After getting his first taste as a starting varsity player last season, Andover Central’s Brenton Findley believes his senior year could be something special.
The Jaguars return a close-knit group that has grown together, and Findley said the chemistry has only gotten stronger as the offseason has progressed.
“The thing I’m most excited about is playing with my brothers,” Findley said. “This team has become so close that everything is just starting to click.”
Findley has spent the offseason preparing for what he hopes will be a memorable final high school season. He said he has been training three to four times a week with the goal of taking another step forward both physically and on the field.
“I’ve been training three to four times a week preparing for my big senior year,” he said.
One of Findley’s biggest offseason priorities was adding weight. Despite being undersized throughout much of his football career, he has relied on speed, athleticism and instincts to make plays.
“One area I wanted to improve on was gaining weight,” Findley said. “I’ve always been underweight, but that doesn’t mean I’m not good. My quickness, athleticism and football IQ make up for it. I’ve gained about 20 pounds since last football season.”
The added size could make an already productive defender even more dangerous.
Last season, Findley recorded 70 tackles, including 18 in a single game. He also finished with 4.5 sacks, including a three-sack performance, along with 12.5 tackles for loss and four pass breakups.
His numbers came despite missing two games with broken ribs, an injury that cut short his season.
Findley also believes there was plenty of room for growth because last season was his first as a full-time starter.
“One of my goals is getting into the 100-tackle club,” he said. “I fell short by 30, but I was also out for two games because of broken ribs. At the start of the season, I didn’t fully know what I was doing because it was my first year starting. Now I’ve definitely gotten the hang of it, and I’m excited to see how I execute things.”
With another year of experience, a stronger frame and confidence gained from last season, Findley enters his senior campaign with lofty expectations for both himself and the Jaguars.
His long-term goal is to continue playing football after high school, and he knows another productive season could help make that happen.
“My plan is to see if I get any offers to play at the next level,” Findley said. “I’m working as hard as I can.”
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