With their final years in high school approaching, several upcoming upperclassmen have decided to join the football team for the 2013-2014 school year.

“I’m really excited, there’s a lot of really talented players at Lovejoy that play multiple sports so it’s exciting to have kids come into a program that you haven’t seen before that can come in and help your program out,” head football coach Matt Green said.

Each player has a different reason for deciding to join the team. Sophomore Cameron Hobgood played in the 7th and 8th grade but stuck to his first sport of choice, baseball, for the first two years of high school. With his junior year almost here, Hobgood decided he was going to join the football team.

“I really just want to be part of a great program,” Hobgood said.

For sophomore Adam McDaniel, it was a little different. McDaniel played football his whole life, but when high school came around, he decided to follow his passion for basketball. Like Hobgood, McDaniel made the decision to go back to football for his junior year.

“I want to go through high school without having any regrets,” McDaniel said.  “Ever since the new coaches came, I’ve heard only good things about the football program, therefore sparking my interest to play. So I have given it a shot and am loving it.”

Although players such as Hobgood and McDaniel are just now joining the team, they are already having an impact.

“I think number one it’s going to increase competition,” Green said.  “You’re always going to be better if kids are having to compete for starting jobs, and the young men that have entered our program are very good athletes and its going to create competition.  Number two they’re just good players. I think they can find a place on the field and help us so I think that think those two areas are where our team is going to benefit the most.”