Preseason X Factors: Briarcrest Football

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While the general public seems to be placing their focus on other teams in Division II-AAA, Briarcrest Christain remains lurking as one of the better teams in the classification and could make a deep push into the playoff bracket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a year of competing under them in addition to some key transfer insertions, the Saints now have the roster, coaching and experience to finish the year among the best teams in the entire state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If they want to make that a reality this season, these five players will have to deliver huge seasons as the team's X-factors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2028 QB [player_tooltip player_id='1036114' first='Cayden' last='Dixon']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1036114' first='Cayden' last='Dixon'] returns to Briarcrest Christian to lead the passing attack from the quarterback position for the next two seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He has begun to receive some attention on the recruiting trail, such as adding an offer from Big 12 program Baylor, but will have to take a strong step forward to compete with the talent inside the top classification inside the state of Tennessee.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The play of the new quarterback will determine how high the ceiling will prove to be this season. If he can provide consistent and accurate play, the Saints could be a sneaky contender in the state championship mix.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2028 LB/RB [player_tooltip player_id='1187260' first='Octavius' last='Flynn, Jr']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you are looking for underrecruited playmakers to know inside the state, then [player_tooltip player_id='1187260' first='Octavius' last='Flynn, Jr'] is a player that you need to know entering the 2026 football season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He should be the leader of the defense as he continues to hunt down ball carriers and rack up tackles. He will anchor the defense from his middle linebacker position and give the Saints one of the better players at the spot in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On offense, he should step into a large role as potentially the team's starting tailback, putting that power and athleticism to use on both sides of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 WR [player_tooltip player_id='1857024' first='J.D.' last='Donaldson']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the passing game to take off, Dixon will need strong playmakers to target in the passing game, and rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1857024' first='J.D.' last='Donaldson'] should prove to be a reliable target for another year this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is a versatile playmaker that produced as both a receiver and rusher last season and will give Dixon a safety blanket that can win in a variety of ways at different parts of the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He will have to produce at wideout when the Saints face the top teams on their schedule and into the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2028 OLB/TE [player_tooltip player_id='1093181' first='Graham' last='Kesner']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Briarcrest added some talented trench players to a room that already featured some top linemen, building the 2026 football team from the inside and working out, making the line of scrimmage a true strength for the program. Rounding out the line of scrimmage play will be on the edges where [player_tooltip player_id='1093181' first='Graham' last='Kesner'] will make a massive impact on both sides of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On offense, he will secure the edges as a blocker from his tight end position, helping generate outside rushing lanes for a promising tailback room.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His natural position is linebacker and he will be a key piece to the defense as he is tasked with manning the edge against the run. The Saints should be a hard team to run against this fall and Kesner's ability to contain and push rushing attempts back inside will play a large role in that success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 SAF [player_tooltip player_id='2143331' first='Wilkes' last='Anderson']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While the front seven has been built into a very blatant strength for the team over the past couple seasons under the new coaching staff, they will have to rely on their secondary as they face the better teams on the schedule and safety [player_tooltip player_id='2143331' first='Wilkes' last='Anderson'] returns as the anchor to the unit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He was a key piece to the defense last season, being among the team leaders in total tackles and offering a security blanket on the back end to prevent plays from getting behind the secondary.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The secondary will need to step up against some top offense attacks inside the state this season and Anderson will have a huge impact in the unit's performances this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->