While many freshmen spend their first high school football season simply adjusting to the speed of the game, Salina South’s Cruz Carlos has bigger aspirations.
Carlos enters the fall eager to contribute at the varsity level while continuing to develop alongside the Cougar program’s veteran leaders.
“What I’m most excited about this season is performing in big moments and learning from the upperclassmen,” Carlos said.
That mindset has fueled an offseason dedicated to improvement. Carlos has trained at Sharp Performance’s Football Academy, where he has focused on increasing his speed, agility, strength and receiving skills. He has also participated in Salina South’s summer strength and conditioning program while attending the team’s camp at Fort Hays State.
“The Fort Hays State camp really helped me learn plays and build relationships,” Carlos said.
One of Carlos’ biggest priorities has been refining his route running. Knowing that creating separation is essential for a receiver, he has spent months working on the finer details of his game.
“My route running was something I wanted to work on,” Carlos said. “I’ve been working on that for the past few months with Sharp Performance, by myself, or even getting around with my friends and running routes.”
Although he’s just beginning his high school career, Carlos has already set ambitious goals for himself and his team. Individually, he hopes to earn varsity playing time as a freshman while making a name for himself. He also wants to help Salina South continue building a stronger foundation for the future.
“A goal I have individually is getting my name out there and getting some varsity reps as a freshman,” Carlos said. “Team-wise, my goal is to get more wins than last year, continue to build the culture and keep lifting and building strength to make us better for the season.”
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