Cedar Park OL Wyatt Valiente talks about Timberwolves football
Cedar Park is No. 9 in our preseason top 10 countdown
CEDAR PARK – Strong running back?
Check.
Experienced and talented offensive line?
Check.
Is there a strong need for ground play?
Check.
All the elements are in place for Cedar Park to be one of the more dominant offensive teams in the Austin area this season, and that’s the main reason the Timberwolves are ranked No. 9 in our annual preseason top-10 countdown of teams to watch.
Trae Hill, a junior, was Central Texas’ 2023 Newcomer of the Year and leads a standout team every year. Last fall, he rushed for 1,498 yards and 20 touchdowns to help the Timberwolves go 9-4 and reach the third round of the Class 5A Division I playoffs. He appears poised for another big year, thanks in part to an offensive line that features four starters and several other veterans.
Although he is stronger and faster this fall, Hill pointed to other factors in his development.
“I have confidence in everything I do now,” said Hill, who was also selected to the district’s first team. “And in my training I’ve focused on more specific things that I need to work on. But a lot of it is confidence and general playmaking skills.”
More: No. 10 Georgetown is known for its high-powered offense, but its defense could be crucial in 2024
One year later, Trae Hill looks even better
Cedar Park coach Michael Quintero said that while Hill’s talent is undeniable – he is also a threat when catching the ball out of the backfield – it is his work ethic that makes him a special player.
“He’s been doing extra workouts outside of our weight training camp and he goes to (college) camps and works out there,” said Quintero, who is entering his fourth season. “He’s good for the team because they see him as a role model. They see a guy who not only talks about hard work, but he puts in the work.”
With the Timberwolves essentially having to start over in the passing game due to the loss of their dynamic quarterback Ayden Arp and their top wide receivers to graduation, Hill said he is “excited” about the fact that Cedar Park’s offense will now be focused on the running game.
But he also knows that it is a double-edged sword.
He will be the focal point of any defense Cedar Park faces, and he will have to be physical to get 20 or more possessions per game.
For Hill, it all starts at the top
However, he is far from the only reason the Timberwolves move the ball effectively on the ground. Five of last fall’s top six offensive linemen are back, with senior Wyatt Valiente and junior Jacob Slaughter coming off seasons on the All-District First Team.
“It’s the first time since I’ve been here that we have some experience and depth there,” Quintero said. “It feels a lot more comfortable going into a season, and a lot of the guys are third-years that started as sophomores.”
Like most offensive linemen, Cedar Park’s players prefer run blocking and welcome a shift to a ground-oriented game strategy.
“It’s more rewarding because it depends on the offensive line,” Slaughter said. “When you see the running back run into the end zone, you think, ‘I just blocked for that guy and helped him get there.’ It’s more stressful, but it’s also more fun.”
Like Hill, the line benefits from being a year older.
Slaughter noted that the group is quicker to read defenses and is mentally sharper overall. And when blocking a player like Hill, even small improvements on offense could make the Timberwolves’ running game nearly dominant.
“Everyone in our locker room knows we have the best running back in the district,” Slaughter said. “It’s really hard to stop that guy, and when you see how confident he is, it makes everyone else confident. He makes an offensive lineman’s job a lot easier.”
