Preseason Blitz: Huntington Raiders head into year one under HC John Simon

SHREVEPORT, LA (KTAL/KMSS) – Last year the Huntington Raiders went 6-6 and made the second round of playoffs, but after losing 36 seniors, first year head coach John Simon was left with a young team.

“I don’t think there’s a lot expected of us this year because we have so many young guys, but we’re going to embrace the challenge,” Simon said.

Taking over the Huntington program in January, the former Grambling offensive coordinator has already been impressed by the young Raiders.

“They’ve come to work every day with the right mindset and their hard hats and lunch pail,” Simon said.

Simon’s sons, John and James, both played at Calvary before heading to Louisiana Tech and Texas to continue their football careers. Simon also spent some time around the Calvary program, and picked up some things to bring over to Huntington.

“The developmental process of the young guys, you don’t build a program without spending a lot of time on your freshmen, so I think that’s one of the things that we’re really harping on, of coaching our freshmen and adding details into our freshman,” Simon said. “I tell the guys it’s gonna make our job so much easier in the spring when we don’t have to really scramble to teach the day one install.”

While Simon was a new face to many, he wasn’t to senior Nathan Green.

Previously at BTW and Evangel, Green has an idea of what he can expect at Huntington with Simon at the helm. As a family friend to the Raider cornerback and wide receiver, Simon has been there for Green throughout his journey on and off the field.

“He and my dad were close friends. So he was kind of there for me at points. He also helped me when it came to football and some like camps and stuff like that,” Green said. “He’s also trying to teach me how to be more professional, like trying to teach me the ways of being a man.”

A Louisiana Tech commit, Green plans on showing out even more for his senior campaign.

“In my eyes my junior year wasn’t all that for me and I feel like I can come out and I’m gonna show my actual talent,” Green said.

Green was good without Simon, but plans to be great with him. The same can be said for the rest of the team.

“We’re going to embrace the challenge. We’re going to come every week and battle and just try to get to the fourth quarter and make it a game and then try to get behind these guys and see if we can put the ball in the guy’s hand and let somebody make a play to win the game.”

Huntington opens the season at West Monroe. Kickoff is set for 7 pm.