Heading into his fourth season at the helm, Coach Masline is determined to propel the Vikings to new heights after an impressive campaign last year, which saw them finish with a commendable 10-2 record, albeit falling short against Bolles in the class 2M regional semifinal of the playoffs. As the Football God’s would have it, this Friday Raines will get an early shot at revenge against the Bolles to start the regular season.
Raines will bring with them a revamped roster complete with several playmakers that have come over from several rivals. Quarterback Timothy Cole (QB, C/o 2026) a dynamic dual-threat quarterback who came over from Ribault. Defensive back Jucoby Ma
On the ground, setting the tone for the Vikings offensive prowess will be Bernard Brown (5’9, 185lbs) who also came over from Ribault. Mckinley Alexander IV (6’3, 380lbs) is a mammoth center who came over from Ed White.
On defense, defensive-end King Massey (6’4, 230lbs, Howard commit) came over from Jackson to help fortify 4-star linebacker Tony Williams (6’1, 215lbs) came over from Ed White to fortify the middle. Williams had 5 interceptions last year at linebacker and made the Duval Sports Prime Time Player list.
Raines returns starters but lost their leading tacklers from last year to college. They hope to get young talent to step up in those positions. Micah Merritt is a 6’2, 200lbs senior linebacker who will look to fill that role.
They join an already talented roster that makes Raines one of the biggest teams in the area. First Team Duval defensive tackle Jyon Simon (6’3, 260lbs, Rutgers Commit) is a formidable presence in the heart of the defense.
The offensive line is where Raines can make a difference in ball games. There’s 5-star senior offensive tackle Solomon Thomas (FSU Commit), standing tall at 6’4 and weighing in at 313 pounds. The First Team Duval Sports Prime Time Player is a dominant force on the offensive line. Paired with senior guard Syon Hawkins (6’3, 295lbs) and tackle Arundai Mitchell (6’5, 287lbs) both renowned for their physical prowess that gives Raines a massive front.
Raines has always been known for athleticism. Their athletes include wide receiver Adron Walker (6’2,180lbs), a senior and leader that will make lots of plays this year. Along with running back Curtis Asberry (5’9, 2027), and Ziyon Butler( 5’11, 160lbs WR/ATH) to name a few.
The question is can the revamped roster gel quickly, or will it take some time for players to learn one another. They had a dominating 57-6 performance in their kickoff classic versus the KIPP Bold City Grey Hounds, a program in their first year. Yet, the true test comes this Friday when they visit Bolles to roll out the revamped Vikings.
Featured image by Ivan Jennings
