[ArmChairHC]

Not passing judgement on if it translates to wins or losses, but from the eye test standpoint, from what I’ve seen out of the kids in the weight room, we look more athletic. We lost some size at almost every position. But tbh, the skill kids all seem to have more of “that look” than we have in years past. What I mean is I can’t really remember a time that we had so many skill guys that look as explosive as they do right now. Like I said, I have know idea if it will be a good or bad thing, but we just look like we are in the best shape I have seen a Raceland team look in the off-season in sometime.

Noah Wallace, Logan Lundy, Jaxon Heighton, Parker Fannin, Brayden Webb, Cam Bell etc…alot of last years seniors were all big, strong, and fast, for nearly their entire athletic careers. And I am very proud of the players they were for us, you can’t replace their experience and leadership with underclassmen and in no way am I saying these boys didn’t work hard in the weight room, but the kids I see this year have more “noticeable” weight room and off-season development. A lot of the lineman have cut weight and turned it into muscle and quicker feet. A lot of the skill kids look thicker and have more of a physical look to them. Maybe it’s because I have had an incoming freshman in the weight room and have seen the kids coming in and out more so than I have in years past, but it just seems like each year our off-season program gets better and better.

Couple that with the fact that I think there are a few kids on the roster this year that can be the type of players we simply haven’t had in the past, and I don’t think you see much of a drop off for us this year. Growing pains? Sure. Schedule is tough as hell. But I lean more towards a 6-4/7-3 season and atleast a state semifinal appearance is realistic and tbh, I will be disappointed if that’s not the case.

I’m excited to a season of “unknowns” rather than “this is the year” talk, tbh. We haven’t been able to finish the ultimate job with any team that had the preseason favorite sticker or atleast were figured to be the best chance to knock off Pikeville.