In Cabarrus County, QB Caden Haywood poised to lead Hickory Ridge in his senior season

The Hickory Ridge Ragin’ Bulls come into the 2023 season with high hopes and expectations after being selected by many publications to win the Greater Metro 4A conference.

No one has higher hopes for the team than second-year starting quarterback Caden Haywood.

“I definitely think with the talent this group has, I expect to win and think we can win every game we play,” Haywood said. “I really have high expectations and high hopes for this team and think we can really give every team we play a battle.”

Haywood took over the Ragin’ Bulls offense last season after former starter Alex Bentley graduated. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound quarterback has a lot of physical tools, but Hickory Ridge head coach Jupiter Wilson said Haywood’s leadership is what sets him apart.

Wilson compares his quarterback to former Detroit Pistons’ world championship star Bill Laimbeer, who was known for leadership — and confrontation.

“Caden (Haywood) is a fiery competitor,” Wilson said. “He probably leads more by example than anything. He really has that moxie factor, just as the leader out there on the field. He is the Bill Laimbeer of high school football. He will get in people’s faces and he won’t be afraid or intimidated. I think the rest of our guys really feed off that energy.”

Haywood’s offensive coordinator, Jonathan Grice, came over to the Ragin’ Bulls from Cox Mill at the end of last season. Grice had a lot of high praise for his QB1, whom he coached against last season.

“Caden (Haywood) is one of the more natural throwers of the football that I’ve coached,” Grice said. “As a leader ... everyone seems to rally around him. He is unquestioned in a lot of our culture conversations, and guys look to him in serious times.”

Last season, the Ragin’ Bulls finished with a 6-5 record and were 4-2 in conference play. They had several narrow losses to Charlotte Catholic and Cox Mill, plus another to Butler in the first round of the NCHSAA 4A playoffs.

Haywood remembers those games and said he is ready to be on the other side of the outcome this season.

“This year, we are way better prepared for those close games and close moments in games,” Haywood said. “We work hard every day doing two-minute drills and things like that to prepare us for close games. We are ready, and we will finish out games in those moments on top.”

Much like Haywood, Wilson has heard all the talk about his team, and he is ready to change the narrative that the Ragin’ Bulls can’t win big games. He feels that making sure the culture in the locker room is right will provide the team with the edge it needs to win those big games.

“This year,” Wilson said, “we are a lot more competitive as a group. I think last year we definitely had a lot of talent, but we might have had some egos get in the way. I feel I didn’t do a good job with that. This year’s team might not be as talented, but much more together with a more competitive spirit.”