Acadiana High Athletes Pick Up Offers

New Ragin’Cajuns Head Football Coach Mark Hudspeth wasted little time visiting 5A state champion Acadiana High Wreckin’ Rams, offering Micah Eugene and Bakari Hollier scholarships.

With offensive lineman Nick Smith already committed to Louisiana’s Ragin’Cajuns football program, it was only natural for Head Coach Mark Hudspeth to visit the campus of 5A state champion Acadiana High. Once on campus, it didn’t take long for Hudspeth to find several other athletes, Micah Eugene and Bakari Hollier.

Micah Eugene was voted MVP of this past weekend’s 5A State Championship game against West Monroe, rushing for 151 yards, on 22 carries and 1 touchdown. The “5-10”, 190-pound senior finished the season rushing for over 2,000 yards and 28 touchdowns. Eugene had the opportunity to meet Coach Hudspeth for the first time Tuesday, along with teammates Bakari Hollier and Nick Smith.

“I met him for the first time and liked what he had to say,” Micah said. “He wants to win and told me that he wants me to be part of something special at UL with Bakari and Nick. I was impressed with him and excited to get my first D1 offer and official visit. I’m going to come in on an official visit in January with Bakari and Nick.”

Eugene received his first visit from LSU defensive back coach Ron Cooper Wednesday, and has been in contact with Alabama and USC.

“I haven’t set visits with either school yet, but I’m looking forward to January,” Eugene stated. “Coach Hudspeth told me that my offer is for either side of the ball right now, so it’s open as to where I might play for UL. It was great to get my first offer out of the way; things are really starting to get exciting.”

Micah Eugene has not met eligibility standards yet, scoring a 16 on his last ACT test and currently carrying a 2.4 GPA in his core.

Bakari Hollier was excited to hear from Mark Hudspeth as well, he had not received much attention from the previous staff.

“I was impressed with what he had to say about the direction of the program and what his expectations are for his staff,” Hollier said. “He was really positive about next season and asked if I would be interested in the program before he offered me. I told him I was definitely interested in the program and would come in on a visit in January with Micah and Nick.”

The “5-10”, 185-pound senior was 5A all state and all district defensive MVP in 2009. Hollier has visits set for Memphis and Northwestern State set for January, along with the Cajuns.

“I now have three visits set for January, including the Cajuns,” Bakari stated. “This has been a unbelievable year for the team and now things are really getting exciting with recruiting. With all the things we’ve went through this season, I wouldn’t trade this year for anything; It still feels like a dream to me sometimes.”

Bakari Hollier has scored a 17 on his last ACT and maintains 3.0 GPA in his core.

Offensive lineman Nick Smith had already made his choice earlier this fall when he committed to Louisiana, but the “6-3”, 280-pound senior wasn’t sure where he stood with coach Hudspeth.

“I hadn't met coach Hudspeth until yesterday, so it was great to speak with him,” Smith stated. “I had the chance to watch the press conference and he was very impressive in the things he stated about the direction of the program. I still have my offer and I’m going to take my official visit in January with Bakari and Micah.”

Nick Smith won’t wait until January to speak with coach Hudspeth again.

“I’m going to come visit him at the complex with my mom before the dead period,” Nick said. “I want my mom to meet him and we can talk more about his vision for the program. I also would like to know eventually who my position coach will be and maybe he will be in Lafayette at that time.”

Nick Smith has met all eligibility standards and will graduate on time.