Ryle High School's newest Raiders walked through the doors Aug. 6, as the Class of 2032 arrived at the program's annual Raider Rally in Union.
The freshmen join a program in transition. Head coach Mike Engler's squad lost 25 players from last year's state semifinal team and returns fewer than 10 starters heading into a 10-game schedule that opens Aug. 21, against Covington Catholic at Borland Stadium.
Boone County Schools posted the welcome, greeting the incoming class with the school's black-and-orange colors and the tagline "Welcome to the Raider Family."
The timing puts these freshmen at the front door of a rebuild year. Running back Jacob Savage left for Indiana University, starting quarterback Nathan Verax headed to Georgetown College, and the top two pass receivers graduated. Ryle's website motto reads "TRADITION NEVER GRADUATES" in bold orange letters. This fall will test that claim.
Sophomore Brody Smith, 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, takes over at quarterback. He saw action in four varsity games last season when a running clock kicked in after big Ryle leads. In limited duty, Smith completed all three passes for 23 yards and a touchdown. His first varsity throw went for a score.
"I have nothing but praise for what he has done so far … His ability to throw the ball and put it in places where receivers can catch it is really good," Engler told the NKyTribune in an Aug. 3 season preview.
Smith's older brother, Dillon Smith, a Ryle Class of 2025 graduate, is now a defensive lineman at the University of Louisville.
Engler enters his 12th season at Ryle with a 93-55 career record, three region titles and one state runner-up trophy. He needs seven wins to reach 100 career victories at the school. In the same NKyTribune preview, Engler said he hadn't realized how close he was to the milestone until writing up his own season notes.
The defense returns five starters, headlined by senior safety Evan Kincaid, who recorded a team-high seven interceptions last season. Junior safety Grant Foley, cornerback Xavier Collins, linebacker Andrew Smith and defensive end Jesse Nunn round out the returning unit. Ryle ranked second in the state with 22 picks in 2025.
On offense, junior tackle Max Parsons anchors the line with Division I offers from Akron, Georgetown, Harvard, Penn and Miami of Ohio. Senior tackle Elliott Lageman (6-4, 330) and senior guard Max Neumann (6-1, 280) join him up front, with senior wide receiver Cruze Sauley the lone returning pass catcher.
The Raiders finished 10-4 last season, falling to South Warren 36-20 in the Class 6A state semifinals after winning seven straight. Engler said in a July 29 LINK nky preview: "A lot of really good players are gone, but I really like our team."
The Class of 2032 will watch it all unfold starting Aug. 21, at 7 p.m., when Covington Catholic visits Borland Stadium. Ryle then travels to Conner on Friday, Aug. 28, and to Cooper on Friday, Sept. 4.
