Through the years, Rick Conner has churned out many college-bound running backs that have shaped the landscape of Linganore football. The list glamours with names, highlighted by Penn State’s Zach Zwinak, Maryland’s Joe Riddle, Army’s Dwayne Randall, Fullerton’s Phillip Butler, and Morgan State’s Dante Butler.
For his 15th season as the head coach of Linganore, Conner has another backfield chip under his wing — rising sophomore Davon Butler — who is eager to carry on the rich tradition.
“Being under Coach Conner’s caliber, it’s amazing,” Butler said. “Knowing that we’ve had tremendous running back’s come through, I want to be the next.”
Butler, who is the younger brother of Phillip and Dante that are both entering seasons in the college realm, is coming off a freshman campaign in which he totaled nearly 800 yards, and seven touchdowns. At the slender age of 15, he’s already receiving interest from numerous of Power-5 schools.
Clemson, Maryland, N.C. State, and Purdue are just some schools to express interest in the youngest Butler.
“Butler is Butler, man,” Conner said. “It’s called DNA.”
To prepare himself for the expanded workload, Butler has spent three to four hours a day in the weight room for five days a week. His gym-rat ethic has led to the addition of 19 pounds of muscle, upping his weight from 170 pounds to 189.
“I put in all of the work knowing that I have to take my brother’s position, knowing that I’m going to be his replacement,” Butler said. “I gotta step up and be the best I can be so I’m going to work as hard as I can.”
When asked to describe last year’s season, which ended in a circus-like playoff loss in the first round to Seneca Valley, 30-27, Conner said it was “unfortunate”, but also one of his “more enjoyable years.”
Over the past three seasons, Linganore has compiled a 33-4 record, and is coming off of a season that graduated nine starters on defense and eight starters on offense. The Lancers also lost its remaining players from the state finalist team in 2013.
“Yeah, everybody graduated, but that doesn’t mean anything,” Conner said.
Offensively, Conner will retain Butler, fullback Dominic Zanoni, and linemen Alec Stores and Jackson Centano. Defensively, safety Noll Stieren and linebacker Devin Beck are the lone two starters set to return.
Rising sophomore Ryan Leyh is expected to fill the shoes of two-year starting quarterback Nathaniel Musselman. Leyh stands at 6-foot-4 and possesses a fluid release with a strong arm.
“He can sling it,” Conner said of Leyh. “Good height, big arm. We’re in a good situation at quarterback.”
Leyh played on the freshman team last year, leading them to a 6-1 record. Making the jump from playing with freshmen to the varsity level will require vast improvements.
To make the transition smoother, Leyh has spent countless hours in the weight room, worked on physical conditioning, developing fluid footwork, and studying defenses with Musselman.
In limited action he’s seen at the varsity level during 7-on-7’s, Leyh can sense the pace is much quicker.
“You have to make your reads a lot faster,” Leyh said. “You have to be quick with everything.”
In the receiving corps, Noll Stieren, Alec Matthews, Michael Rajnik, Joe Kolick, Zach Willett, and Michael Arneson will all compete for playing time.
Though longtime starters will no longer be around, the future looks bright for Linganore. Throughout middle school, Butler and Leyh captured a state crown in two championship appearances. Both are expected to reunite as sophomores on varsity this fall.
Success may not come right away, but Leyh can envision a state championship by the time he graduates in three years.
“I can definitely see it,” Leyh said. “We just have to keep working towards it.”
Linganore will play for the Ravens 7-on-7 passing league championship on June 25.
NOTES: Butler attended Purdue University’s football camp this past weekend where he posted a 4.48 40-yard dash. He will attend a University of Maryland football camp on July 11.
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