As a high school player for the Acadiana Wreckin’ Rams, Russell Babineaux oftentimes has found it difficult to reach a comfort level.
Sometimes he played his primary position of wide receiver, but he also played running back, quarterback, punt returner, kick returner and cornerback.
But when it came to deciding which college program to commit to, Babineaux knew right way where he felt most comfortable: He committed to the UL Ragin’ Cajuns on Sunday.
“The main thing to me is the relationship I had with the coaches is not what I had anywhere else, so I just couldn’t pass up this opportunity,” Babineaux said. “I had a relationship pretty much with the whole staff. With those coaches believing in me and putting their trust in me, made me consider that.
“I know they’re building something special over here. They’re going to be turning things around really quick.”
Babineaux also received offers from places such as LSU, Florida State, Auburn, Mississippi State and Ole Miss.
“The relationship with the coaches was my biggest thing. Just knowing I can come in and play in my hometown, that was another big key aspect of my decision as well,” Babineaux said.
Despite playing all over the field during his first three seasons with the Rams, Babineaux has been recruited as a wide receiver.
“He’s explosive, he’s smooth, and he’s got good hands … he’s a real smart kid,” Acadiana coach Matt McCullough said of Babineaux. “He works extremely hard. He’s very talented. He can run. He’s a track guy, but he also has got speed on the football field.
“He’s got the ability to catch the football in space — can return punts and kickoff. His speed equates to the football field. He’s shown that since his freshman year.”
Because of his all-around role, Babineaux doesn’t have the glittering statistics many receivers sport.
In helping the Rams reach the state finals, he had 59 carries for 601 yards and four touchdowns, caught 18 passes for 406 yards and four scores and ran back an interception for a touchdown in the state semifinals.
That doesn’t even include touchdowns as both a kick and punt returner.
“He’s gotten to the point where he runs really good routes, too,” McCullough said. “He’s a really good athlete. He catches the ball with his hands. He’s one of the better receivers we’ve had.”
Babineaux has grown to embrace his multiple roles.
“Being able to move around on the field is amazing,” Babineaux said. “Just having that ability to play receiver, play running back, play quarterback and play a little bit of defense is very exciting as a player.
“Returning kicks, return punts … just doing stuff not a lot of other people can do, I feel like that’s a big part of my game.”
It was his willingness to focus on cornerback in the postseason that vaulted the Rams into the state finals with his pick-six in a road win over Edna Karr.
“It’s not the easiest thing in the world,” said Babineaux, who finished with three interceptions and five breakups in his short stint on defense. “You have to come in, learn formations and learn a whole lot of different things about the other team’s offense and being able to cover. It’s not very easy to do, but you just have to get it done.”
Babineaux already has noticed how the experience will help him as a receiver.
“As a receiver, it gives me the strategies that a cornerback uses to go against me,” he said. “I can understand now everything that they’re seeing and some of the decisions that they’re making against me.
“Understanding what the DB is trying to do to me is always going to help me in my game and make me a better receiver.”
Babineaux said he’s also excited about being in that first class to play at the newly renovated Lourdes Field in his hometown of Lafayette for the 2025 season.
“That’s a big deal,” he said. “That’s going to be great for the city.”
