Inexperience Aplenty for Defending State Champion Ravenwood

ravenwood

by Sam McGaw

It may be an uphill battle for the defending Class 6A state champion Ravenwood Raptors, but they’ve been here before.

After taking down Maryville 26-17 to win the state title in December, the Raptors enter this season with a new head coach and only six returning starters.

On the bright side, that’s two more returning starters than they had entering last season.

Leading the charge is new head coach Richie Wessman.

The former University of Southern California quarterback and Tennessee Titans quality control assistant replaces Will Hester, who resigned from his position in December to become the first athletic director and head football coach at Nolensville High School.

Hester amassed a 38-4 record in his three seasons at Ravenwood, leading the team to back-to-back state championship appearances in his final two years.

Despite a plethora of inexperience throughout the Raptors’ roster, there’s plenty of senior leadership to help keep the team in contention for another deep playoff run.

Raptors’ Offense

The biggest task for Ravenwood’s offense is replacing the trio of quarterback Andrew Rappe’, running back Connor Jeffries and slot receiver Chris Rowland (Tennessee State).

Together, they helped lead RHS to an average of 36 points per game.

Battling to become Ravenwood’s fourth starting quarterback in four years are seniors McCain Marrow and Blake Van Landingham.

Marrow brings more experience to the competition after earning a couple of starts in place of Rappe’ last fall.

He finished the season with 240 passing yards, 109 rushing yards, five touchdowns (2 run) and three interceptions.

“They’re both learning the mental game of it right now and they’re both progressing really nicely,” Wessman said. “They both spin the ball nicely. In terms of their running style, McCain is more of a straight-ahead, fall-forward runner, but he’s not going to juke many guys out. Landingham is a little bit more shifty.”

It won’t be easy for the Raptors’ skill players to replace the production of Jeffries and Rowland.

Jeffries recorded 1,095 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns last season, while Rowland accounted for 1,042 receiving yards, 818 rushing yards and 26 total touchdowns (3 kick return, 3 punt return).

Stepping up to receive a bulk of the carries at running back are seniors Carter Nelson and Kyle Briggs.

Nelson was fourth on the team in rushing last fall, picking up 379 yards and four touchdowns on 70 carries. He also had a receiving touchdown in the state title game against Maryville.

Bolstering the receiving corps are seniors Nathan Freeman (22 rec., 383 yds, 1 TD), Seth Smeltz, John Rall and D’Angelo Rice, and juniors Onterio Rice and Miller Powell.

Freeman is the lone returning starter of all skill position players.

“We have a lot of good names that can catch the ball and make an impact for us,” Wessman said.

Up front, Duke commit Patrick Leitten (Sr.) and Connor Dodson (Sr.) are returning starters at tackle, while a handful of players are competing to start at guard and center. Senior Tavion Mills and junior Drew Harmon bring experience to the interior line.

“When taking this job, I would’ve thought our offensive line and running game were our biggest strengths on offense, but now I think we’re starting to become more complete,” Wessman stated. “We’re not there, yet, but we’re starting become a football team that will be able to run and throw the ball.”

Raptors’ Defense

Senior edge defender Tahj Williams is the lone returning starter for a Raptors’ defense that allowed 13.53 points per game and forced 33 takeaways a year ago.

While he supplies a majority of the experience for the unit, Wessman said he’s confident the players stepping into larger roles will rise to the occasion.

“My expectation every single day is we’re going to get a lot better, and we’ve been doing that,” he stated. “My hope is that we are going to be a team that can get after the quarterback and can create turnovers. But until we prove that on paper, we aren’t there, yet.”

Williams recorded 67 tackles, two sacks, two fumble recoveries and one interception last season.

He will see time at defensive end and linebacker in his team’s multiple-look system.

Sam Lee and Blaine Mitchell are expected to join him in the trenches.

“Tahj Williams is going to be a guy that’s on the defensive line and at linebacker for us,” Wessman said. “Blaine Mitchell is doing some good things and Sam Lee is doing some great things. We also have six more guys battling.”

Carter Nelson (11 tkls) and Graham Wallace (10 tkls) lead the linebacking corps.

“Carter Nelson and Graham Wallace are really a step ahead of everyone else right now,” Wessman stated. “We have more depth there, but those two guys are really standing out right now.”

Seniors Elijah Dryer and Hunter Boyd, and juniors Seth Erickson and Ramez Ibrahim are expected to step up at cornerback, while senior Trip Waring and junior Cole Carteaux round out the secondary at safety.

“We have four corners who are all competitors and they’re feisty,” Wessman said. “They bring the physicality and demeanor you want.”

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