Acadiana Wreckin’ Rams | Offseason 3-2-1 Spotlight

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Acadiana worked through a couple notable regular-season speed bumps in 2023 to hit their stride in district and into the playoffs to reach its first state championship game since 2020.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And though they ran into a Catholic (Baton Rouge) buzzsaw in the Division-I Select title game, the Wreckin' Rams return a deep roster loaded with talent and experience that should again be among Louisiana's top contenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Acadiana was among the first stops of Prep Redzone Louisiana's spring practice tours and a series of "Offseason 3-2-1" spotlights looking at three key returning standouts, two notable breakout candidates and one underclassman to know sooner than later.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3 WELL-KNOWN RETURNERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='913931' first='Caden' last='DiBetta'] — 6-0, 195 QB — Acadiana (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='426961' first='Russell' last='Babineaux'] — 5-9, 160 ATH — Acadiana (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wreckin' Rams have too many notable, well-known — and, in many cases, multi-year starters — leaders and high-impact players to cleanly pack into this section, even grouping into position groups, so a slew of offensive skill guys garner mentions here. DiBetta is a third-year starter at quarterback whose toughness and decision-making help set the offensive tone and is capable of gashing opponents with his arm or his legs. And Babineaux has been a headliner among the team's weapons throughout his career as a speedy receiver also capable of working out of the backfield at running back or quarterback. Add the running back duo of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710087' first='Jonah' last='Gauthier']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1644812' first='Tayden' last='Collins']</strong>, and the rising senior class alone is loaded with familiar playmakers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='913926' first='Dalyn' last='Lewis'] — 5-11, 160 DB — Acadiana (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='913924' first='Braylon' last='Noel'] — 5-10, 165 DB — Acadiana (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Acadiana returns its talented cornerback duo who snatched a handful of interceptions — three by Lewis and two by Noel — and had some of their best games in district and into the playoffs. Between Lewis and Noel, safety [player_tooltip player_id='913922' first='Keeman' last='Thibodeaux'], rising junior corner [player_tooltip player_id='1684265' first='Taveian' last='Landry'] and the ability Babineaux showed last season at corner as well, the Wreckin' Rams return some notable talent, experience and potential versatility in the secondary.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='920606' first='Darryus' last='McKinley'] — 6-3, 240 DL — Acadiana (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>and <strong>Vallen "Ryland" Charles — 6-1, 265 DL — Acadiana (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>and <strong>Jayden Lawrence — 6-0, 260 DL — Acadiana (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LSU signee [player_tooltip player_id='421603' first='Dominick' last='McKinley'] will leave some big shoes to fill up front on defense, but the Wreckin' Rams return a wealth of talent and experience in the group with the long, quick younger McKinley on the left end, the stout, tenacious Lawrence on the right and Charles as a disruptive bully capable of generating rush inside. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2 BREAKOUT CANDIDATES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jayden Carmouche — 6-0, 240 DL — Acadiana (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carmouche was very much a part of the Wreckin' Rams' defensive line rotation as a junior — including 34 tackles and one sack — but may be the player we see earn the biggest jump in opportunities — and potentially production — as the group replaces their graduated LSU signee. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='913939' first='Amarion' last='Cooper'] — 6-1, 195 LB — Acadiana (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cooper started to catch our attention during the Wreckin' Rams' playoff run and should be a defensive playmaker to watch with his length and quickness off the edge and potential to provide some versatility working with snaps with [player_tooltip player_id='1221079' first='Dajon' last='Francis'] and company in the linebacking corps or putting a hand down alongside the aforementioned line group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1 UNDERCLASSMAN TO KNOW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='934589' first='Collin' last='DiBetta'] — 5-9, 170 WR — Acadiana (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The younger DiBetta brother flashed his speed during last summer's 7-on-7 action and seemed to continue to find his rhythm throughout his freshman season to the point of becoming one of the Wreckin' Rams' most dynamic weapons in some of their biggest games in district and postseason play. His early production has set the stage for what should be a memorable high school career, and college offers have already started to arrive as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->