Springing forward, Westlake is locked and loaded as football comes into focus in 2024

Westlake has proven to be a conveyor belt for football players who become valued members at the college level. No one is going to feel sorry for the Chaparrals for losing players, but head coach Tony Salazar will spend much of the spring hunting down replacements for talented seniors from last season’s Class 6A state semifinalist team whose high school football days are over.

For Salazar and every other high school head coach in the state, that’s part of the game. The biggest challenge for them is finding suitable players who might make a difference on Friday nights.

Westlake defensive lineman Maddox Flynt was among the Austin area’s top newcomers last season and was a big reason the Chaparrals went 14-1 and made it to the Class 6A state semifinals.

So, when Salazar and son Cruz, 7, returned from a vacation golf outing in Port Aransas on Tuesday, it was time to get back to work. Westlake coaches are looking to fill starting positions left by college-bound seniors such as running back Jack Kayser (Army), offensive lineman Tyler Knape (California), wide receiver Heath McRee (San Diego State), long snapper Jake Helms (Air Force), kicker Spencer Barnett (Colorado State) and safety Judson Crockett (TCU).

Westlake, which returns 60 players who’ll be seniors, is among the positive storylines in Central Texas. Despite the losses noted above, the Class 6A powerhouse is loaded almost everywhere else.

Offensively, quarterback Rees Wise should show improvement after a stellar sophomore season, and he’ll be surrounded by weapons on all sides. Kayser will be tough to replace after rushing for 1,234 yards and 22 touchdowns, but the Chaps return experienced running backs Grady Bartlett, Justice Johnson and Sebastian Henault.

Wise will throw the football to returning receiver Brody Wilhelm and Cal Livengood, a player Salazar describes as…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/springing-forward-westlake-locked-loaded-110343208.html

Author : Austin American-Statesman

Publish date : 2024-03-14 11:03:43

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