The Apopka Blue Darters enter the 2026 season with a group of players who now understand what it means to wear blue and white. 

At the center of it all are the team’s leaders. 

Senior running back Joshua Taylor, senior defensive end Marcus Young and several other veteran players will be counted on to guide a team that has spent the offseason building toward a return to the postseason. 

Leadership is not limited to the seniors. A deep junior class has emerged as an important part of Apopka’s plans. 

Hunter McNenney, a member of the Class of 2028, enters the year in the lead for the varsity quarterback position with a chance to take control of the offense. 

The junior aspires to play college football at LSU, Miami or Florida and enjoys the atmosphere surrounding those teams as much as the game itself. 

“I like crazy fans and the nighttime atmosphere of a Saturday night game,” McNenney said. “It’s very, very nostalgic and just a great feeling.” 

McNenney studies two quarterbacks in particular when looking for ways to improve his own game: Caleb Williams and Matthew Stafford. 

He admires Williams’ confidence and ability to make plays when his team needs it, while he notes Stafford’s mechanics and ability to manipulate defenders with his eyes. 

McNenney also takes a calm approach to preparing for games. His pregame playlist includes artists such as Rod Wave, which he believes helps him settle into the calm mindset required to play quarterback. 

“I’m a soft music type of guy that likes to stay calm,” McNenney said. “I feel like the quarterback position is supposed to be played calm, so when I’m listening to calm music before the game, it prepares me to play at a calm level.” 

His goals for the season start with the team. 

McNenney wants the Blue Darters to improve from last season and ultimately make a run all the way to the end. 

His personal goals include maintaining a positive touchdown-to-interception ratio and adding rushing touchdowns, but he said protecting the football remains his biggest priority. 

At the junior varsity level, quarterback Brodie Bolly is also developing into a leader for the program. 

Bolly, another member of the Class of 2028, has family ties to Florida Atlantic University but considers Hawaii his dream college because of its culture and community. 

His quarterback inspirations include Lamar Jackson and Drew Brees. 

Before games, Bolly turns to a combination of reggae and worship music, including Bob Marley, Elevation Rhythm, Cody Carnes and Brandon Lake. 

For Bolly, football is about more than individual development. 

“I just want to do better than we did last year,” Bolly said. “I think that truly, if we stick together and we are truly committed, we could win state.” 

Bolly believes that commitment starts with trust. 

“As long as we’re a brotherhood and trust each other and trust God, we can do anything,” he said. 

Apopka’s senior leaders are setting the standard throughout the rest of the roster. 

Running back and Swiss Army knife Joshua Taylor is one of the team’s most important offensive leaders. 

The Miami fan aspires to play college football for the Hurricanes and draws inspiration from running backs Jaden Baugh and David Montgomery. 

His pregame routine is built around faith and music. Taylor reads Bible verses such as Isaiah 40 and Psalm 37 before games and listens to Lauryn Hill as he prepares to take the field. 

His goals are straightforward: help Apopka go all the way and do whatever is necessary to make that happen. 

Individually, Taylor is aiming for at least 1,000 rushing yards. 

This season, he will also wear a number that carries special meaning within the Apopka program. 

Taylor was awarded the No. 11 jersey, which has been reserved for a player who represents the qualities the program values in a leader. 

The number previously belonged to Theotis “Trey” McMiller, an Apopka graduate from the Class of 2001 who was known as a versatile athlete and team-first leader. McMiller later played at Western Kentucky before his tragic death following his freshman year. 

The jersey was set aside for a future player who could embody the same type of all-around leadership and play, and Taylor was chosen as the latest recipient. 

On the other side of the ball, Young is preparing for a senior season with equally high expectations. 

The defensive end, also a member of the Class of 2027, hopes to continue his career at the University of Florida and models his game after former NFL star Von Miller. 

When the games get bigger, Young turns to “Dead Wrong” by The Notorious B.I.G. to get ready. 

His expectations for Apopka are even louder. 

“We should get far into the playoffs this year,” Young said. “As hard as we’ve been working, especially after last year, how disappointing it was, we’ve been coming back with a vengeance.” 

Young has set himself a goal of recording at least one sack in every game. 

They are joined by other senior leaders including offensive lineman Wilgains Vaval and linebackers Le’melle Griffin and Jayden Caban. 

But Apopka’s leadership group extends into the junior class. 

Defensive lineman Demetri Tarpley has already received an offer from Georgia Southern University, while defensive back David Wemberly, offensive lineman Jay Rodriguez and running back Jakyvion Kemp have caught the coaching staff’s attention throughout the offseason. 

The wide receiver room has also emerged as one of the team’s most intriguing position groups. 

Senior Xavier Cruz and juniors Nyzier Collington, Johnson Navilssaint and Ceon Cotton, along with sophomore Jaylen Laster, headline a group of natural playmakers. Seniors Aiden Bolden and Lamarqus Ashley provide additional size and receiving ability. 

Laster and Navilssaint currently own the team’s fastest 40-yard dash times, giving the Blue Darters game-breaking speed on the outside. 

Together, the group represents a roster that is not relying solely on its seniors to lead the way. 

Now, Apopka gets its chance to show what all that work looks like under the lights. 

The Blue Darters faced West Orange in their preseason kickoff classic Aug. 14 and lost 38-18. They open the regular season Friday, on the road against Boone. 

The Boone matchup carries some history. Apopka defeated the Braves 17-3 in the first round of the 2022 playoffs and has won the last six meetings. 

After Boone, Apopka returns home Friday, Aug. 28 to host Winter Park before welcoming rival Ocoee to town Sept. 4. 

Those games will provide the first opportunities for Apopka’s emerging leaders to show what they can do when the stakes become real.