Mike Bowling’s summer has been a whirlwind.

The veteran coach was hired as Quanah’s athletic director and head football coach in mid-May. That left Bowling little time to set up an offseason program while also needing to fill out his staff.

In fact, Bowling didn’t finish hiring coaches until late July.

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“It’s been fast and furious,” Bowling said. “We did have a good turnout for strength and conditioning, but I had to hit the ground running. I didn’t mind that. I had to get right into it.”

Bowling has taken advantage of his time with his athletes, doing his best to get to know them and figure out how they fit into the puzzle of a rebuilding program.

“What I do know is we’ve got a bunch of hard-working kids,” Bowling said. “Summer participation has been good. I expect our numbers to be up a little bit thanks to a good-sized freshman class, and we’ve got some kids that were walking the halls interested in coming out.

“I’ve got some ideas on who fits where and what we will be. Overall, we’re going to be young, but we have quickness and good overall team speed. I think we can put something together to contend for the playoffs.”

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Offense

Bowling says the Indians will feature a run-based offense, typically under center with two-back and three-back sets.

“After looking at our personnel, I don’t think we’re built for the spread,” Bowling said. “I think we’re built for running downhill.”

Bowling feels confident in junior Nick Gonzalez and sophomore Prather Parr both being able to grasp and run the offense at quarterback. Both will likely see time under center at least in non-district matchups.

However, Gonzalez will play running back, and Parr will be a receiver if not the team’s signal-caller.

Tyson McAllister is back on the football field after sitting out his junior season and might be the Indians’ lead back alongside Blayton Chandler and Xander Jackson. Lucas Whitmire will play some in the backfield but is a top receiver candidate, too.

Charlie Call, Chico Vizcano, Ryan Deel, Logan Cash and Weston Simmons are the five guys Bowling currently envisions starting on the offensive line. Senior Ahlai Don Juan will play both tight end and fullback.

The coaching staff is excited by the potential of incoming freshman Lexston Reese, who Bowling says is the fastest player on the team. Reese could be yet another running back option.

“We’re going to have a hard time keeping him off the varsity squad,” Bowling said.

Defense

The Indians will base out of a 4-3 set with Cash and Don Juan slotting at defensive tackle while Simmons and Will Brown likely play defensive end.

Jackson is an experienced linebacker and should be joined by McAllister and Chandler.

Brothers CJ and Jade Silvas will have a role in the secondary along with Gonzalez and Reese, among others.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: 2024 Quanah Indians high school football preview