High school football preview: Roosevelt hires familiar face as head coach

The Roosevelt football team has a new leader, but it's a familiar face.

Carter Robinson, the Eagles' defensive coordinator last season, was promoted to head coach after Matt Landers took a job at Goldthwaite. Robinson feels the in-house transition will make things easier.

"I didn't have to spend time meeting the kids or anything like that," Robinson said. "We just rolled right into it."

This will be Robinson's second season at Roosevelt. He's keeping many aspects the same — including the flexbone offense — but will "add in" his own touch.

Quarterback Nate Casarez is back to conduct the option attack. Backfield mates Sebastian Sandoval and Angel Olivares return with experience, too. Robinson called the fullback Olivares the "heart of our offense."

"That's just kind of our identity. We've got a blue-collar mentality," Robinson said. "… We'll try to be the most physical football team on the field every time we step on it. That just goes into the mentality of the flexbone right there."

Robinson said the defense is also predicated on that physical, "hit 'em in the mouth" attitude. Carson Simmons at middle linebacker and defensive tackle Dom Hernandez embody that. Robinson said Bram Raven and Noah Salas is key to the secondary.

Linebacker Logan Bartlett is near the top of his class, and Casarez will start at linebacker, too. Both are captains, along with Olivares, Raven and Sandoval.

Roosevelt won its district finale over Littlefield to reach the playoffs last year. It was an accomplishment after the young group opened the season 0-3. Now the seasoned bunch will aim for a district title and playoff run. To get there, Robinson wants the Eagles to focus on G.R.I.T. — gratitude, relentless, integrity and toughness.

"Most importantly is you're attacking every day with those four pillars," Robinson said. "… That's really what we try to tell our guys every day."

Roosevelt Eagles

Head coach — Carter Robinson (head-coaching debut)

2022 record — 4-7 overall, 2-3 in District 4-3A Division II

Last district title/playoff appearance — 2021/2022

Base offense — Flexbone

Base defense — 4-2-5

Returning lettermen — 20

Returning off./def. starters — 8/8

Players to watch — Angel Olivares, FB; Sebastian Sandoval, RB/DB; Nate Casarez, QB/LB; Bram Raven, RB/DB; Logan Bartlett, LB; Carson Simmons, LB; Dom Hernandez, OL/DL

2023 schedule

* — denotes District 4-3A DII game

Aug. 25 — vs. Amarillo River Road, 7 p.m.

Sept. 1 — vs. Hawley, 7 p.m.

Sept. 8 — at Brownfield, 7 p.m.

Sept. 15 — vs. Slaton, 7 p.m.

Sept. 22 — at Sundown, 7 p.m.

Oct. 6 — at Stanton*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 13 — vs. Abernathy*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 20 — at Idalou*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 27 — at Coahoma*, 7 p.m.

Nov. 3 — vs. Littlefield*, 7 p.m.

2022 schedule

at Amarillo River Road L, 15-12

at Hawley L, 33-0

Brownfield L, 49-34

at Slaton W, 33-22

Sundown W, 29-26

Stanton* W, 39-14

at Abernathy* L, 40-21

Idalou* L, 38-14

Coahoma* L, 27-26

at Littlefield* W, 42-20

Canadian L, 70-8 (bi-district)

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: High school football preview: Carter Robinson is Roosevelt head coach