Miami Standing Out For Louisiana Recruit

The Hurricanes are using their Louisiana connections

For Miami's football program, the deep connections to the state of Louisiana are paying off.

Hiring defensive coordinator Lance Guidry, a native of Welsh, La., and hiring offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson, from Clinton, La., are opening doors for the Hurricanes to recruit talent-rich Louisiana. The 2024 recruiting class has two prospects from the Bayou State.

Defensive back Dylan Day hails from Baton Rouge (La.) Southern Lab and kicker Abram Murray comes to Miami from Shreveport (La.) C.E. Byrd. Guidry and Dawson are a part of keeping the Miami program involved with top Louisiana players and the trend continues with the class of 2025. The name to know is Russell Babineaux.

The 5-foot-9 and 168-pound receiver and kick return specialist is lightning in a bottle. Speed and elusiveness highlight his gridiron talents. He has a similar style of player to former UM great Santana Moss. If you do not get hands on this young man at the line of scrimmage, look out!

Big-time throw and catch from Cole Bergeron and Russell Babineaux from ⁦@4thQtMentality⁩ during ⁦@Battle⁩ Miami pic.twitter.com/MdXHgtmhHE

— Brian Smith (@fbscout_florida) January 29, 2024

He's also capable of catching a bubble screen and weaving his way through the defense; Babineaux can score anytime he touches the football. The Rivals 4-star recruit and electric playmaker took the time to break down his recruitment with AllHurricanes. 

Off the top of his head and certainly not the full allotment of schools, Babineaux's list of offers includes, "Auburn, (Texas) A&M, Ole Miss, Missouri, Miami, Florida State, Louisville, Houston, Tulane, Mississippi State, and UTSA...that's about it."

Babineaux was just in Coral Gables to visit The U and he commented on his trip.

"Great experience. It was a beautiful place. The campus is beautiful. Something I will never forget, the coaches and the facilities. That was my first time going there so I enjoyed every bit of it. 

"I would absolutely love to get over there again and experience more of it because I feel like I didn't get to experience the full thing at Miami. But I'd like to get back over there and spend more time on another visit. Talk to all the coaches and really be into this time, so I can't wait."

Of course, the leader of the Canes is a big reason that the Lafayette (La.) Acadiana recruit is high on the Hurricanes.

"He's amazing," Babineaux said about Mario Cristobal. "He actually flew to our school, last year around this time on a helicopter. We were talking a little bit. He's an amazing person and coach. He did well back there at Oregon and I feel like he's making a great program at Miami now. I feel like it can only get better from here."

Miami might have to beat out the prime in-state program for his services, the LSU Tigers.

"Actually, my freshman year, we were at the state track meet. Coach (Cortez) Hankton called me. He's the (LSU) wide receivers coach. He told me that they wanted to offer me. So, ever since then, we've had like a great connection. 

"I've been to games down there. It's always felt like family down there. I actually lived in Baton Rouge for like four or five years."

Miami and LSU are two schools that Babineaux will likely take an official visit, with Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Missouri probably the next three in line. Babineaux plans to make his college choice before the end of summer.