The Freedom Patriot football squad showed significant improvement in its first year under Head Coach Todd Donohoe and finished the 2012 season on a high note with a momentous 41 point win over Wiregrass Ranch. The team is working hard this off season to become bigger, stronger and faster in hopes to become a serious play-off threat in class 7A district 7. Here is a list of players that Patriot fans should look forward to seeing on Friday nights in 2013.

** QB DJ Grant (6’1 180lbs)- Donohoe says that Grant is the “unquestionable leader of the offense.” The senior split time at quarterback last year which affected his stats; however, he is projected to have a breakout 2013 season. He has been tearing up the competition during spring 7-on-7 tournaments and has helped Freedom win 14 out 18 7-on-7 games. He is a very mobile quarterback whose 40 time has been clocked in the 4.5’s.

** WR’s Sayff Saed (5’11 160lb) Tyruence Creary (5’9 155lbs)- Saed and Creary have been Grant’s favorite targets all Spring and both have been clutch during 7-on-7 games. Donohoe expects both to have tremendous years in 2013.

** RB/WR Johnny Rodicio (5’7 157lbs)- One of Freedom’s smallest players is also one of their most productive. Last year Rodicio led the team with 25 receptions. He is also a very hard nose runner that can deliver a wallop on any defenders that underestimate him.

** RB Andre Folkes (5’6 152lbs)- Folkes had 372 rushing yards in 2012 and is expected to have a very productive year in 2013 for the Patriots.

** DE Scott Patchan- Huge things are expected from the 6’5 227lb defensive lineman. Patchan is the only Freedom player to appear in BCP’s Winter Fire 79 and looked dominate at times during the BCP Ignite Camp.

** Linebacker should be an area of strength for Freedom and Donohoe expects significant production from Bryce Crawford (5’10 186lbs), Josh Collazo (5’10 192lbs), Lee Carabali (5’8 238lbs), and Jason Canada (6’1 219lbs).

** Donohoe says that the defense will be anchored by the secondary. Nate Ferguson (5’9 165) is the leader of the unit and had two interceptions last season. AC Cox (5’9 155lbs) is a sleeper and looks to build on the 9 pass break-ups he accounted for in 2012. Another player to watch out for in the defensive backfield is Timic Ivey (5’7 150lbs)

– Anthony Peace