Team Preview – Harding Rams

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Harding Rams have had a tough couple of seasons since winning a State Championship in 2017, new Head Coach Jeff Caldwell takes the reigns of this program, and they have some talent to help try to turn the fortunes around. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's start with ATH Diego Parks, one of the hardest running kids I've ever seen whether he is playing quarterback or running back. He will play a bevy of positions for the Rams and some DB on the defensive side of the ball. AJ Jenkins is a promising running back going into his junior season, and he should be able to take some of the offensive load off of Parks's shoulders. He has excellent speed and vision and can make some big plays in the running game. At Wide Receiver expect Derrick Bradshaw Jr. to be one of the primary receivers Parks looks to in the passing game. Bradshaw Jr. has some good athleticism and also plays basketball for the Rams. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior OL Barak Fuller will be an anchor for an offensive line that will have some pretty good size across the board, and Caldwell believes the Rams can be physical at the point of attack. Fuller has some good size at 6'3 and 270 pounds and should hold down the right tackle position. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively the Rams will have some newcomers on the defensive line that should make a name for themselves as the season gets going. Deangelo Parks - Diego's brother - will lead the defense from the middle linebacker position and exhibits some impressive leadership traits. Safety [player_tooltip player_id='379813' first='Keyshawn' last='Jackson'] is one of the Rams' best players and displays great athleticism and communication in the back end of the defense. Jackson will also play in some spots at Wide Receiver on the offensive side of the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rams also have a Special Teams weapon this year in Kicker Mike Villanueva, who has never kicked before but also plays soccer for the Rams. Villanueva says he feels confident from 40 or 50 yards out so Caldwell will give him some opportunities to make some big kicks for sure. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Looking at the Rams schedule, the Battle of Alleghany against Berry will be a game to watch as this is a big rival game every year between the schools on the same street, less than a mile apart, in Charlotte. West Charlotte is also a traditional rivalry for the Rams, and West Meck will be another rival the Rams aspire to beat to try and bring him the mythical Westside Championship among these schools. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->