Sweet 16 preview: Young and hungry, Richmond Senior retools for another run at a chip
Editor’s Note: The Observer is taking a look at the 16 teams that are ranked in the preseason Sweet 16 prep football poll, released in random order. The true order of the teams will be revealed later this month.
Richmond Senior has been of the state’s most consistent winners for years, and Raiders coach Bryan Till doesn’t see why that will change in 2022.
“As a group,” he said, “this is one of the tightest teams I’ve had, and I’ve been here six years. These kids really work well together, and it’s been good to finally have a full offseason and watch them jell. A lot of these kids have waited their turn to get to this point, and they’re all great kids who are also great athletes. They’re looking forward to getting this opportunity.”
One of the players who has waited is quarterback Emoni McBride. Last season, McBride played behind star Kellan Hood, who will be a freshman wide receiver at North Carolina this fall.
Till said that McBride’s times in the shuttle and 40-yard dash are faster than Hood’s senior year high school numbers, and that his new quarterback, who is 6-foot and 180 pounds, has a lot of talent.
“Actually, he’s played behind both Hoods (Kellan and older brother Caleb) here at Richmond,” Till said of McBride. “Last year, we were working to get Kellan back out to slot (receiver) if Emoni could pick up (the system). We never quite felt comfortable, but he’s really transitioned well now.”
Joining McBride are 10 returning starters and 25 lettermen, including running back Tae Spencer (792 yards, 10 TDs in ‘21), along with offensive linemen Jeff Linton, Tyson Holloway and some key defensive stars like defensive back Emerson Wall (73 tackles) and linebacker Frazion Steele (32 tackles, two interceptions).
In addition, Richmond will have a senior class of 21 players, which Till calls small, but it will have more than 100 players in the program.
Till also thinks, as usual, Richmond can be a state championship threat. And Richmond could start as many as seven sophomores and two freshmen.
“I think we’ll surprise some people with that,” Till said. “We’ll be competitive with anybody. The thing we don’t have is depth, or the type of depth we have had at some positions. Our first 11 on both sides of the ball, and a few more guys after that, they are really dang good. But our program numbers are getting back to 120, 130. Most of that is in our sophomore and freshman classes. So I do think we can challenge and play anybody? Sure. But we’ve got to stay healthy.
“But I’d say our future is really bright with what we have.”
Inside Look: Richmond Senior
Head coach: Bryan Till (6th season)
2021 record: 10-2
Returning lettermen: 25
Returning starters: 10
Key returnees: Sr. Tae Spencer (5-7, 183, RB); OL Jeff Linton (6-4, 320, Sr.); OL Tyson Holloway (6-3, 280, Sr.); DB Emerson Wall (6-0, 181, Sr.); LB Frazion Steele (5-10, 180, Sr.); DB Brandon Askins (5-7, 170, Sr.); LB Joe Parsons (6-1, 225, Soph.); LB Marquan Martin (6-1, 192, Jr.); DE Jacoby Martin (6-2, 240, Jr.); DT Uriah McDonald (5-9, 270, Sr.)
Fresh faces: WR Raymond Knotts (6-3, 180, Soph.); WR Linden Garcia (5-10, 170, Jr.); DB Jamieson Jones (6-0, 170, Jr.)
