By Kyle Roberts
RUSTON, La. — With another week of spring practice now complete, the Ruston High School Bearcats are beginning to get a clearer picture of what the 2026 football team could look like while also getting the chance to break in one of the newest additions to the school’s athletic facilities.
Ruston High Head Coach Jerrod Baugh said the biggest takeaway from the second week of spring drills is that the Bearcats continue making progress while still having plenty of work ahead before the fall season arrives.
“For me, it’s always, we got a lot of work still to do,” Baugh said. “But this time of year is so valuable because you can really focus on us and the things we need to improve on without getting ready for an opponent.”
Baugh said spring practice allows the coaching staff to evaluate new faces at key positions while also shaping the identity of next year’s team.
“You can make some decisions about what kids can and can’t do and really kind of decide what next year is going to look like as far as personnel and scheme,” Baugh said. “I think we took a step forward last week in the practices we’ve had.”
One of the biggest developments during the week came off the field as Ruston athletes officially began using the school’s new covered multi-purpose facility. The structure, which sits adjacent to the weight room, is expected to benefit nearly every athletic program on campus.
Baugh said the facility will help teams avoid disruptions caused by heat, rain and lightning concerns while creating more flexibility for practices and workouts throughout the school year.
“I just think for our entire athletic program, it’s going to be invaluable,” Baugh said. “You don’t have to alter what you’re doing because of heat, rain or weather in the area.”
The facility includes a full soccer field layout, baseball and softball inlaid bases and divider nets that allow multiple sports to use the space simultaneously. Baugh also pointed to the convenience of having the facility located next to the school’s weight room.
“If the baseball team or softball team in the fall time are going to lift weights first, they don’t have to drive across town to go to their facility,” Baugh said. “They can go right outside and do skill development stuff with those coaches without losing all that time driving.”
Baugh also said the building could eventually serve the broader Ruston community by hosting elementary school field days, Special Olympics events and other activities that often face weather-related interruptions.
“I just think there’s a wide variety of things we’re going to be able to use it for besides football,” Baugh said.
On the field, Ruston has recently welcomed back several baseball and track athletes who missed portions of spring practice because of postseason competition. Baugh said the return of veteran skill players has been noticeable.
“I think our returners offensively that we’re really going to lean on all year are showing the things we felt like they could do,” Baugh said. “At the end of the day, stars and scholarship offers are nice to have, but those things don’t make the plays — the kids have to go out and make the plays they need to make.”
Baugh said the Bearcats are working several new faces into the lineup, especially along the offensive and defensive fronts, and he has been pleased with the team’s overall work ethic.
“I think our kids are taking advantage of the opportunities we have to get better,” Baugh said. “Whether it’s spring practice, weight workouts or 7-on-7s in the summer, I think right now I’ve been pleased with what they’re doing to get better every day.”
Ruston will continue spring practice this week before hosting Captain Shreve in a scrimmage Thursday at James Field at Hoss Garrett Stadium.
A freshmen intra-squad scrimmage will begin at 5:15 p.m., followed by the varsity scrimmage at 6 p.m. Admission is $5.
