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The Rice Raiders football team is a team that does not get talked enough but today that changes because they are one of my favorite teams moving forward.
I understand their record this year was not glamorous but just bear with me and hear me out and if you don’t agree with what I have said today then you can hate me (Please don’t though).
First things first I want to say they have a freshman quarterback so let’s not be too judgmental when looking at this team and their record this season. They learned a lot of tough lessons, and this was a crucial season for the Raiders in terms of development and learning the game of football.
But having a freshman quarterback is actually a blessing in disguise for this program and their fans.
Kor ‘Dae Johnson is extremely athletic and could make a defender miss in a phone booth. He can also play at a high level and make big time throws or rip off a long run at any moment against varsity level talent.
Johnson struggled from time-to-time this season but he is a just a freshman and learned a lot this season and will use it to bounce back next season. As he grows, develops and matures on and off the field the stock in the Raiders football program is only going to rise because while he is a focal point moving forward, he has talent all around him that is also coming back next season more developed and matured.
Second, we are going to look at the roster because they only have two seniors on their roster this season. Let that statement sink in for a second.
The good news is a large chunk of the Raiders roster are currently juniors and I can almost guarantee they are going to be coming back next season with a vengeance.
Look at it this way a more mature and developed sophomore quarterback who already has a full season of varsity experience and talented players at every single position entering their senior season, that is a recipe for success.
If I gave people that description without telling you the team, they’d think they are one of the top teams in the district and rightfully so and it is just the tip of the iceberg.
Lastly, what is going to make the Raiders’ great moving forward is their coaching.
This staff know how to get the best out of their players, especially this season with a losing record this coaching staff had their team ready to play every single game. The Raiders never said die at any point this season and that is thanks to the coaching staff keeping them grounded and believing in themselves that they could at least compete in every single game they played this year.
That is why I think they have the brightest future in football moving forward as their 2023 season comes to a close and they look to the future.
Thank you everyone for reading and supporting the paper, I look forward to the next topic of discussion with you guys.
