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LAFAYETTE – Central Catholic quarterback Bobby Metzger, wide receiver Ray Clayton VI and linebacker/running back Jackson Cain have had their hands full this offseason.
While they all met on the football field to practice running routes and lift weights in the weight room, the extracurricular activities related to their overall performance improvement couldn’t be more different.
Metzger honed his skills as a quarterback under the tutelage of former Arizona Cardinals and Penn State quarterback Anthony Morelli, who runs the X-Factor Sports Performance & QB Academy in Westfield, Indiana.
Metzger completed 251 of 404 passes for 2,943 yards, 34 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2023. Still, he criticized himself for not running as much as he could have. He credits both Morelli and Central Catholic head coach Brian Nay for improving his pocket feel.
“I am really grateful to these people and I know that you can’t let down the people who are around you and care about you,” said Metzger after a training session on Monday. “Every day is a testimony to them. I show them my thanks and my appreciation for them.”
Cain put on muscle over the summer, and his neck was noticeably bigger after a season in which he rushed for 274 yards, four touchdowns, 470 receiving yards, six touchdowns, 98 tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks.
In addition to analyzing and studying opponents’ attack and defense strategies, Cain has also found wisdom in books and podcasts.
The book he focused on this summer was Extreme ownership by Jocko Willink and is about to be completed Gates of Firea historical novel by Steven Pressfield, which describes the Battle of Thermopylae from the perspective of a soldier of the Spartan and Greek army who was wounded in the battle.
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Cain has taken the themes from each book and integrated them into the way he wants to lead the Knights in 2024.
“Tradition is what we do now,” Cain said. “Tradition is not what happened in the past. Tradition is the actions we perform every day and the habits we develop.”
Clayton was the Knights’ best player last season with 80 catches for 1,024 yards and seven touchdowns. He has taken notes on what Nay says, whether he’s speaking in football terms or using phrases designed to make Clayton think critically.
“Physically you have to be in the game, but mentally you have to be in the game too,” Clayton said. “You have to know what the guy opposite you is capable of. You have to be able to recognize if he is faster or slower than you. Mentally I have gained a lot during this offseason.”
Whether it was about strengthening themselves physically, mentally or emotionally, the different methods used by Metzger, Clayton and Cain could be the deciding factor in whether Central Catholic wins its first Class 2A state championship later this fall.
Ethan Hanson is a sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at [email protected]on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
