Newcastle senior lineman Stockton Herring sees this season as a chance for the Racers to finish what they started. After back-to-back trips to the Class 5A state semifinals, the varsity offensive tackle and defensive end says the work they have put in since spring has only raised expectations for what Newcastle can accomplish this fall. Summer mornings have been spent in the weight room and on the field, where he says the tone was set months ago during spring ball.
“Summer workouts have been going very well. Everyone has been working hard and getting better every day. One thing I really took away from spring ball was how physical and tough our team is. We compete with each other every day, and I think that’s helping us build the mindset we’ll need going into the season”.
Herring will again be a two-way presence for the Racers, anchoring the offensive line at tackle and helping set the edge on defense. Even as an experienced varsity player, he has treated this offseason as a chance to sharpen the finer points of his game. “I’ll be playing offensive tackle and defensive end this season. This offseason I’ve been focused on improving my technique, especially my hand placement. I’m always looking for ways to sharpen the fundamentals because the little details can make a big difference on the field.”
Those details matter to a team that has lived in the late rounds of the postseason and now expects to break through. Herring describes this year’s group as “complete” and believes Newcastle is built to contend again. “I think our team is going to look complete this year. I believe we’ll be ready to compete at a high level. We’ve made back-to-back trips to the 5A state semifinals the past two seasons, and our goal this year is to take the next step by reaching the 5A State Championship and winning it.”
That push, he says, will come down to discipline, chemistry and an everyday edge. “I would say to my teammates that we need to stay hungry and keep working every day. Trust each other, hold one another accountable, and keep pushing each other to improve. If we stay focused and play for each other, I believe we’ll put ourselves in position to win a state championship.”
Even with high expectations, Herring points out that this group has something to prove after graduating several key contributors. He expects the Racers to surprise those who doubt they can maintain their recent standard and points to teammates such as Deacon Lyles and underclassman Nicholas Jefferies as players ready to make a major impact.
Away from football, he focuses on his faith, family and future, hoping to be remembered as a hard-working student-athlete who did things the right way while chasing an opportunity to play college football and earn a degree in business or sports management.
