2023 Season Preview Gainesville

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gainesville Cardinals are one of the fastest rising schools in the country. Playing out of the Western District for their second varsity season, Coach Bruton has a number of studs that are poised to help the Cardinals to the playoffs. I did a brief profile breakdown this past spring: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>In their first season of Varsity football the Gainesville Cardinals finished the season right under .500 at 4-6 overall. Playing in a very competitive Western District aside, the fact that Gainesville won 4 games alone is impressive. The Cardinals under Coach Daniel Bruton are gaining steam fast and have a ton of support in their community. They will look to build upon last year's winning streak to end the season in hopes of the schools first above .500 season in history for 2023.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1230142' first='Koven' last='Smith']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Gainesville","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Talked about Smith before but has to be mentioned that he is one of the top running backs in the class of 2025 for the state of Virginia. Gainesville all world tailback is back and the interest in him will only grow as many FBS schools have started to come calling. A true homerun threat out the backfield, Smith has already run a 10.8 100 meter dash and been clocked just under a 4.48 40. While schools such as Virginia Tech, Coastal Carolina and Syracuse have expressed interest, expect him to have full scholarship offers by the end of this season.rnrnhttps://twitter.com/koven_smith/status/1596121710411272192?s=20","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Aidan McClaferty","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Gainesville","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"We need to start respecting this young man's game he is one of the top receivers in the district. Here is what I said about him a couple of months back:rnrnu003cemu003eGreat explosion in the open field and power off the line are what I believe best describes McClaferty's game. Coach Burton is doing a tremendous job building up this new program at Gainesville and having guys like Aidan must make things easier. The Cardinals behind this young man and host of others are poised to have a top tier offense for 2023, getting the ball to this McClaferty early and often will help. The rising junior is great at creating separation and his sub 4.4 40 show up each time he is pulling away from defenders. This first team all district selection average over 100 receiving yards per game and hauled in 13 touchdowns in 9 games, pretty impressive. He may be what his reputation has been building up to as “THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN” each time he touches the football.u003c/emu003ernrnhttp://www.hudl.com/video/3/15520449/636a7d6c4210b6012ca5c6d3","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Wyatt Bach","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Gainesville","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Wyatt Bach can play receiver and corner with the best in the state. I broke down his tape this past spring as well below:rnrnu003cemu003eAnother toy for the Cardinals to work with come Fall is Wyatt Bach, the kid is a star at both receiver and defensive back. Love watching this dude compete every play, I think he is going to make his money at corner in college but that remains to be seen. While McClaferty is their burner Bach and his speed and size are nothing to be slept on. Wyatt will make any defensive back pay if they match up with him one on one and will make them look foolish if they get caught looking into the backfield. The one-two punch of him and McClaferty is exciting on paper, will be even more in person.u003c/emu003ernrnhttps://twitter.com/bach_wyatt/status/1590763101116583936?s=20","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["853787"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Vic Castillo added him to our class of 2026 Rankings and it was more than deserved as the Cardinals have themselves a mean linebacker this fall.rnrnhttps://twitter.com/adam2rodriguez/status/1589249872901083136?s=20","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["853850"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Another class of 2026 that we added to our rankings is stud defensive tackle [player_tooltip player_id='853850' first='Andre' last='Collas']. Keep an eye on this young man as he is growing into his game and could be a force along the Cardinals defensive line for the next three years. Already with varsity experience as a freshman Collas has a great first step off the snap and when he maintains his pad level, he is a offensive lineman nightmare. He is mobile and quick enough to play both tackle and end for Coach Bruton's defense, expect him to do both this fall.rnrnhttp://www.hudl.com/video/3/18562647/633fb0969680fc0508b2932d","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1231592' first='Carrington' last='Knight']","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Gainesville","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"I missed this kid on my initial write up but [player_tooltip player_id='1231592' first='Carrington' last='Knight'] is a rising junior who is a fear bearing linebacker that has already made his mark.  A speedy linebacker who is sideline to sideline with his vision and length. Between him and [player_tooltip player_id='853787' first='Adam' last='Rodriguez'] you have to feel good about the linebackers for the Cardinals the next couple of seasons.rnrnhttps://twitter.com/Knight_cjwk/status/1591911378113249281?s=20","_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":"Colton Kilmer","_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":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"Gainesville","_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":"To keep everyone up to speed,  sophomore quarterback Joshua Barido has transferred to Life Christian Academy since we last talked about Gainesville. That leaves a massive hole in their offense to replace for Gainesville, one that Colton Kilmer seems in line to do so. A couple of things that stand out right away watching his tape, 1 is that is a left (brownie points from this southpaw scout), two is he throws an excellent deep ball. I do not think the Cardinals will be that far set back with the loss of Barido, as this kid looks like the real deal. Add in the fact he has big time targets all over the field to throw too, he will be just fine.rnrnhttp://www.hudl.com/video/3/16580263/636dbe0c8cded50280412129","_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1231291' first='Jack' last='Smoot']","_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":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"Gainesville","_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":"While I really like the skill positions the Cardinals have this fall, we have to talk about some of the big dudes up front on the offensive line. Starting with Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1231291' first='Jack' last='Smoot'] he is a technical savy, road grader at right guard. Already made his impact as a sophomore last fall, Smoot should soar up recruiting rankings at 6'4 and 280 lbs of solid muscle. By the way he also has run a 4.8, pretty impressive for a big man. Come next off-season do not be shocked if he has interest from major FCS and FBS schools across the country, he is that good.rnrnhttp://www.hudl.com/video/3/17097210/6323513d3449370ea4407374","_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1231361' first='Jeramy' last='Stith']","_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":"5'11u0022","_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":"Gainesville","_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":"My final evaluation is on two way starter junior [player_tooltip player_id='1231361' first='Jeramy' last='Stith'], the all-district selection last year, is back! Stith is a joy to watch, as a former offensive lineman, I love to see him pull and flatten defensive lineman from his left guard position. Countless times throughout each game it seems like he is knocking someone on their behind. I can see why voters were impressed as he is mean force that should not be messed with. Between him and Smoot I would not be surprised if Gainesville has one of the best offensive lines in the district.rnrnhttp://www.hudl.com/video/3/16584484/636e72f18cd4490e000d7c5c","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":9,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64dd2939a7f8c"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Thoughts:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I may be more bullish than most as Gainesville is only heading into their second season at the varsity level, but I really believe they will finish well over .500. They have major talent at every position both the skills and lineman. Coach Bruton is doing a fantastic job getting the Cardinals to buy in and the community must be thrilled. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->