A New Dawn for Oakton Cougars Football

Last season was undoubtedly a challenging one for the Oakton Cougars, finishing with a 1-9 record. However, with new head coach Brian Slay at the helm, there is a renewed sense of optimism. Slay, who served as the defensive coordinator at McLean last season, brings valuable experience from being part of a program turnaround. "The situation we were in at McLean last year is similar to what I’m entering here at Oakton," Slay explained. "From a personal standpoint, having been part of a turnaround as an assistant, I’m bringing some experience on how to develop buy-in to change the status quo of the program."

Slay has been thoroughly impressed with the Oakton community since taking over. "What I’ve learned about Oakton is that it’s truly a community school that supports each other," he said. "Having spent the winter and spring attending other sporting events and seeing how the community comes out and supports was awesome to see." He also learned about the rich tradition of Oakton football, highlighted by the number of former coaches and players who have reached out to show their support.

The offseason has been a period of adaptation and growth for the Cougars. With a new coaching staff in place, there were naturally many changes. "I am most proud about how my athletes have adapted to change this offseason," Slay shared. "The kids have adapted well to the new standards and expectations about how we go about our business."

Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Slay acknowledges the formidable challenge that lies ahead. The Concorde District, often compared to the SEC in college football, is known for its talented and well-coached teams. Seven out of ten teams on Oakton’s schedule were playoff teams last season. "Our key games this season are the next ones up. We cannot afford to look ahead to any games, especially when 7 out of 10 teams on our schedule were playoff teams a season ago. We’re taking a one rep, one practice, one game at a time mentality," Slay emphasized.

Oakton did lose several key players from last season, including Noah Toole, Nate Henriques, John Mead, David Jansen, Hiro Arai, and Alex Reyes. These players made significant contributions, especially Toole, who stood out on tape. "Watching tape from a year ago, these are the guys that stood out, especially Noah Toole. He was a DUDE; wish he had another year!" Slay remarked. To fill these gaps, Slay plans to develop a more well-rounded and physical football team, focusing on solid defense and getting the ball to athletes in space.

As the Cougars gear up for the new season, several players are expected to step up and make significant contributions. Senior Carson McCullough (TE/LB) stands at 6’1 and 185 pounds, bringing both experience and skill. Joining him are senior Keegan Murphy (OL/DL), who is 6’3 and 240 pounds, and senior Trevor Wolf (TE/DE), at 6’0 and 200 pounds. Senior Connor Tapp (WR/DB), standing at 6’2 and 170 pounds, will be a key player to watch, along with junior Preston “PJ” Schwartz (WR/DB), who is 6’1 and 165 pounds. Junior Ryan Henriques (RB/WR/DB) at 5’10 and 165 pounds, junior Wesley Lattus (OL/DL) at 6’4 and 260 pounds, sophomore Deylen Jones (WR/TE/LB) at 6’2 and 190 pounds, and sophomore Justin Rankin (OL/DL) at 6’0 and 250 pounds round out the players to keep an eye on this season.

With a new coach, a supportive community, and a determined group of athletes, the future looks bright for Oakton football.

Key Players 

Carson McCullough (TE/LB) 12th – 6’1 185

Keegan Murphy (OL/DL) 12th – 6’3 240

Trevor Wolf (TE/DE) 12th – 6’0 200

Connor Tapp (WR/DB) 12th – 6’2 170

Preston “PJ” Schwartz (WR/DB) 11th – 6’1 165

Ryan Henriques (RB/WR/DB) 11th – 5’10 165

Wesley Lattus (OL/DL) 11th – 6’4 260

Deylen Jones (WR/TE/LB) 10th – 6’2 190

Justin Rankin (OL/DL) 10th – 6’0 250