After an injury limited him to just eight games last season, Maize South quarterback Reign Illian still put together numbers most signal-callers would envy. The Mavericks’ standout completed 191 of 292 passes for 2,507 yards and 25 touchdowns while adding five rushing scores, accounting for 30 total touchdowns despite missing time.
Now healthy and entering the new season, Illian believes both he and the Mavericks are ready to build on last year’s success.
“I’m most excited about getting back on the field with this team and seeing how much we’ve grown since last season,” Illian said. “Personally, I’m looking forward to taking another step as a quarterback by leading the offense and making a deep playoff run.”
Illian’s offseason has centered on becoming a more complete quarterback. While refining his mechanics and footwork has remained a priority, he has also made a commitment to improving his strength and athleticism.
“This offseason I’ve been working on becoming a more full-circle quarterback by being consistent in the weight room,” Illian said. “I’ve also been working on my footwork and mechanics.”
His development hasn’t been limited to workouts at home. Illian sought out elite competition by attending nationally recognized camps, including Elite 11 and the Under Armour All-America camp, experiences that allowed him to measure himself against some of the country’s top quarterbacks.
“I attended Elite 11 and the UA All-American camp to compete with the best,” Illian said.
Another major emphasis has been becoming a more dangerous dual-threat quarterback. Although he rushed for 232 yards and five touchdowns last season, Illian believes adding more speed and explosiveness will create even more problems for opposing defenses.
“One of my biggest goals was getting faster so I can be a threat with my legs,” he said. “I’ve been doing speed work and more explosive sets in the weight room.”
The hard work has been fueled by a team-first mindset. While individual improvement is important, Illian’s focus remains on helping Maize South make a memorable postseason run.
“My biggest goal this year is to lead my team to making a deep playoff run,” Illian said.
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