San Diego Program Preview: Lincoln Hornets
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The Lincoln Hornets enter 2023 coming off their most accomplished season in program history that included wins over Carlsbad in the SD Section Open-Div. Championship, Sierra Canyon in the D-1AA Regional, and De La Salle in the D-1AA State Championship.…
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Continue ReadingThe Lincoln Hornets enter 2023 coming off their most accomplished season in program history that included wins over Carlsbad in the SD Section Open-Div. Championship, Sierra Canyon in the D-1AA Regional, and De La Salle in the D-1AA State Championship. They’ll look to replace key pieces from their championship run including the #1-RB in CA, Roderick Robinson, and multiple P-5 signees on defense. Lincoln opens the season in Oahu vs. Wai’anaea on 8/17. Key matchups to watch in San Diego will be games against Mater Dei Catholic, Madison, and Cathedral Catholic.
Key Losses: QB KJ Chatham, RB Roderick Robinson (Georgia), WR Corey Thompson-Miller (UNLV), LB David Peevy (USC), LB Chris Fewell (SDSU), DB Josiah Cox (Arizona St.), DB Adrien Chargualaf (Black Hills St.), DB Chris White (Yale), DB Hunter Wiggins (New Mexico)
Key Transfers: QB Akili Smith Jr. Akili Smith Jr. 6'5" | 200 lbs | QB Lincoln | 2025 State CA Jr. (Vista Murrieta), ATH Dreyden Garner Dreyden Garner 6'1" | 185 lbs | ATH Lincoln | 2025 State CA (University City), RB Kent Armstrong (Crawford), DB Abdulahi Sharif Abdulahi Sharif 5'8" | 155 lbs | DB Lincoln | 2025 State CA (Crawford), ATH CJ Williams CJ Williams 5'10" | 175 lbs | ATH Lincoln | 2025 State CA (La Costa Canyon)
Schedule
- 8/17 @ Wai’anae (Wai’anae, HI)
- 8/25 vs. Bishop Alemany
- 9/1 vs. St. Bonaventure
- 9/8 @ Mater Dei Catholic
- 9/15 vs. Cajon (San Bernardino)
- 9/22 vs. Inglewood
- 9/29 @ Madison
- 10/6 vs. Cathedral Catholic
- 10/13 vs. St. Augustine
- 10/20 @ University City
Offense
Lincoln’s offense picked up two elite 2025 playmakers through offseason transfers- QB Akili Smith Jr. Akili Smith Jr. 6'5" | 200 lbs | QB Lincoln | 2025 State CA Jr. and ATH Dreyden Garner Dreyden Garner 6'1" | 185 lbs | ATH Lincoln | 2025 State CA . Smith flashed his natural arm talent, athleticism from the pocket, and arm strength/accuracy throwing for 2,400 yards and 29 TDs as a sophomore. PRZ CA’s #6-ranked QB committed to Oregon on 7/31 after racking up 15 D-I offers and instantly makes Lincoln a contender to repeat as state champions. Garner’s an electric athlete that produces explosive plays in all three phases as a WR/DB/KR. He brings speed, ball skills, and a legit deep-threat for Lincoln’s offense- currently holds offers from Colorado, Arkansas, Oklahoma St., Ole Miss, and others. Senior WR Mahki Gray Mahki Gray 5'9" | 160 lbs | WR Lincoln | 2024 State CA is the top returner on the perimeter from last season along with fellow senior Ayden Billups and junior Marcos Pena Marcos Pena 6'1" | 170 lbs | WR Lincoln | 2025 State CA , who each just picked up offers from SDSU in June. The backfield will look to replace one of the most productive RBs in the state last season with junior returners Aden Jackson and Donald Reed III, along with Crawford transfer, Kent Armstrong. Armstrong was the second leading rusher for Crawford as a sophomore totaling nearly 1,000 yards and 11 TDs on 112 carries. He’s a fast, elusive athlete that can rip off big gains and catch out of the backfield. The OL unit is led by senior OG Adrian Gutierrez who just added an offer from Western New Mexico and juniors Journey Tala Journey Tala 6'3" | 330 lbs | OL Lincoln | 2025 State CA and Ladainian Tafilele Ladainian Tafilele 6'3" | 330 lbs | OL Lincoln | 2025 CA .
Defense
Lincoln’s defense looks to reload a dominant defense from last season that featured multiple D-I starters. Jerome Roberts Jerome Roberts 6'0" | 195 lbs | LB Lincoln | 2024 State CA is the feature LB who’s added offers from SDSU, Nevada, and Sacramento St. since November. He’s a fast and physical ILB that likes to get downhill and create negative plays in the backfield. Senior ILB Micah Valenzuela Micah Valenzuela 6'1" | 205 lbs | LB Sierra Canyon | 2024 State CA and junior OLB Munir Kassa should be in position to earn more playing time this season alongside the mainstay, Roberts. Junior DT Eugene Rice is a disruptive force in the run game that can plug interior gaps and make tackles at the LOS- he should be a breakout stock-riser among San Diego DL this fall. The secondary added two talented transfers in 2025 CB CJ Williams CJ Williams 5'10" | 175 lbs | ATH Lincoln | 2025 State CA and 2024 S Abdulahi Sharif Abdulahi Sharif 5'8" | 155 lbs | DB Lincoln | 2025 State CA . Williams is a versatile piece that can play outside CB, nickel/S, and make plays with the ball in his hands- he added two HBCU offers in November from Alabama St. and Bethune-Cookman. Sharif’s an instinctive deep-safety that can also line up over the slot and make plays on the ball in coverage anywhere he lines up. Senior DB Joseph Benavente is another returner to keep an eye on this season.