There’s a new current running through the Ryle High School football team, and head coach Mike Engler says it will be electric at Borland Stadium in Union.
“A lot of really good players are gone, but I really like our team,” Engler states as he looks over a roster that lost 25 players and returns fewer than 10 starters. “We were in nine playoff games the last two years, which is like playing a whole extra regular season. Because we put nine running clocks on opponents last season, a lot of underclassmen got a lot of varsity experience.”
As they follow up on a big-school state championship game appearance two years ago and last season’s sprint to the state semifinals, the Raiders attempt to connect the glorious recent past with today’s mission. There’s a new energy at Ryle. There are new standards. But it’s the same unyielding Raider pride.
“If you asked me what I’d want you to know, I’d say we’ll move the ball on offense with a strong line, and we have a lot of seniors,” says the coach. “We do have to replace some of the best players we’ve had, but we still should be able to run the football. And watch out for our quarterback and our receivers.”
Here are five things to know about the Raiders as they head into the 2026 season:
Who is the new quarterback?
Nate Verax has taken his game to Georgetown College, leaving the Class 6A Raiders with a new starting QB for the first time in two seasons. The last time Ryle didn’t have a Verax brother starting at QB was in 2020. That’s a lot of years with one family in control of the most important position on the football field.
So, who’s leading the spread offense? Specifically, who’s slinging the pigskin now that the blood kin are gone? It’s sophomore Brody Smith — and you know his kin, too. His brother, 2025 Ryle graduate Dillon Smith, is a defensive lineman on the University of Louisville football team.
“Brody’s brother was one of our top players on the state final team and one of the best in Kentucky, and he’s 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds at Louisville,” says Engler. “So, we think Brody’s going to get bigger and stronger, and he’s already 6-2, 200.”
Smith was perfect last season in limited duty with the varsity, completing all three passes for 23 yards and a touchdown. The coach insists he brings high wattage.
“His first varsity pass went for a touchdown,” says Engler. “He has a strong arm and a nice touch, and he’s looking good. He has a chance to be one of the best ever at Ryle, but a lot has to happen.”
What about the rebuilt receiver room…
The Raiders lost, to graduation or transfer, their top four pass catchers. The top four returnees in the passing game combined for just 22 receptions and 386 yards last season.
Clearly, this is a key development area. Crucially, the Raiders have some high-voltage athletes to get to know.
The excitement begins with three seniors. Evan Kincaid, Cruze Sauley and Andrew Smith all have demonstrated the ability to get open, catch the ball and move it. Kincaid has great hands, evidenced by his team-high seven interceptions last year on defense. He had seven catches for 148 yards on offense, good for a fat 21.1-yard average. Sauley averaged 15.4 yards on nine receptions; Smith 16.6 on five grabs.
“We also have juniors Grant Foley, Jesse Couch and sophomore Andrew Irwin,” Engler says. “All of our receivers can do something with the football.”
When new leadership shows up
Coach Engler says when it comes to seniors and leaders asserting themselves, he expects it immediately.
“We better show up and be ready the first game against Covington Catholic,” explains the coach. “We can’t ease into it, but we have a lot of seniors, and people have to know that really does help.”
Look for the impact timing of the 20 new seniors to be fast and developing, especially during high-pressure snaps, late-game execution and in the defensive backfield. When the pressure mounts, the coach feels like he has the right stuff to light up the grid, even though the Raiders lost 10 area all-stars.
A key strength: versatile linebackers in front of a solid secondary in a flexible 4-2-5 scheme where safety Kincaid and senior cornerback Xavier Collins lock down and linebackers Andrew Smith and Foley combined for five interceptions. Smith and Foley can easily man the secondary as well. Ryle ranked second in the state last season with 22 picks. Kincaid ranked third individually. Adding to the back end is hybrid receiver Joel Mazala, a transfer from Boone County who helps offset the loss of Shouncey Wynn to Cincinnati Princeton. There’s also senior end Jesse Nunn, the leading sacker up front.
The coach hopes the rest of the defense follows their veteran lead. “The guys we have now went up against some very good players every day in practice, and they played,” says Engler. “They can’t wait to get out there and show what they can do.”
Where the magic happens
While the skill positions are resetting, look for the trenches to be a generating force that anchors the Raiders while they find their rhythm. To Engler, the game is won on the line of scrimmage. Appropriately enough, the Raiders have some winners on the offensive line, and they take it to the max.
“Our line is huge, with four players with starting experience,” the coach says. “Our left tackle, Max Parsons, is massive. He’s a junior and has six Division I offers. Right guard Max Neumann is a three-year starter. At left guard, Eliott Lageman has starting experience. I want everybody to know they’re good.”
As they power up to full strength, expect the Raiders to have alternating currents at center and right tackle, where several players are fighting for playing time and may platoon.
“I think the line will be the strength of the offense,” says Engler. “And I think our offense will be explosive.”
How they replace a do-it-all unicorn
The Raiders’ best player, two-way beast Jacob Savage, is with the defending NCAA football champion Indiana Hoosiers. He led Ryle in rushing, scoring and tackles each of the past two seasons. He led the team in tackles all four years. Savage played with such explosive amperage that he eventually had to be game-planned for every time out.
The tactical blueprint is replacing his production by committee because the Raiders lost their top three runners. The leading returning rusher is Collins, with 132 yards on 22 carries last season. Charlie Park was next with eight carries for 22 yards.
“We don’t return a lot of starters, but we do return a lot of experience. And you don’t replace a Jacob Savage because they don’t come around very often,” Engler says. “Obviously, we know we have to find a running back and an inside linebacker. We have a lot of talented players, so you build as a team. And that’s what we’re going to do.”