Team Preview – Olympic Trojans
As we get closer to the start of the season, we will be taking a look at team previews from across the Charlotte Metro Area. We have a lot of talented players here in the city, and every year there…
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Continue ReadingAs we get closer to the start of the season, we will be taking a look at team previews from across the Charlotte Metro Area. We have a lot of talented players here in the city, and every year there are new faces that will become the star of their teams on Friday Nights. We’ll take a look at them, as well as the overall team prospects for the upcoming year!
The Olympic Trojans were the best team in the state that did not make the State Playoffs in my opinion. As a matter of fact, I really felt they deserved to be in above some teams that did make it in due to the playoff percentage system that factors in several factors. Head Coach Brandon Thompson has done a good job in his tenure in making the Trojans a winning program year in and year out. The Trojans sent several players to play on the next level from last year’s team, and this year’s team has some prospects that should play on the next level as well.
Quarterback Elijah Holmes is returning as the starter going into his senior year. Throwing for 12 touchdowns last season and rushing for 4 more, he is a player that Olympic will count on to take another step and grow into a leader that the offense will count on even more this season. I like his timing and accuracy in the passing game, those are tenets that are especially important in Olympic’s attack. At running back, Khi Morris and Dakari Vann are capable and should continue the tradition of strong running backs this school has had over the past few years. Sterling Greene is a dynamic athlete that I have liked since his JV days, and while his primary role is as a receiver, expect to see the ball in his hands in all kinds of ways. Connor Forloine has steadily developed and should be an excellent possession receiver who runs good routes on the outside to give Holmes a security blanket to depend on.
Olympic is strong up front – this school seems to keep some big linemen, and they have a pair of 6’4 linemen on the offensive side with Khamari Lawson and Tavarus Boone expected to hold things down.
On defense, to me, it appears the strength is definitely in the defensive line. Starting with Eliyt Nairne Eliyt Nairne 6'3" | 255 lbs | DL Olympic | 2023 State NC , who is a big-time player with a ton of offers to play football on the next level. At 6’2 and 270 pounds, he can play the defensive tackle or defensive end position. He has great explosion off the ball and plays well with his hands, and is an absolute disruptor up front. He has a good supporting cast with him as well. Manuel Cordray is a 6’2 230 pound Defensive End who was All-Conference last season and led the team in quarterback hurries. He has a great work ethic and the right mindset to be successful. 6’4 Defensive End Rafael Brown on the other side performed well in offseason camps and earned recognition as a result of that. He is someone that is poised to break out on the scene this season.
Looking at their schedule, two games really stand out to me. Their matchup with first-year Palisades High School on September 30th will be the start of a rivalry as Palisades took a good bit of Olympic’s previously assigned attendance area. The other game I’m excited to see is their matchup against South Mecklenburg, which is more of a traditional Charlotte rivalry, but these two played an incredible game last season ending on a game-winning field goal and a 31-29 South victory, which I’m sure the Trojans will be motivated to avenge.
All in all, I like the Trojans chances to compete this year in the So Meck conference and make the playoffs – having senior experience at the quarterback position will be a big key in their success this season.