The Richmond football team will begin their quest to repeat as state champions on Aug. 21 at Providence High School in Charlotte, but the

Raiders have begun preparation of the 2009 season with their off-season workouts that will continue during the summer.

The Raiders held their three-day, mini-camp last week. Raiders coach Paul Hoggard was satisfied with how camp turned out, but also said there are some issues of inexperience on defense that the team will face going into the season.

“I was fairly pleased with how things went in mini-camp,” Hoggard said.

“We’re about where we thought we would be, which is very young on defense. We don’t have a person coming back that played much last year other than Kasheem Reid. He is playing at another position at safety, which is where he should be.

“Last year, we had him play at linebacker because we had to. All 11 positions will have new people playing there, and a lot of kids will have to step up. But I felt like we got better as the weeks went on and the last day on defense was our best day.”

Richmond has more experience on the offensive side of the ball returning with starting quarterback Tedarrius Wiley back under center along with starting tailback Labarrian Jones. Wiley was the state championship MVP, where he threw for 325 yards and four touchdowns.

Hoggard believes Wiley is ready to carry over the momentum of last season’s championship run and lead Richmond to another strong season in his senior year.

“Tedarrius is totally focused and excited about this season,” Hoggard said. “From the conversations we have had, his goal is to do the very best to make our team the best we can be.”

The Raiders also return experience on the offensive line with starters Kevin Alfonso and Alex Coulthard. T.J. Goodwin and Monroe Williams also received playing time in the trenches a season ago.

“We’re a little more experience along the offensive line than we’ve been in the last few years as far as kids playing meaningful reps,” Hoggard said. “That’s something I’m glad about when we start practice on Aug. 1 and when we head into the season.”

Richmond will lack experience at the receiving position on offense as the Raiders will have to replace both of last season’s starters Lovell Joy and Gabe Love. Joy left as Richmond all-time reception leader and Love was the state championship offensive player of the game.

“Our receiving corp is new, but the kids are really working hard,” Hoggard said. “They’ve done a good job and have come a long ways in the off-season as far as getting stronger and faster. Now, they just got to learn how to play the position.”

The coaching staff with have a chance to further assess the wide outs during seven-on-seven passing drills that are scheduled to begin against Marlboro County on June 30 at the football practice field at 7 p.m.

Richmond will follow with six more: Jack Britt on July 1 at 10 a.m.; Northwood on July 2 at 7 p.m.; Randleman on July 7 at 7 p.m.; Monroe, Red Springs and South Johnston on July 14 at 7 p.m.; Porter Ridge on July 15 at 10 a.m.; Grays Creek, Mt. Pleasant and Red Springs on July 16 at 7 p.m.

“With those passing drills, the receivers can work on running their routes and getting their timing down,” Hoggard said. “For the quarterback, it’s not real because no one is pressuring him or chasing after him. I mainly think it’s a defensive drill and you can make a lot of strides defensively, especially for us with so many new kids at linebacker and in the secondary. I think we can really gain a better understanding about what we have at those two positions during those drills.”

According to Hoggard, Richmond will start the summer program on Monday with the players weightlifting three days a week and running two days a week. Each session will last for two hours and will be run by coaches Nick Eddins, James Johnson and Mark Duncan.

Hoggard also explained that for the first time that the rising ninth graders will be lifting this summer at the Richmond Ninth Grade Academy on Tuesday and Thursday. Administrating the Ninth Grade Academy will be coaches Milton Swinnie and David Johnson.

“That will be a first in the history of the county that the rising ninth graders are actually part of the summer program,” Hoggard said. “We’re hoping about an average of 70 to 80 kids will show up. Weightlifting is nothing but time and they will be getting extra time that is more time than any class before them. Hopefully, by the time they’re seniors they will be a little more stronger and faster than normal because they got a sooner start.”

n Contact sports reporter Corey Davis at 997-3111, ext. 44; e-mail cdavis@yourdailyjournal.com