge, all-state junior campaign that included 81 tackles — 50 solo, 21 for loss and 11 sacks — and a pair of interceptions. McKinley is being heavily pursued by nearly all the nation's top programs including LSU, Alabama, Texas A&M, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas and Oklahoma.   [player_tooltip player_id='426961' first='Russell' last='Babineaux'] — 5-9, 165 WR/ATH — Acadiana (2025)   The speedy, dynamic weapon on both offense and special teams worked his way onto the field as a freshman, earned all-district recognition that season and all-state consideration as a sophomore with 25 catches for 419 yards and three touchdowns in the run-heavy offense and another pair of scores and 43-yard return average on kickoffs. LSU, Florida State, Ole Miss and Mississippi State helped kick off his recruitment with offers last spring, and Tulane, Texas A&M, Miami, Houston, Missouri and Southern Miss have been among the latest to join that list.   [player_tooltip player_id='913931' first='Caden' last='DiBetta'] — 6-0, 195 QB — Acadiana (2025)   The young multisport standout took over the Wreckin' Rams' offense this fall as a sophomore and helped lead a 7-3 regular season and 8-4 record overall. He and rising senior center Jackson Hammond provide good recognition and decision-making, toughness and overall leadership at pivotal positions at the helm of the veer offense with seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1204738' first='Ezekiel' last='Hypolite'] and [player_tooltip player_id='421621' first='Cameron' last='Monette'] and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1644812' first='Tayden' last='Collins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='710087' first='Jonah' last='Gauthier'] among the stable of running backs. DiBetta, who should be even more confident in his reads with a year now under his belt, was playfully in chests and faces of Acadiana defenders during breaks in practice, jawing and encouraging intensity and physicality.     <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/embed/sIvcFHWdMJU </div></figure>     2 BREAKOUT CANDIDATES   Amir Hill — 6-1, 185 DB/LB — Acadiana (2024)   and [player_tooltip player_id='913922' first='Keeman' last='Thibodeaux'] — 5-10, 175 DB — Acadiana (2025)   The Wreckin' Rams' speedy safety duo looks like two of the biggest breakout candidates to watch. Coaches emphasized to the players the importance of being reliably at least two deep at every position, and the defense appears to have good sets of linebackers and defensive backs flying around behind McKinley and company up front. Senior inside linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1203214' first='Shamarius' last='Harris'] was quick in the middle of the defense, and junior outside linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='913939' first='Amarion' last='Cooper'] jumped a pass for an interception. And senior Maurice Brown and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='913926' first='Dalyn' last='Lewis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='913924' first='Braylon' last='Noel'] looked poised for strong seasons at cornerback. But the versatility that Hill in the hybrid "star" role and Thibodeaux primarily at strong safety provide in their coverage and run support should make them particularly consistent names to hear called on Friday nights.     1 UNDERCLASSMAN TO KNOW   [player_tooltip player_id='920606' first='Darryus' last='McKinley'] — 6-3, 215 DL — Acadiana (2026)   The younger brother of [player_tooltip player_id='421603' first='Dominick' last='McKinley'] has already garnered half a dozen Power-Five offers in Miami, Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Colorado and Tennessee and is expected to play a major role in his first varsity season as a defensive end in a front Acadiana hopes to be a major strength with both elite top-end talent and depth. Darryus will be hitting the road this summer with Dominick for a summer schedule that includes Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma and Ohio State among the stops.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/embed/I_FDRHiZJaA </div></figure>

Acadiana returned to the practice field with physicality and focus just more than five months removed from having its 2022 postseason end at the hands of crosstown rival Carencro.