Sam’s spring football stops: Legacy Charter School

Week Four of the high school spring football season marks the end of our first peek at what may happen under those Friday Night Lights come August in West Orange and Southwest Orange County.

In those four weeks, we saw the stars live up to their shining potential, coaches establish a culture, position battles emerge and teams begin their championship journeys. 

In the final week of the Florida high school football spring session, we made two final stops to wrap up spring ball in the area.

The team featured in this edition of Sam’s spring football stops is Legacy Charter School.

More from Sam's spring football stops: The First Academy | Foundation Academy | Horizon High | Lake Buena Vista High | Olympia High | West Orange High | Windermere High | Windermere Prep

Legacy Charter School

2023 record: 2-6

Coach: Zachary Fox, second season

Key returners, additions: QB/LB Jake Threadgill, DB Ajay Singh and OL/DL Logan Futch

Following an appearance in the Sunshine State Athletic Conference Class 5A state championship game in 2022, 2023 was a transition year for Legacy Charter football, with a new coach taking over the program. 

Despite a bit of a down season in his first year, coach Zachary Fox’s second season in charge has shown promise over the course of the spring session in two areas: togetherness and toughness. 

Combine those two elements with a talented group, some shifts in the scheme and a linebacking group that plays with its head on fire, and well, Legacy may get back to its winning ways in 2024. 

No. 1: Expect a new-look Eagles offense

Those who have followed Legacy for the past few seasons are in for a bit of a surprise when the Eagles offense steps onto the field this fall. With starting quarterback Liam Lamprecht graduating, Fox and his staff have done what all good coaches should do: Fit his scheme to his personnel.

For the Eagles offense that means there’s going to be a shift.

“For us, not having the same quarterback that we’ve had for the past three years and this being our first year in three years that we don’t have a true pro-style quarterback to run our pro-style spread offense, we decided to make some changes,” Fox said. “We’re looking at more of a quick-throw offense but also very fast-paced, single wing-ish type of offense now. It just fits well with what we have.”  

No. 2: QB1 is Jake Threadgill’s job to lose

With the new offense for the Eagles, there will also be a new starting quarterback. And according to Fox, the QB1 slot belongs to Jake Threadgill at the moment. 

“Jake has been a solid running back for us and a really good linebacker, and he’s got a solid arm, so he’s definitely picked up that role as our quarterback well,” Fox said. “But it’s still an open competition over the summer. Jake’s been dealing with an injury that’s limited him in the spring, so it’s been hard to get a real look at him. That’s another reason why we changed the offense up a little bit, so that way we can have multiple people in that position for whenever we go with our more run-heavy sets. But going into the spring, it was Jake’s job to lose, and it still is. 

“But this is an open competition with guys like TJ Stimmell, who is another guy (who) can throw the ball pretty well, and Ryan Rushing, who is a baseball kid that’s not too shabby throwing it,” Fox said. “So, over the summer, we’re looking at more competition, but like I said, it’s Jake’s job to lose right now.”

No. 3: Linebackers key to new defensive identity

As a standout linebacker at Ocoee High, Fox knows a thing or two about the position.

“I am a defensive guy at heart and played linebacker all throughout high school and in college, so that’s my baby when it comes to the position groups,” he said. 

Because he knows that position so well and understands not only how to physically dominate at the spot but also what is required mentally, a compliment like this about his second-level group means a lot.

“I love this group; they’re gritty,” Fox said. “Our guys at that spot are fast-paced, tough and hard-nosed guys. That’s where they’re at already, and I love it.” 

Fox pointed out a few of his top guys in the position group. He said rising junior Mario Gomez has transitioned from safety to middle linebacker seamlessly.

“He’s been having a fantastic spring for us,” Fox said. “Last year he played safety, and I was going to use him more in the slot for us, but when Jake (Threadgill) went down, he stepped up and filled a huge role at the MIKE linebacker spot.”  

Another player Fox says has been great for the linebacking core is TJ Stimmell: “He’s just tough and pretty nasty on the football field. I love to see it,” he said. 

Overall, with this group and a healthy Threadgill, Fox expects his new-look defense to be led by the group in the middle.

Sam Albuquerque is the Sports Editor for the Orange Observer. Please contact him with story ideas, results and statistics.

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Twitter: @SamBAlbuquerque

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