Preseason X Factors: Blackman Blaze

<p>There has been a lot of change around the Blackman football program this offseason, beginning with Will Hester coming in to take over as the head coach.</p>   <p>His resume should give Blaze fans hope for a bright future and a lot of people are placing their focus on that future while the team has the ability to be good this fall after making a semifinal run last season.</p>   <p>However, if the team wants to make another deep postseason run this season, they will need players to step into larger roles and these five prospects will be counted on heavily as the roster currently stands.</p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 QB [player_tooltip player_id='207141' first='Marcus' last='Cameron']</h2>   <p>Blackman now has one returning quarterback on the roster and it is time for the rising senior to finally take the reigns of the offense.</p>   <p>He has solid arm talent that can make all the plays in the offensive system and will be someone that needs to deliver each week for the team to have success in one of the toughest regions in the entire state.</p>   <p>He will be able to rely on one of the better running back rooms in the state led by Micah Nance, which should take a lot of pressure off his shoulder, but the ceiling will be heavily reliant on his performance.</p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2028 WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id='1030583' first='Brycen' last='Mitchell']</h2>   <p>As the team looks for new playmakers to step up on the perimeter, they certainly have talented options with potential on the roster that could be in store for breakout seasons.</p>   <p>Mitchell is someone I was expecting a big season from last season and he should develop nicely in a larger role this season and he is counted on to as the primary playmaker.</p>   <p>He has good size, versatility and athleticism, which give him strong playmaking potential at both receiver and cornerback. Blackman needs that ability at both positions and Mitchell will be one of the biggest X-factors to this team's success.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/B_HimFr/status/1959258449264497135?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2028 OL/IDL [player_tooltip player_id='1181753' first='Makhi' last='Rodriguez']</h2>   <p>"Nacho" is a big and violent player which translates nicely to his skillset along the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. He will be relied upon further this season after the team loses some experienced size up front.</p>   <p>The rising junior was the starting left tackle last season and showed a lot of promise while protecting the blindside of the quarterback. His best long-term potential is at guard due to his raw size, violence and ability to displace defensive players, but has the size to be a strong left tackle as well.</p>   <p>With [player_tooltip player_id='1648682' first='James' last='Stewart'] leaving the program, the nose tackle position is now fully Nacho's, a spot where shined in limited spurts last season. His power and ability to move people translates strongly there, allowing for him to take away the interior run game.</p>   <p>He is a crucial piece to this team as the top returning trench talent and someone who can play both sides of the ball. Having a player like that back will help ease some concerns from a new coaching staff.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/MakhiRod77/status/1956891823047102859?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 ILB [player_tooltip player_id='1207776' first='Jayden' last='Gowin']</h2>   <p>A quiet strength of the Blaze next season is at the linebacker position as the team returns a couple of productive veterans to anchor the defense from the middle of the field.</p>   <p>Gowin figures to be the starting middle linebacker and will have to consistently take on blocks to make plays on the ball, something he did last season as well. That should free up his explosive companion [player_tooltip player_id='1663673' first='Isaiah' last='Boles'] to chase down ball carriers.</p>   <p>Having the middle linebacker return to the team will be crucial as the coaching staff can rely on an established vocal presence to communicate to the front seven on Friday nights.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Jayden_Gowin22/status/1954585636263875022?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 DB [player_tooltip player_id='1925934' first='Tristan' last='Thornton']</h2>   <p>While the team has a lot of potential in the secondary for next season, the top returner is versatile defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1925934' first='Tristan' last='Thornton'], who will need to step into a true cornerback role and help lead the room.</p>   <p>The team returns two of the safeties in the rotation last season, but will be looking for consistent players to rely upon at the cornerback positions and that is where the rising senior figures in to this team.</p>   <p>Last season, he played primarily in the slot and was able to do a lot of different things. Now, he moves to the outside and will be tasked with covering some dynamic receiving threats in the region. He is someone the new coaching staff is high on and will need to be a big-time leader for the Blaze.</p>

There has been a lot of change around the Blackman football program this offseason, beginning with Will Hester coming in to take over as the head coach.