Head Football Coach Derik Samber said the program is prioritizing a culture of competitive excellence as the team prepares for the upcoming season following a successful playoff run. Samber said the intensity of region play serves as a primary tool for developing players because every game requires a high level of performance to secure a postseason berth.
Samber said the experience of winning a home playoff game against Loudon and competing at Anderson County provides significant value for the returning roster. Samber said the coaching staff focuses on maintaining a consistent standard of performance to ensure that external expectations do not become a source of negative pressure for the student-athletes.
“But the big thing, with our region, I think just every single week of region play prepares these kids for competitive excellence,” Samber said. “You’ve got to bring your A-game every single night in our region to even have a chance of sniffing the playoffs.”
Samber said the team must replace the production of former quarterback Noah Potter, who accounted for 40 touchdowns during his senior season. Samber said transfer student Max Warner has taken over the role after completing a successful off-season program.
“We’re about to find out,” Samber said. “Noah was a tremendous player. I think he accounted for 40 touchdowns his senior year. Really efficient player that did everything we asked him to in the offense and we’ll certainly miss him. But Max Warner is a transfer kid that has stepped into that role and has had a great off-season.”
Samber said the senior class is a tight-knit group that maintains close relationships outside of football activities. Samber said the coaching staff challenges these seniors to lead by example during every portion of practice, including stretch periods and walk-throughs.
“We’ve got to have that competitive excellence in everything we do because we are at the end of the day trying to build great young men that positively impact our community when they leave our program,” Samber said. “And that they only know one way, and that one way is excellence and the best they can possibly perform.”
Samber said having a foundation of returning starters on the offensive line allows the coaching staff to potentially accelerate the installation of the playbook. Samber said he remains cautious not to prioritize complex schemes over the fundamental techniques and details required for execution.
“I do believe it’s beneficial to have returning starters in certain spots and a good portion of the offensive line back,” Samber said. “I think it can accelerate things, but I’m certainly mindful of making sure that we don’t sacrifice the details to get ahead of ourselves with scheme or anything else.”
Samber said the program features several players who excel academically, including receiver Kaden Page and offensive lineman Parker Cox. Samber said both student-athletes have maintained grade point averages above 4.0 and have received interest from Ivy League programs.
“Kaden Page is a receiver kid when it comes to grades that has been above and beyond in terms of having over a 4.0 GPA and some Ivy League interest in terms of his athletic career,” Samber said. “And same for our offensive lineman, Parker Cox, is another kid that has done some accelerated AP courses, has that GPA up over 4, scoring really well on his ACT, and you know, Ivy Leagues were giving him opportunities to play college football.”
