We would like to welcome our next Diamond In The Rough to Gridiron, Kyle Bonin, a 5’6″, 165-pound Class of 2028 running back out of Breaux Bridge High School. Carrying a 3.2 GPA into his senior year of high school, Bonin recently attended the Breaux Bridge Gridiron Football Elite Camp, where he showed out in a big way, including a 4.47 shuttle. He did not start playing until around sixth grade and has worked his way into becoming a difference-maker for Breaux Bridge. He also does powerlifting, so the strength from that really helps on the football field. He is open to playing anywhere in college, but if he has a specific location, it will be UL-Lafayette since he is headed there for academics and so forth.
Kyle Bonin is White 90 in this highlight video:
You can also find his clips in this 7 on 7 video here:
Here is my conversation with Kyle Bonin:
What has your football journey been like? At what age did you start playing football, and what inspired you to play football?
I don’t remember exactly what age, but I did start in sixth grade. What inspired me was really just wanting something fun to do after school, and I got into it and became interested.
Who have been some of the biggest influences in your journey? Family members, coaches, etc?
My junior high coach, we call him Big D, he’s is defiently one of my biggest influences.
How would you describe the football culture at your school, community, and in Louisiana?
It’s interesting, and people really like it, and the culture is unmatched compared to any other state.
Do you have a core memory of playing as a little kid, like when you first started playing?
Yeah, we won our first game, and we got our coach to do a TikTok dance with the whole team.
Was playing running back something you always wanted to do, or did you have another position in mind at first?
Well, I always wanted to be a linebacker, but I was more of an O-line type when I first started, and I just worked my way up to running back.
What’s something about your game that you think separates you from other players at your position?
Well, I feel like most people don’t like the contact part of the game; they try to weave their way around defenders, which is valid, but I absolutely love the contact and running through people.
What part or parts of your game do you feel like have improved the most over the years, and what would you like to improve on?
What I think has improved is my game knowledge and how to play football in general, and the nervousness of the game, like I’m not as nervous anymore.
Walk me through your preparation during a typical game day.
I wake up in the morning, get ready, make sure I eat a good breakfast, and usually bring a banana and water to school. I listen to music all day and just lock in before the game.
What’s your mindset going into a game? How do you lock in mentally?
I usually just close my eyes, listen to music, lie down, and wait until the game starts because I’m locked in.
What kind of things do you do during the offseason to stay motivated, disciplined, healthy, etc?
Summer workouts usually keep me motivated and ready for the next season.
What were some of the toughest challenges you faced over the years of playing thus far?
Honestly, I think the hardest part of football is at the beginning of practices, like warm-ups, because sometimes you’ll be a little sore from yesterday, and you just have to go out there and perform well.
What was the most memorable game you played, and why did it stand out?
The most memorable game was my freshman year, when we made it to the playoffs. We took a charter bus for about 3 hours, and it was a fun game. It was a hard game; we lost, but it’s okay.
How would you describe yourself as a leader to your teammates?
I think I’m a good leader. I try to motivate people as much as I can, and help them in any way I can.
Are you in any other leadership roles besides football?
When I did powerlifting, I was a really good team person, and I try to help the younger guys.
When people look back at your high school career, what do you hope they say about you as a player and person?
I changed a lot. Simple as that.
Did you play any other sports when you were younger, or do you do any others now?
I tried to join a track, but that didn’t really work out for me. Other than that, just football and powerlifting.
What about family members and other relatives? Did they do any sports?
Yes, my sister did track and softball. It was pretty much my sister and I who were the only ones who did sports.
What was the Breaux Bridge Gridiron camp experience like?
It was fun and interesting because it was my first camp.
What were some of your biggest takeaways from it? What is something you learned the most?
They helped me with the 40 better and how to improve stuff, including the broad jump. The coaches also helped me with seeing the field better and stuff like that.
What has the recruitment process been like for you? Any offers? Are you getting in contact with any college coaches?
Not at the moment, I haven’t really put out any significant film yet.
Is there a specific college or colleges you have in mind that you want to play for?
I don’t really have a dream college, but if I do want to end up somewhere, I’d like it to be UL because that’s where I’m headed in general, for academics and all that.
Why do you believe you can be a difference maker wherever you end up?
I’m motivational. People tend to like me a lot so they’ ll probabaly find me very interesting.
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