2023 Season Preview Reading

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Reading Red Knights are back in Section 1 of the LL Berks league for their second season. The merger occurred before the 2022 season and it was the Red Knights first year under new Head Coach Troy Godinet. Going 3-7 in year 1 for Coach Godinet is a success and Coach has the Red Knights on track to be even better in year 2. A former all-star linebacker for Reading, Coach Troy has the community re-engaged with football again. Being known the last few seasons as a basketball school (rightfully so btw) look out for the Red Knights, they have a lot of talent. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["264258"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Played with and against his uncle Coach Laws so I am well aware of how special this young man can be.  A stud junior to be linebacker Laws is well on his way to earning the respect that comes with his name, check out what Coach Weider said below:rnrnu003cemu003eLaws played linebacker for Reading last year. He is a side-line to the side-line backer. He has very good speed and uses that speed to chase down ballcarriers. He has good instincts and reads and reacts to offensive plays very well. Laws also is a good Blitzer. He uses his speed to blitz and creates havoc for the offense. Laws is also good in coverage. He covers a lot of ground and is good at dropping into his proper zones. Laws is also a good tackler. He uses his speed to make a lot of open-field tackles. Laws is a talented player who is still learning the position, but should only get better the more he plays going forward.u003c/emu003ernrnhttps://twitter.com/GabrielLaws12/status/1669443991866159109?s=20","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["598742"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"What Coach Godinet did in his first year was impressive, particularly how he seems to have rebuilt the Red Knights offensive line behind this young man [player_tooltip player_id='598742' first='Keyshawn' last='Efese']. This all league tackle is already making the rounds gaining the recognition of our own [player_tooltip player_id='1156407' first='Vic' last='Castillo']:rnrnu003cemu003eCoaches at Reading express how excited they are about u003cspan class=u0022pn-tooltip pn-player-linku0022u003eu003cspan class=u0022name-pointeru0022u003e[player_tooltip player_id='598742' first='Keyshawn' last='Efese']u003c/spanu003eu003c/spanu003e ‘s growth after year one. I am in the same boat. u003cspan class=u0022pn-tooltip pn-player-linku0022u003eu003cspan class=u0022name-pointeru0022u003e[player_tooltip player_id='598742' first='Keyshawn' last='Efese']u003c/spanu003eu003c/spanu003e ‘s debut rank is certainly a projection of what his stock could look like in the future. His body meets top ten linemen expectations, yet we still are holding out hope that his tape and production will churn out top ten linemen grades as well. Not sure if we're there yet, that being said, Efese could be a name to watch moving forward. I look back at some of the sophomore tapes I've watched from now collegiate tackles and I can't help but see similarities are far as trajectories go. 6'5, 315 pounds, the sophomore left tackle has a ways to go to clean up his build and footwork, but there's a ton of power in his punch with a ton of reach in his arms to boot. He locks out his arms easily, making him a tough shed if he gets his mitts on you.u003c/emu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["558626"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"With the graduation of Ruben Rodriguez the Red Knights need more targets at receiver this fall. [player_tooltip player_id='558626' first='Jahsir' last='Wilson'] has a chance for an all league type of season and has caught the attention of Coach Weider below:rnrnu003cemu003eu003cstrongu003e u003c/strongu003eWilson played wide receiver for Reading last year. He played slot wide and he played very well at the position. He is a good athlete that is good after the catch. He is good at making people miss and gaining extra yards after the catch. Wilson also is fast and if he gets into the open field he just runs past defenders. Wilson shows a good ability to catch the ball in traffic and then turn it up for extra yards. Wilson is an exciting prospect to keep an eye on.u003c/emu003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1520455' first='Xavier' last='Beatty']","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Reading","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"A very physical and tall corner for the Red Knights defense who figures to be among the best in the conference this fall. Beatty is constantly on film tracking down wide receivers from the other side of the field or sticking his nose in at the line of scrimmage, plays the game hard. No reason not to believe Beatty will be an all section defensive back for 2023, his next step is to figure out his college plans. A big speedy corner he should be division 2 bound when next season ends.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Santhonax Labonte","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Reading","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"When you talk about linebackers from Reading we have already mentioned Laws, but names like Sam and James Bryant and Coach Godinet bring back chills if you had to play against like myself. One we cannot forget is rising junior Santhonax Labonte as he may be well on his way too. Labonte is a very disciplined linebacker really getting fooled by the opposing offense. When he is not tearing running backs heads off, he is a tearing it up in the classroom boasting a 3.7 GPA.rnrnhttps://www.hudl.com/video/3/17863600/6336e93d7bd3800c2452d249","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["558461"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Finally one of class of 2024 watchlist prospects in [player_tooltip player_id='558461' first='Michael' last='Odeyemi']. Odeyemi stock is surging after a good junior year at defensive end for the Red Knights. Standing at 6'1 Odeyemi is coming into his own as a football player and you can see how much he improved over the year. He has a great motor and never quits on a play, when he begins to use his shoulder pads more for incoming blockers the better. His technique is still raw but he is a student of the game and has all-league potential written all over him.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"Efrain Bonilla","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"Reading","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_6_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Bonilla is back in the center of the Reading's offensive line, he is tough as nails and a freight train to move defensively. Very stout at the point of attack would like to see him develop more but the potential is there. Watch his tape against Manheim Township who typically have stout oline's try to move him, he was force all game.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"Dequan Small","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"Reading","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_7_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Has to be mentioned because Dequan Small is another example, Coach Godinet has done a tremendous job getting some of Reading's other sport stars out for football. Shows you that already people want to play for Coach Troy! Small is a track star for the Red Knights should have a big role offensively as he enters his junior season. The speedster out of the backfield can outrun anybody.rnrnhttps://twitter.com/Dequansmall6/status/1682921971875495936?s=20","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_8_player_details_player_name":"Romello Fuentes","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_8_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_8_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_8_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_8_player_details_school":"Reading","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_8_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_8_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"The second team all section 1 offensive lineman returns for his junior season, Romello Fuentes. Fuentes is very fluid in his hip movement and is good at getting to the second level on his blocks.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_9_player_details_player_name":"Kenly Rivera","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_9_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_9_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_9_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_9_player_details_school":"Reading","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_9_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_9_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_9_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"Rivera is 6'3 and 22o lbs. lot to like about this defensive end for Coach Troy. Really coming into his own this off-season, he continues to develop his pass rushing moves he may have over 10 sacks this fall.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":10,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c5940f84e6c"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Final Thoughts:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You have to admire the work Coach Troy has put in a short time as head coach for Reading. Finishing 3-7 in his first year will not set the moon fire but considering how far off the Red Knights were before him, it really is impressive. My best bet would be they are a year away from really making noise but I expect at least 5-5 season for 2023. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->