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2024 KENNEDY CATHOLIC GOLDEN EAGLES PREVIEW

HERMITAGE – A new chapter of Kennedy Catholic football begins in 2024 as former assistant coach Julian Cox has taken over as the Golden Eagles’ head coach. Cox spent the 2023 season as an assistant coach under John Cox, his father.
While Kennedy’s roster features 15 players prior to the start of the school year, the small numbers have not deterred anyone’s work ethic.

“This year’s been another part of the rebuild. The boys are all dialed in. That part of it has been very special for me. They’ve been working really hard,” Cox said. “We have new faces and another year of young kids. They’ve been working hard and that’s all I can ask for.”

Two returning letterwinners highlight the Kennedy lineup, senior quarterback/safety Rayvion Wilbon-Venable and junior running back/linebacker Taijeire Chambers. “They understand what we expect on defense and on offense,” Cox said of the veteran duo.

Wilbon-Venable threw for 498 yards and seven touchdowns last season while also rushing for 423 yards and four scores in five games. He threw for 996 yards and nine touchdowns as a freshman two seasons ago.

“Rayvion is our workhorse,” Cox said. “He’s really good on defense and on offense. We’re going to use him in the pass game and in the run game. We’re going to try to do everything we can to take his game to the next level.
“He’s going to make things happen for us.”

A two-year letterwinner, Chambers will likely have an expanded role on offense. Cox also cited freshmen Santino Costa and Jackson Pardick as two candidates to start at wide receiver.

Freshman Lars Nigra, a 6-foot-2, 235-pounder, will anchor the offensive line at center. “He’s very smart, big and I think that he’ll be a good addition to our team,” Cox said.

Sophomores Antonio Arroyo and Aamir Rice are also expected to be key members of the offensive line.

“Everyone’s hands are going to have to be on deck,” Cox said. “We’re trying to make sure that everyone is ready.”

Cox looks for Nigra and Rice to lead the defensive line. “Rice is a very big kid. He’s going to be taking on a lot of double and triple teams, so I’m hoping that opens things up for our other linemen and linebackers.”

Chambers, whom Cox described as a “Tasmanian Devil” will lead the linebacker unit. Wilbon-Venable leads the secondary from his strong safety post.

“Being that this is Year Two for me – hopefully, it’s Year Two of many – the team aspect of it is what we’re looking for,” Cox said. “We’re trying to make these boys better men and better football players.
“But it starts with having a system and having guys that believe in it.”

Cox is the fourth man to hold the head coach position at Kennedy since the school re-launched varsity football in 2020. He looks to bring stability and build a competitive program along the Shenango Valley Freeway. “Obviously, this is something I love to do,” the 28-year-old California (Pa.) University product said. “When I took the job, I understood that it wasn’t going to be all roses and glitter. I accept the challenge and I’m here for the long haul.”