Program Preview: Lincoln Hornets

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Lincoln's dominant 11-1 campaign ended in heartbreaking fashion in a 27-26 loss to Granite Hills in the San Diego Section Open-Division championship. The Hornets again have a loaded roster full of D-I talent and are well established as one of the top teams in Southern California. With the #3-QB in California's 2025 class back at the helm, they'll look to avenge last season's loss and contend for another state title. Lincoln will be tested early with a challenging non-conference schedule that includes two talented teams out of Las Vegas (Arbor View and Coronado) and four California powerhouse programs in Long Beach Poly, JSerra, Grant, and Los Alamitos</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Returners: [player_tooltip player_id='406658' first='Akili' last='Smith Jr.']</strong> (QB, 2025), [player_tooltip player_id='1183032' first='Aden' last='Jackson'] (RB, 2025), <strong>Donald</strong> <strong>Reed</strong> <strong>III</strong> (RB, 2025), [player_tooltip player_id='1338405' first='Isaiah' last='Grant'] (WR, 2025), [player_tooltip player_id='406670' first='Journey' last='Tala'] (OL, 2025), <strong>Raschon</strong> <strong>Hardeman</strong> (OL, 2025), <strong>Ladainian</strong> <strong>Tafilele</strong> (OL, 2025) <strong>Eugene Rice </strong>(DL, 2025), <strong>Rashad Scott</strong> (DL, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='723867' first='Keontae' last='McClay']</strong> (DB, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='780325' first='Cammeron' last='Purnell'] </strong>(DB, 2025), <strong>Munir Kassa</strong> (LB, 2025), <strong>Dameian Watkins Jr.</strong> (DB, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='976918' first='Marcos' last='Pena']</strong> (ATH, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='632310' first='Prince' last='Tavizon']</strong> (DL, 2027), <strong>Isaiah Bartolome </strong>(DB, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='282765' first='Isaac' last='Turner']</strong> (DB, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='723770' first='Abdulahi' last='Sharif'] </strong>(DB, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1288304' first='Ramon' last='Petties-Davis']</strong> (OL, 2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='406718' first='Ty' last='Olsen']</strong> (WR, 2025), <strong>King David Dunn</strong> (WR, 2026), <strong>Courtney Miller-Thompson</strong> (ATH, 2027)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Schedule</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>8/16 @ Chaparral&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>8/24 vs. Arbor View (NV)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>8/30 @ Long Beach Poly&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>9/6 @ Coronado (NV)&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>9/13 vs. JSerra&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>9/27 @ Grant</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>10/5 vs. Los Alamitos</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>10/11 vs. Point Loma</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>10/18 @ Cathedral Catholic</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>10/25 @ St. Augustine&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>11/2 vs. Madison</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Offense</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oregon-commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='406658' first='Akili' last='Smith Jr.']</strong> leads one of the most explosive offenses in SoCal in his second season as starter for Lincoln after throwing for over 2,400 yards and 25 TDs last fall. Smith is one of the most gifted passers in the country with an elite combination of size (6'5"/215), natural arm talent, and mobility. The offense also returns it's receptions leader from last season in <strong>Isaiah</strong> <strong>Grant</strong> (42 catches, 700 yards, 5 TDs). The biggest addition to the offense came via transfer in senior Ty<strong> </strong>Olsen. Olsen's an explosive playmaker and one of the top wideouts in the county. The 6'2"/195 WR put together a massive junior season with 74 catches for over 1,200 yards and 15 TDs for Del Norte. Olsen currently holds 10 D-I offers from San Jose St., Colorado St., and Cal among others. Junior WR <strong>King David Dunn</strong> is an up-and-comer to watch- the 5'11"/180 wideout picked up his first offer from Arizona this offseason. Returning to the backfield are the team's two leading rushers from a season ago- <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1183032' first='Aden' last='Jackson']</strong> and <strong>Donald</strong> <strong>Reed</strong> <strong>III</strong>. Jackson led the way in 2023 with 700 yards and 17 TDs on the ground- he's a physical, downhill back with an effective combination of size (6'/205) and speed in the open field. Senior OG [player_tooltip player_id='406670' first='Journey' last='Tala'] anchors a physical OL unit that returns several starters including seniors <strong>Raschon Hardeman</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1288304' first='Ramon' last='Petties-Davis']</strong>. Both Tala and Petties-Davis picked up their first offers this offseason from San Jose St. and NAU, respectively. Hardeman's a strong LT in pass protection that can handle 1v1 matchups with EDGE defenders on the outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defense</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lincoln's defense looks to replace massive production from last season's ILB duo- Jerome Roberts and Micah Valenzuela- who racked up 250+ tackles and 45+ TFLs between the two in 2023, but the DL and DB groups are loaded with talent. Senior DT <strong>Eugene</strong> <strong>Rice</strong> is entering his fourth season on varsity- he's a stalwart interior DL that proved to be a disruptive force upfront posting 71 tackles, 10 sacks, and 33 TFLs as a junior. Rice is extremely effective against both run and pass with his high-level combination of speed, power, and technique- he's one of the top unoffered defensive prospects heading into this season. Fellow senior DT <strong>Rashad</strong> <strong>Scott</strong> is another interior defender to watch on the front-seven- Scott totaled 56 tackles, 2 sacks, and 8 TFLs as a junior. Sophomore DE [player_tooltip player_id='632310' first='Prince' last='Tavizon'] is a budding EDGE defender that put his name on the D-I radar with the major upside he showed as a freshman. Tavizon's a 6'3"/245 man-child with all the physical tools to develop into one of the top DE prospects in California by the time he's a senior- he picked up eight D-I offers this offseason including Cal, San Diego St., and San Jose St. Senior CBs [player_tooltip player_id='780325' first='Cammeron' last='Purnell'] and<strong> Isaiah Bartolome</strong> are established lockdown defenders on the outside and some of the top DB prospects in San Diego. The two are smooth, skilled cover-corners with proven production on the ball (7 INTs last season). Purnell was a massive stock-riser this offseason picking up his first set of D-I offers from Utah, Washington, Cal, San Jose St., San Diego St., Oregon St., and Washington St. Senior nickel CB [player_tooltip player_id='723867' first='Keontae' last='McClay'] is a another lockdown defender on the inside that can tackle around the LOS, cover man, and make plays on the ball as a zone safety. McClay picked up his first offer from Northern Arizona in May. Senior SS <strong>Dameian Watkins Jr. </strong>is a versatile secondary defender that provides physical run support around the LOS and offers great upside in his coverage skill/athleticism. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='723770' first='Abdulahi' last='Sharif'] and [player_tooltip player_id='976918' first='Marcos' last='Pena'] are safeties to watch in the Lincoln secondary- Pena's a talented two-way player that picked up his second offer from Washington St. in January.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->