LAFAYETTE, La. (NEWS 15) — The early signing period for high school recruits got underway on Wednesday, December 4, and there's been a flurry of activity across Acadiana with many finalizing their college decisions a couple of weeks sooner than usual this year.
Obviously, Louisiana head football coach Michael Desormeaux is happy with the 19 new players he is adding to his squad. He talked about what it’s like navigating a National Signing Day and trying to plan a strategy for a Sun Belt Conference championship.
"You know, we have a little history with this,” said Coach Desormeaux. “More times than not, in my career, we have had a bowl game with signing day going on at the same time. So, you know, it is what it is. We are excited. We got these guys inked, so if we would have done it earlier, it would have been great. If we had to wait two weeks, you would’ve been holding on to your rear end to get them there."
Coach was told that the idea is high school players can get signed before the transfer portal opens and then you’d have to figure it out after.
"Which, I think is BS. I think you’re going to sign who you are going to sign. You have a philosophy. If you’re a big portal team, you are going to take those guys anyway, and if you are going to sign high school teams, you are going to take them anyways. It is what it is. I think it is a tough week to do it right now," explained Desormeaux.
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LAFAYETTE, La. — Louisiana head coach Michael Desormeaux welcomed 19 new members of the Ragin’ Cajuns Football team during National Signing Day on Wednesday. The Ragin’ Cajuns added four wide receivers, highlighted by local product Russell Babineaux of Acadiana High.
Russell Babineaux out of Acadiana High is one of his new wide receivers.
"It’s been an amazing opportunity,” said Babineaux. “Today is a big day, continuing a chapter of my life. And ending a chapter with high school and then be able to continue my legacy and go to college."
Westgate’s Jaboree Antoine will be leaving the Acadiana area for the University of Miami. The Hurricanes locked up the top recruiting class in the ACC.
"It was really the relationships I built with the coaches and they were the first team to give me a chance, said Antoine. “They were my first offer, so I felt like I had to give them a chance and I feel like I made a great decision."
Coach Desormeaux added that even though it is a little stressful having signing day, the Sun Belt Conference championship game, and then, the portal back-to-back-to-back, he is just happy to be playing this late in the season.
