Hart County, in 2024, will still have Jacob around to Shoulder(s) its many burdens- @griffinchad22 @HartAthletics @jacobs_2315 @minguabeefjerky @840WHAS @1776Bank

’26 QB/DB returns in ’24 and will have to [S]houlder(s) much of the burden

Jacob Shoulders had a fine sophomore season for Hart County’s Raiders. He threw for over a 1,000-yards, had a 15:2 TD to INT ratio, and scored six (6) TDs rushing. He played a little defense too, something which colleges may want to witness more often as the 6’2,” 175-pounder would appear (to us, at least) built for the defensive backfield even more so than QB. Shoulders also plays basketball. Problem is, next season, unlike in 2023, Jacob may have to Shoulder a ton of the burden with graduation hitting the Raiders particularly hard.

HB Lyon, Scouting Director, KPGFootball

There is an old axiom with which many of you are familiar. How many of you have heard of shouldering a burden?

Major Brandon Ray, stationed at the 436th Maintenance Squadron, wrote an article about the concept which we have linked for you right here, should you wish to read it. We will attempt to paraphrase.

Major Ray claims the etymology of “shouldering a burden” is from Old English. It is in reference to a particular load which is borne or carried; a weight, charge, duty.

To “shoulder a burden,” one must fulfill the obligations or duties designed for his or her unique journey. Well said Major!

Obviously, the pun staring us all right in the face is Jacob Shoulders, a ’26 QB/DB, will return to the roster in 2024 to help guide a Hart County Raider squad decimated by graduation. Talk about losing production.

The Raiders graduate 74% of the yards it gained rushing in 2023 (Hunter Monroe, Clark Rexroat, and Joshua Dan Crump), or 3,332-yards. Also gone are 30 of the team’s 44-rushing TDs (68%).

What makes this even more statistically daunting is the fact the Raiders relied heavily on the ground game last season, its most successful in program history. In its 13-1, ’23 season, the Raiders rushed for 4,483-yards. That would comprise 81% of its total offense of 5,552-yards.

The Raiders scored 44-rushing TDs (30-TDs, or 68% of the 44-rushing TDs are out of eligibility). The entire team scored 59-TDs. Eight-one percent (81%) of the scores in ’23 were on the ground.

Now we aren’t mathematical geniuses by any stretch; but, losing 74% of a team’s rushing yards and 68% of that same team’s rushing TDs out of 81% of the team’s total offense has to create some sort of actual or perceived burden. Enter Jacob Shoulders.

Shoulders threw for over a thousand yards as a sophomore. Shoulders had a TD to INT ration of 15:2, which is splendid. Shoulders scored 6-rushing TDs.

Shoulders played a de minimus role defensively which will likely expand over his junior season. After all, the versatile, multi-talented, athlete (Varsity Football and Basketball) has plenty of frame and skill-set to be a multi-phase superstar in the 3A classification.

Needless to say, Jacob Shoulders will have to shoulder much of what the graduation stage will deprive the Raiders for Hart County to have another year like it enjoyed in 2023. Not to get too pun[ishing], but that ain’t no hill for a stepper.

Maybe next time we will break that one down for you. See you then…

This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!

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