Midland Christian School (MCS) stands to benefit from a fountain of experience that senior Ryver Rodriguez brings to the quarterback position.
A three-year letterman under head coach Greg McClendon, Rodriguez as a junior threw for 1,291 yards and ran for for another 455 yards, with 19 touchdowns and a TAPPS Division I semifinal berth to show for it, according to the Midland Reporter-Telegram.
“I feel great," Rodriguez told the Reporter-Telegram. "It’s senior year, so I’m excited. I’m glad to have one last year to compete with my friends that I have been playing with this whole time. I expect us to have a great season. We have a big senior class, so I know we’re all wanting to go out on top. I expect to come out hot and expect us to play our best every game."
Rodriguez also said that he feels better after losing weight and recovering from a rib injury sustained last season.
“I just feel faster,” Rodriguez told the R-T. “Last year, coming from my injury, I had a little bit of bad weight and I was a little heavy. I feel leaner this year and I feel I can run the ball faster. I also feel confident in my receivers and things should be good.”
Praise for Rodriguez also came from his coach.
“He’s always been a kid who did his job at a high level and was a great example,” McClendon told the paper. “He’s finally comfortable communicating and holding other people accountable. He’s smart in the classroom, his character is impeccable. They just don’t make kids better than him.”
McClendon considers Rodriguez "an assistant coach on the field" with an "unmatched" knowledge for the game.
Rodriguez is among the plethora of seniors MCS is returning for the 2021 season, in fact three times as many as last season. In particular, the experience of the offensive line is expected to help the team.