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SOUTHEAST WHITFIELD RAIDERS
Head coach: Todd Murray (1-7 here and overall)
Returning starters: 6 offensive; 6 defensive
Last year’s record: 1-7 (nonregion schedule)
Key players: Jayden Calhoun (6-5, 290) Jr. OL, Jose Herrera (6-2, 260) Sr. DE, Zander Burkett (5-11, 250) Jr. OL/DL, Jordan Osorio (5-9, 200) Sr. LB, Zane Smith (5-8, 240) Sr. OL, Brady Ensley (5-11, 210) Jr. LB
Season outlook: The goals at Southeast, as they were last year when the administration elected to play a nonregion schedule, are to renew interest in the sport while the athletes learn and improve playing a more competitive schedule.
As with many programs, the pandemic-impacted season had a negative effect on the Raiders’ intentions as the participation numbers weren’t what Coach Murray wanted. He hopes that’s changing this year, along with the team’s overall talent level.
On the field, Southeast is building from the inside out. The defensive line in particular should be a strength with Herrera (nine tackles for loss, three sacks in 2020), Burkett and newcomer Brett Cole leading the rotation in front of linebackers Osario (team-leading 85 tackles), three-year starter Ensley and Alex Munoz.
Improvement by the offensive line – anchored by Burkett, Calhoun and Smith – would go a long way in improving on the Raiders’ rushing output of 140 yards a game last season. A backfield led by quarterback Brayden Miles and returning its top two rushers (Jordan Trevino and Anthony Ramirez) should be solid, but Southeast needs a new set of receivers to step up to complement tight end Cole.