Offensive line play biggest question heading into season for the Raiders

COAL MOUNTAIN, Ga. — If there’s one question heading into the 2022 campaign for head coach Robert Craft, it’s the offensive line. 

The Raiders have worked feverishly to get the front five rotation in place, but it’s still a work in progress with just six days before the season opener against North Atlanta in the Corky Kell Classic. 

Craft said he has a group of five that has won the position … “right now.” 

“The inexperience on the offensive line still is a big question mark,” he said. “We have a group that has won the position, but all five of them lack experience. They’ve had a good summer, good, good camp and preseason practices go. They just need to play – need all the snaps they can get.” 

Right now, sophomore Collin Kelly will be the center, juniors Abdiel Espinoza and Seth Daugherty will play tackle, and sophomore Jackson Coulter and junior Marcus Ioime will play the guard spots. 

Craft also said defensive line starters Chris Herock and Braden O’Sheilds, will rotate some. 

“Those first five guys are the guys we’ll run out there in the beginning,” he said. 

Craft has several other spots to fill over the summer. 

Looking down the roster, the Raiders lost quarterback Drew Aucoin, 85-173, 1,007 yards passing, 7 TDs; 439 rushing yards, 10 TDs). They also lost leading rusher Patrick Corrigan (120-569, 7 TDs).

Corrigan was also the team’s second-leading tackler with 79 tackles. Craft has also had gaps on the offensive line, at linebacker, and a couple in the secondary. However, he already has most of those filled. 

Senior West Roberts, who played in six games as a junior, has settled in at the starting role. He completed 53 percent of his passes last season for 329 yards and two touchdowns, making the transition from backup to starter smooth.

“West had a really good summer. I think the thing that stands out for West is the command of our team has been exceptional. He’s ready for this opportunity. It’s been neat to see him take full ownership of not just the offense but the entire team.” 

Craft’s offensive style traditionally has been a run-first approach. Over the last couple of years, the Raiders’ bigger offensive line has allowed the run game to flourish. 

Craft said they’ll look a little different this season for a few reasons: a smaller offensive line and an explosive wide receiver group.

“We’ve been able to take advantage of our bigger offensive line in the past,” he said. “We’re probably going to spread it out a little more this year. We’ve got to get better on the offensive line.

“We are going to be so deep at receiver. We’re going to play a lot of guys there, which will make our offense as explosive as we’ve been in a long time.”

“Really think those guys will be the core of that unit,” Craft said. “They’re young and inexperienced, but I think they’ll be really good.”

At wide receiver, seniors Aiden Ruckh (22-302, 1 TD), Logan Curry (24-342, 3 TD), Ashton Green, Zack Shirley and Mike Oakland return to form a speed group of wideouts. Tight end Cooper Eglian will give the Raiders a threat in the passing game.

But the depth doesn’t stop there. 

At running back, the Raiders have four guys bringing different running styles to the backfield.

“We’re probably as deep at running back as we’ve been since I’ve been here,” Craft said. “All four of those guys are a little bit different and will play a lot on Friday nights.”

Seniors Mason Lawson (41-192), Lake Heffington (56-272, 2 TDs), Caleb Bowen (21-71) and sophomore Carson McBrayer will be in the backfield rotation.

“We’re probably as deep at running back as we’ve been since I’ve been here,” Craft said.

They’ll run a 3-3 stack on defense and bring back the most experience in on the D-line and linebacker. 

Craft said they want to dictate the game's tempo on defense, starting with the front seven. 

“We return the most experience in our front seven,” he said. “

“We want to dictate and control the tempo of the game on defense as well,” Craft said.

Herock, an Air Force commit, returns at tackle, and junior Braden O’Shields at defensive end.

All-Access first-teamer and Navy commit Collin Miller, the team’s leading tackler, returns at linebacker. He’ll get help from senior Cole Roy and junior Jake Shirley.

“Defensively, whenever you feel like you’re solid and experienced up front, you feel like you’ve got a chance,” Craft said. “So having Chris and O’Shields back and the versatility Collin brings makes you feel like you can really do a lot. But also, they can help those young guys come along.”

Craft said the secondary has had a great summer.

“Those guys just need snaps – Friday night experience,” Craft said. “We think they’re going to be perfectly suited for where they are; they just need Friday night experience.” 

Curry, seniors Will Verdirame and Gavin Busse will man the safety spots, and junior Jonathan Lynn, senior JD Galligan and sophomore Colton Constable will compete for the cornerback positions.

The Raiders will open the season in the annual Corky Kell Classic against North Atlanta at West Forsyth, but with the move to Class 6A, they’ll move away from some traditional rivalries in Forsyth County but did keep the two biggest on the schedule. 

Craft said he was excited to keep those two on the schedule. 

“First off, playing in the Corky Kell Classic is special,” he said. “It just shows our program is in another place to where we’re taking a step forward as a program to play in an event like the Corky Kell. 

“But we’re excited about continuing to play Central and West,” Craft said. “Those are our biggest rivals, and you wanna win those games because we have to live with them year-round.

As for the region, the Raiders' only common opponent is Gainesville. They’ve split the last two seasons in Region 6-7A play. 

“As far as the region goes, I don’t know if I can really say which one is more important. They’re all going to be unique for us because we get to play some new, unfamiliar people in our region.”