ORANGE PARK – Ridgeview High senior wide receiver Denali Lindo had his season halted with a knee injury in last year’s preseason opener, but, according to first year coach Matt Knauss, the push to get his skills noticed is very apparent in summer preparations.

“Player-wise, Denali Lindo has been leaps and bounds the leader of this team since I’ve been here,” said Knauss. “He is really pushing his teammates, big time.”

At quarterback, St. Johns Country Day School junior transfer quarterback Max Monroe has visited a handful of college camps and has put his name on a few recruit lists. Monroe appeared comfortable with dealing passes to Lindo, sharing pocket time with Rolando Grey in some Wildcat situations and also leading his new team.

“He is not much of a loud, rah-rah guy, but leads by example by trying to learn our system quickly and executing with minor mistakes,” said Knauss. “Denali and Glenn Miller, both seniors, offer two nice targets on the outside for him.”

Also on Monroe’s target list are returners senior Isaac Chaffin and running back Reynaldo Gonzalez.

With some tweaks in the overall game approach and some fast-moving segments for conditioning, Knauss is slowly putting his stamp on quickly for Panther football.

“The team has been really working hard for me,” said Knauss, who replaced Cameron Porch. “They have been sore after our practice sessions.”

One thing Knauss has incorporated into his conditioning program is a beach sand pit just off the Ridgeview practice field.

“They always had that big pile of sand, “said Knauss. “We just raked it flat and threw them in there.”

Knauss commented that his transition from a smaller school; 3A Father Lopez out of Daytona Beach, to Ridgeview has been a work in progress.

“At Lopez, because it was a smaller school, I could say anything and they knew that I loved them no matter afterward,” said Knauss. “Sometimes, we take for granted how in depth we, as coaches, get involved in player lives and then don’t realize how hard it is to get that relationship back.”

With August fast approaching and practices ready to incorporate live scrimmages and contact, Knauss has a wait and see approach about his new team.

“We’ll see,” said Knauss. “It’s impossible at this time to assess what is going to happen with pads on. It’s fun so far.”