Program Preview: Arbor View Aggies

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Coming off an up-and-down 4-6 season last fall, Arbor View enters 2024 with high expectations as one of the most talented teams in Nevada. Led by elite talent on both sides of the ball, the Aggies should boast one of the most explosive offenses in the state and be highly physical on the defensive end. They'll open the season with one of the most anticipated week-one matchups when they travel to San Diego to take on one of the top teams in California- Lincoln.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Returners: Christian</strong> <strong>Thatcher</strong> (LB, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='803284' first='Thaddeus' last='Thatcher'] </strong>(QB, 2027), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='940576' first='Kamareion' last='Bell']</strong> (RB, 2027), <strong>Jayden</strong> <strong>Williams</strong> (WR, 2026), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='940577' first='Kai' last='Cypher']</strong> (WR, 2027),<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='820760' first='Jordan' last='Hales']</strong> (LB, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1325742' first='Damien' last='Dixon'] </strong>(DB, 2025), <strong>Tanielu</strong> <strong>Maafala-Barbasa</strong> (DL, 2026), <strong>Daniel</strong> <strong>Boyd</strong> (OL, 2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='809092' first='Damani' last='Warren']</strong> (WR, 2027), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809013' first='Zac' last='Fares']</strong> (TE, 2027), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1323311' first='Brian' last='Townsend']</strong> (TE, 2027),<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='820634' first='Tico' last='Pringle']</strong> (DB, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1323317' first='Leroy' last='Terry'] </strong>(OL, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1110879' first='Braylen' last='Gardner']</strong> (LB, 2026), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='560877' first='Mekhi' last='Mitchell']</strong> (WR, 2027), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='876939' first='Jamarcus' last='Johnson'] </strong>(DB, 2026), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='876718' first='Nylen' last='Johnson'] </strong>(RB, 2026), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1126388' first='Xavier' last='Netherly']</strong> (ATH, 2027), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1327309' first='Graham' last='Srodes']</strong> (WR, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1334169' first='Daniel' last='Eagar']</strong> (OL, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='820633' first='Bryson' last='Pabon']</strong> (DB, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1334983' first='Justin' last='Teal'] </strong>(DL, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1339599' first='Patrick' last='Denniston']</strong> (DB, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1110882' first='Anthony' last='Beltran']</strong> (OL, 2026), <strong>Devin</strong> <strong>Moreno</strong> (DL, 2025), <strong>Kaden</strong> <strong>Compeau </strong>(DL, 2025), <strong>Colton</strong> <strong>Keeter</strong> (DB, 2026), <strong>David</strong> <strong>Lockhart</strong> (LB, 2027), <strong>Dontrell</strong> <strong>Bealer</strong> (DL, 2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Schedule</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>8/24 @ Lincoln (CA)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>8/30 vs. Legacy&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>9/6 vs. Palo Verde&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>9/20 vs. Basic&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>9/27 @ Coronado&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>10/5 vs. Desert Pines&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>10/10 vs. Bishop Gorman&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>10/25 @ Liberty</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Offense</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Standout 2027 QB<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='803284' first='Thaddeus' last='Thatcher'] </strong>leads the Arbor View offense in his second season as starter. He flashed the arm talent and feel for the position that have helped him add six D-I offers this offseason despite being limited by injury as a freshman . Thatcher's a skilled passer possessesing the accuracy and natural arm strength to distribute to every area of the field- he holds offers from Colorado, Utah, and Kansas among others. He has elite talent around him including Nevada's top TE prospects- <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809013' first='Zac' last='Fares']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1323311' first='Brian' last='Townsend']</strong>. Townsend's entering his first year of varsity football with massive upside as a converted basketball athlete with a high-level receiving skillset- he's added nine D-I offers, including five from the Mountain West, since his strong showing in spring ball and should continue to add to that list with a breakout senior season. Fares is an up-and-coming 2027 with the size (6'5"/220), athleticism, and receiving skill to develop into one of the top TE prospects in the country over the coming seasons- he's had a massive offseason picking up six D-I offers including Michigan and Washington. Star WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809092' first='Damani' last='Warren']</strong> figures to be the leading playmaker on the perimeter- the #1-prospect in PRZ NV's 2027 class is a rare talent with a unique blend of size (6'4"/200), athleticism, and ball skills. He's added over 10 P-4 offers this offseason including Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, and USC. The WR group also returns one of the state's top playmakers out of the slot in <strong>Jayden</strong> <strong>Williams</strong>. Williams is a quick, shifty route-runner that can work the short areas effectively and produce explosive plays with the ball in his hands. He holds offers from Portland St., Washington St., and Utah Tech. RB <strong>Kamareion</strong> <strong>Bell</strong> returns to the backfield after leading the team in rushing with 700 yards and 3 TDs as a freshman. He's a well-balanced, all-purpose back with a playmaking blend of speed, power, and elusiveness. He added offers from Portland St. and Washington St. this offseason. Fresno St.-commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='820612' first='Daniel' last='Boyd']</strong> leads an OL unit that'll look to replace several starters from last season. Multiple players could fill vacant spots including Bishop Gorman-transfer <strong>Leroy</strong> <strong>Terry</strong> (2025), <strong>Daniel</strong> <strong>Eagar</strong> (2025), and <strong>Anthony</strong> <strong>Beltran</strong> (2026). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defense</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Utah LB-commit <strong>Christian</strong> <strong>Thatcher</strong> is the clear-cut leader of the defense and as violent a defender you'll find at the high school level. Starting alongside him will be an up-and-coming LB prospect that can match the speed and physicality Thatcher brings to the table in <strong>Braylen</strong> <strong>Gardner</strong> (2026). Gardner's a sleeper in the 2026 class possessing the size (6'2"/205) and strength to play downhill between the OTs and the athleticism to play in space- he's firmly on the breakout radar ahead of his junior season. LB <strong>Jordan</strong> <strong>Hales</strong> returns for his senior season after a solid junior season that saw him finish as one of the top tacklers on the team. Another 2026 prospect looks to breakout on the Aggies' front-seven unit in DL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1139182' first='Tanielu' last='Maafala-Barbasa']</strong>. Maafala-Barbasa was a contributor as a sophomore but has looked stronger and more developed this offseason and should be a disruptive force upfront for the defense this fall- he picked up his first offer from Central Michigan in May. <strong>Justin</strong> <strong>Teal</strong> (2025) is an intriguing DL prospect entering his first season of varsity football- as expected, he's a bit raw in his technique at this early stage of his development but has shown a promising combination of power and speed off the ball this offseason. Senior FS <strong>Damien</strong> <strong>Dixon</strong> is the top returner in the secondary after leading the team in INTs (3) as a junior. He's a rangy, physical deep-safety and one of the more underrated DB prospects in Vegas heading into this season. He'll be joined by newcomer and Faith Lutheran-transfer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='820634' first='Tico' last='Pringle']</strong>. Pringle showed his versatile defensive playmaking as a sophomore for Faith Lutheran before sitting out his junior season. He's a dynamic defender that can make plays in coverage as a deep half-field safety or pressed-up OLB. Look for Pringle's recruitment to heat up with a strong senior season. Junior <strong>Jamarcus</strong> <strong>Johnson</strong> was a contributor on both sides of the ball as a sophomore and should continue to be a playmaker as a perimeter CB. Recent transfer from Canyon Springs, <strong>Xavier</strong> <strong>Netherly,</strong> is the #10-prospect in PRZ NV's 2027 rankings and should carve out a role in the secondary.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->