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Lakeland players and coaches have put the winless 2023 season behind them and have a renewed sense of pride, commitment, and intensity, which head coach Marcus Cutler thinks will immediately impact the season. 

Cutler and his staff implemented a new speed and conditioning program this year, which he says has made improvements on the field. 

Cutler’s enthusiasm about the upcoming season was written all over his face as he talked about the growth of some of the younger players he inherited two years ago.

“Surprisingly, we have more depth than we’ve had before,” Cutler said. “I think the generation of kids that are here have grown up together. The babies I had two years ago have grown up, and I think that is going to be the actual turnaround for our team and competition this year is they now understand the higher level of high school competition. You know, they’ve taken their bumps and bruises and pushes and knockdowns, and so right now, they’ve grown up a whole lot.”

That growth and maturity have fostered a revamped program, a new outlook on the Cavalier season, and a motto Cutler hopes will build an unbreakable bond: Stronger We Are Together.

OFFENSE

The Cavs will line up in a spread offense again in 2024. Cutler says he kept the playbook as simple as possible to help the younger guys but also notes an increased football aptitude in his team. 

Last season, the offense struggled to find the endzone, but Cutler is confident the improved speed and endurance, coupled with the higher football IQ, will lead them to paydirt often this season.

OFFENSIVE LINE

The Cavs’ offensive line has the most depth this season, with three seniors returning and two sophomores who have been in the system for three years. 

At the tackle positions, Quinton Howard and Lynard Crocker will bookend the Lakeland line, with Braylon Beamon and Jamarion Chamblee at the guard positions and William Kessinger at the anchor of the O-line. William Kessinger will provide the spark upfront for Cavaliers. For this unit to be successful this year, they must play cohesively.

QUARTERBACK

Senior Jamari Deas will command the Cavs offense. Deas has already seen the offensive line’s improvement, telling Cutler this year’s line is one of the best he’s been behind. Deas will need time in the pocket in passing situations if Lakeland plans to move the ball downfield and find the endzone.

RUNNING BACK

JaiVionta Massenburg will get the starting nod at running back again this year. Massenburg is coming off 420 yards rushing on 30 attempts in 2023. With a much-improved line, Massenburg should find paydirt several more times than he did last season. Senior Jaden Smith will share the load with Massenburg, who is in the third year in the Cavs system. 

WIDE RECEIVERS

Stretching the field for the Cavaliers will be KerVaughn Stovall and Desymion Council, who, along with Deas, are members of the Cavalier track team, so there is speed on the edges for Deas to get the ball to downfield.

DEFENSE

The Cavs will trot out a 40-defense with a few wrinkles tossed in. Cutler says the depth on the D-line has been helped by not having guys to play both sides of the ball. As a unit, the Cavs’ defense allowed nearly 50 points per game in 2023, and to be successful, they will need to trim that number dramatically. With six returning starters, Lakeland is poised to show that needed improvement.

DEFENSIVE LINE

The strength of the defense will be the D-line. According to Cutler, incoming freshman Malik Wilson is the one to watch. Wilson boasts the size needed upfront and the drive to go along with it. Coming in, Wilson told Cutler he only wanted the opportunity to play, and with that mindset, the sky is the limit. Wilson has been effective in the Cavs’ two scrimmages this year, and Cutler hopes he will carry that effectiveness into the regular season.

LINEBACKERS

Senior Jaden Smith is the leader in the linebacking corps for Lakeland. Smith is coming off a 2023 season with 25 solo tackles, five tackles for loss and five sacks. As a three-sport athlete, Smiths’ size and speed will help in both the rushing and passing defense. Sophomore Travis Mizell, coming off an ankle injury two years ago, brings instinctiveness to complement Smith’s physicality. 

SECONDARY

With the season looming, the secondary dynamics are still fluid. However, with their speed, KerVaughn Stovall and Desymion Council will likely play significant roles in downfield coverage.

“We got talent out there this year who’s competing,” Cutler said. “So, we haven’t really finalized the secondary.