Find out what some of the top players in the state are saying about how football has been going as of late!
Q&A with Archbishop Curley athlete Amari Gardner
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“I’ve been doing a lot of weight and speed training as of right now for off season workouts. I’ve been attending camps and getting exposure trying to perfect my craft. I’ve been taking time to myself to get better as well as time with friends to make each other better.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“My confidence at this position has grown tremendously. I was originally a receiver going into high school, and after freshman year’s short season I got moved up to varsity. They put me at free safety, and I fell in love with it, so I have no problem with playing both. This year you will see me on both sides of the ball. Also, my IQ for the game has grown tremendously as a defensive player. I’m able to understand different coverages and things I didn’t know before.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“Our goal is to win the MIAA B conference championship. Anything other than that is a failure. I’m looking forward to this upcoming season with my guys.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Even though Loyola isn’t on our regular season schedule, we are still scrimmaging them. So I think they will give us great competitiveness. Along with St. Mary’s who we play on homecoming.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Josh Derry, Number 10 from Loyola, those are good players [but] nothing we as a defense can’t handle.”
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Q&A with Archbishop Carroll defensive end Vincent Okorie
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“I have been hitting the field doing agility and bag drills, I have also been in the weight room with the team and on my own.”
What do you feel you have improved on most this off-season?
“I definitely feel that I have worked on my sprinting technique and my conditioning by working out with the track squad.”
How do you feel your team will do this football season?
“I have a lot of faith in my team this year, I believe in Coach Rob and our coaches, but most importantly [faith in] myself that we will be able to not only repeat our perfect regular season, but also bring the WCAC metro title to Carroll.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Off of our stellar season last year, more opportunities for tougher opponents have been opened up to us [and will] help the team get better as the season progresses. After reviewing the schedule, I believe schools like McDonough and Gonzaga are going to bring the most effort, so we must prepare one step at a time to surpass that level to come out with the W in those weeks.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“I feel that the toughest player we will face this season is Brent Toles, the QB of St Mary’s Ryken. He gave us a real challenge last year in the championship game, and he was only a sophomore. Now that he is going into his junior year he is only better now than before [and] we must find a way to shut him down to win the WCAC title this year.”
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Q&A with Howard athlete Patrick Conron
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“I have been working out with the team with our off-season workouts and 7/7 practices. I also have been going to the gym and to the field to workout frequently myself.”
What do you feel you have improved on most this off-season?
“I feel that I improved upon my ability to react faster to movements by the offense and I also feel that my footwork and overall speed have improved.”
How do you feel your team will do this football season?
“I really like how much we have come together and the chemistry we have built. This leads me to believe that we will be a force to be reckoned with this season.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“I feel that our games against Glenelg and Long Reach will be tough because of the strong rivalries we have with those schools. There is a lot of history there and I am excited to be a part of it.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“I think that Brice Koontz and Abe over at Long Reach are both going to be tough players to face next year.”
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Q&A with La Plata offensive lineman Jaheem Proctor
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“Me and my teammates have been working out and trying to build a relationship with them and being a leader.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“My communication skills with the team and coaches.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“We will do good, we are in good shape.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“I don’t think we will have a problem with any team, we have the talent to beat everyone.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Nobody.”
......................................................................................................
Q&A with Gonzaga quarterback Aidan Conrath
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“Right after last season ended, I started morning and evening workouts at Gonzaga College High School. I have been regularly working with my QB coach at Athletic Republic. We just started OTAs and 7v7 tournaments at different colleges in various states.”
What do you feel you have improved on most this off-season?
“I have improved my leadership skills on and off the field.”
How do you feel your team will do this football season?
“We have a very talented team and I think we will perform great this year.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“St. John's.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“We are not worried about individual players, we focus on doing our best against all teams.”
......................................................................................................
Q&A with Archbishop Curley athlete Amari Gardner
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“I’ve been doing a lot of weight and speed training as of right now for off season workouts. I’ve been attending camps and getting exposure trying to perfect my craft. I’ve been taking time to myself to get better as well as time with friends to make each other better.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“My confidence at this position has grown tremendously. I was originally a receiver going into high school, and after freshman year’s short season I got moved up to varsity. They put me at free safety, and I fell in love with it, so I have no problem with playing both. This year you will see me on both sides of the ball. Also, my IQ for the game has grown tremendously as a defensive player. I’m able to understand different coverages and things I didn’t know before.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“Our goal is to win the MIAA B conference championship. Anything other than that is a failure. I’m looking forward to this upcoming season with my guys.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Even though Loyola isn’t on our regular season schedule, we are still scrimmaging them. So I think they will give us great competitiveness. Along with St. Mary’s who we play on homecoming.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Josh Derry, Number 10 from Loyola, those are good players [but] nothing we as a defense can’t handle.”
......................................................................................................
Q&A with Archbishop Carroll defensive end Vincent Okorie
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“I have been hitting the field doing agility and bag drills, I have also been in the weight room with the team and on my own.”
What do you feel you have improved on most this off-season?
“I definitely feel that I have worked on my sprinting technique and my conditioning by working out with the track squad.”
How do you feel your team will do this football season?
“I have a lot of faith in my team this year, I believe in Coach Rob and our coaches, but most importantly [faith in] myself that we will be able to not only repeat our perfect regular season, but also bring the WCAC metro title to Carroll.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Off of our stellar season last year, more opportunities for tougher opponents have been opened up to us [and will] help the team get better as the season progresses. After reviewing the schedule, I believe schools like McDonough and Gonzaga are going to bring the most effort, so we must prepare one step at a time to surpass that level to come out with the W in those weeks.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“I feel that the toughest player we will face this season is Brent Toles, the QB of St Mary’s Ryken. He gave us a real challenge last year in the championship game, and he was only a sophomore. Now that he is going into his junior year he is only better now than before [and] we must find a way to shut him down to win the WCAC title this year.”
......................................................................................................
Q&A with Howard athlete Patrick Conron
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“I have been working out with the team with our off-season workouts and 7/7 practices. I also have been going to the gym and to the field to workout frequently myself.”
What do you feel you have improved on most this off-season?
“I feel that I improved upon my ability to react faster to movements by the offense and I also feel that my footwork and overall speed have improved.”
How do you feel your team will do this football season?
“I really like how much we have come together and the chemistry we have built. This leads me to believe that we will be a force to be reckoned with this season.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“I feel that our games against Glenelg and Long Reach will be tough because of the strong rivalries we have with those schools. There is a lot of history there and I am excited to be a part of it.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“I think that Brice Koontz and Abe over at Long Reach are both going to be tough players to face next year.”
......................................................................................................
Q&A with La Plata offensive lineman Jaheem Proctor
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“Me and my teammates have been working out and trying to build a relationship with them and being a leader.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“My communication skills with the team and coaches.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“We will do good, we are in good shape.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“I don’t think we will have a problem with any team, we have the talent to beat everyone.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Nobody.”
......................................................................................................
Q&A with Gonzaga quarterback Aidan Conrath
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“Right after last season ended, I started morning and evening workouts at Gonzaga College High School. I have been regularly working with my QB coach at Athletic Republic. We just started OTAs and 7v7 tournaments at different colleges in various states.”
What do you feel you have improved on most this off-season?
“I have improved my leadership skills on and off the field.”
How do you feel your team will do this football season?
“We have a very talented team and I think we will perform great this year.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“St. John's.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“We are not worried about individual players, we focus on doing our best against all teams.”
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