Acadiana Wreckin’ Rams

By Lee Brecheen

Head Coach: Matt McCullough (6th season)

2022 Record: 8-4

Class & District: Class 5A (District 3)

2022 Playoffs: Defeated Riverdale 70-0 in First Round, Lost to Carencro 27-17 in Second Round of Division I (Select) Playoffs

Since becoming the head coach at Acadiana in 2018, Matt McCullough has won two state titles as head coach for the Rams and four district titles. Coach McCullough has a 56-10 overall record going into the 2023 season at Acadiana HS.

“We have a lot of experience coming back to be a pretty good football team,” McCullough said.

The offense will be set up for tough nights for defensive coordinators in 2023. The offense returns one of the most dynamic players in Louisiana in WR Russell Babineaux who has 4.4 legit speed and football stuff in space. There’s also senior running backs Ezekiel Hypolite (5-10, 175) who is a second-year starter with 4.5 speed and Cameron Monette (5-8, 165, 4.5 speed). The Rams also have two big-time running backs Tayden Collins and Jonah Gauthier who provide depth for this team that loves to grind and run it.

The offensive line returns leader OT Jackson Hammond (6-1, 280) who can bench up to 415 pounds, senior OG Mike Willis (5-10, 265), OT Kaveni Wilson (6-2, 250), OG Braxton Scriber (5-10, 245) and center Brody Estes (5-10, 230). The receiving corps is also strong as it has senior Omari Dupas (5-7, 150, 4.5 speed) and talented TE Jaydon Bessard (6-4, 230). 

The Rams will return a talented quarterback in Caden DiBetta (6-2, 195) who is a second-year starter with a good arm and footwork in the pocket. WR/QB Collin DeBetta (Caden’s brother) can play if needed as the backup QB and will see some time as a wide receiver in 2023.

The defense returns seven starters overall from last season. The defensive line will be a strength and it is led by one of the best prospects in the country in senior DL Dominick McKinley (6-6, 275, 4.7 speed). McKinley is the No.1 overall prospect in Louisiana by almost every recruiting site. The D-Line also has DE Jayden Lawrence (6-0, 230), Dominick’s little brother DE Darryus McKinley (6-3, 235) and DT Vallen Charles (6-1, 265). The linebacking corps is strong too and it is led by senior LB Shamarius Harris (5-11, 225, 4.6 speed), senior LB Amir Hill (6-1, 190, 4.55 speed) and LB Dajon Francis (5-10, 185, 4.55 speed). The secondary is talented with speed again. The defensive backfield is led by CB Maurice Brown (6-0, 175) who is a new starter but lettered and played a lot in 2022, CB Dayln Lewis (5-11, 170), FS Keeman Thibodeaux (5-11, 175) who lead the team in Interceptions in 2022 and SS Braylon Noel (5-10, 170).

The special teams will be strong again for Acadiana in 2023. The Rams have a new starting kicker in Landon Carrier (6-4, 200) and the punting battle is wide-open going into the fall.

Acadiana had two players sign with colleges after last season as both RB/WR Kevan Williams and DB/OLB Jaylen Lawrence signed with Butler Community College in Kansas.

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