The task awaiting the Camels is tougher than reaching the 920-foot peak of a hill near Highland Heights on a kiddie tricycle – Campbell County is 21-37 since 2021, including last year’s 3-8.
“We had some family things going on and wanted to get the family back in Northern Kentucky,” Honaker said. “ And this job came open this past winter, and it was nice to come home.”
It won’t be easy – last year’s starting quarterback, leading rusher and four of the top five tacklers graduated.
“We’re here to dominate other teams, and it’s not, we’re flipping the whole script of what the past has been and what last year was,” junior quarterback Xander Guy said.
Here are five things to know about the Camels headed into the 2026 season:
Concrete thoughts
Honaker, a Wilder native, has taken a decidedly circuitous path to Northern Kentucky. Among the stops: an assistant under former Ryle coach Kyle Hockman at New Hampstead High School in Bloomingdale, Georgia for five seasons, an assistant at Newport, and head coach at Gallatin County in 2024.
His journey to Georgia wasn’t as much learning Xs and Os as figuring out an organizational structure.
“It was more so of putting my thoughts and my understanding of what type of program I wanted to lead into concrete,” he said. “ I think I was doing right. It helped me with the things I was doing right and helped me with some of the things that maybe I didn’t see a certain way.”
“Culture” is so often used to describe a team’s mindset, it’s almost a cliché. At Campbell County, it primarily means paying attention to everything.
“With the ways of the world today, with kids with their cell phones at the click at their hand, I don’t think that is preached as importantly as it should be,” Honaker says. “Winning on the football field comes from being great students in the classroom, being great citizens out in the community, and paying attention to the details.”
What Honaker won’t do is criticize Weinrich or any other predecessor.
“I can’t talk about the past because I haven’t been associated with Campbell County since I graduated in 1999,” Honaker says. “I know of the coaches that have been here and I know of some of the issues that they’ve had. It wasn’t about anything that anyone was doing wrong. It was just bringing in a different angle and a different viewpoint to instill in our kids. From Day 1, we have adopted the mantra of ‘We over me’.”
Xander’s the Guy
A struggling offense and porous defense are the most glaring details Campbell County needs to address – The Camels averaged just 21 points a game and surrendered 39.
Xander Guy, who threw for 339 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions as a backup last year, replaces 2026 alumnus Lucas Anthrop under center.
“He’s doing a tremendous job,” Honaker said. “As much of an arm talent that he is, he has a great football IQ that can lead our offense.”
“We are running a simple but complex offense that has a lot of wrinkles to it, from RPOs (run-pass options), from pre-snap reeds to getting us into the right play. We’re going to be doing a lot of check with me ,where either I’ll call it … or even give it to (Guy) and let him call it.”
Guy says he can stay in the pocket, run if he has to and occasionally call the play. He doesn’t lack confidence.
“The idea of Campbell County football is completely different,” he says. “And I want people to know that we’re coming different this year.”
More offense needed
Campbell County ran for 1,332 yards and passed for 1,368 last year. Surpassing those number will be a challenge – Trevor Bertram and Lucas Anthrop accounted for 1,087 of the rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, but they graduated, which leaves senior Cooper Lairson (139 yards and two scores) as the leading returnee.
I would like to say I can do both,” Guy said. I would like to say I would do what the defense gives me, depending on how other players react.”
Senior Cade Anthrop could be Guy’s guy this season – he caught 32 passes for 604 yards and eight touchdowns
Riedinger leads defense
The defense allowed nearly 420 yards a game last year. Honaker said there will be multiple formations.
“Our upfront guys are very senior-heavy, but outside of that, we’re very junior-heavy; we have 26 juniors that’ll be playing for us, and the majority of them will be in some type of starting capacity or in a position to help us win,” Honaker said.
It’s a good thing junior Alex Riedinger is back. He had 103 tackles, with 10 for loss and three sacks.
“I just like to think that I’m consistently finding the ball and always being able to make a play like in a clutch time or … just finding my way to the ball.,” Riedinger says.
Cafeteria cleanup
Honaker – and the rest of the Camels – plan a trip to Redwood, a Fort Mitchell facility that serves people with severe and multiple challenges helps them achieve independence.
“I’ve participated in (special education), (physical education) classes in school and stuff like that,” Guy said. “That’s where I would probably get my most experience with kids like that.
A little closer to home, Honaker hope you notice what they think is a shinier cafeteria – football players clean up after lunch. Riedinger was surprised how messy high school kids are.
“Just spilled milk everywhere, people leaving the trays there,” Riedinger said.
We’re previewing all 22 NKY football teams from July 27-August 17. Check out five things to know about each team below:
