After three straight losing seasons, Sarasota High football coach Anthony "Amp" Campbell says his program has found a new gear heading into 2026.

"We're the fat kid that's trying to get in shape — trying to get somebody to take us to prom," Campbell told Your Observer in a story published Wednesday, July 23.

The Sailors went 1-10 in 2023, 3-7 in 2024 and 4-7 in 2025. They haven't made the playoffs since 2022. Last fall, Sarasota allowed 34.09 points per game and lost its final five contests by an average of 16.6 points after opening 3-1.

Campbell, a former Riverview High assistant entering his third year leading the program, pointed to the May 22 spring game as a turning point. He said the team's mental toughness and summer approach have improved markedly since then.

Non-contact practices begin Monday, July 28. Full-contact drills follow Aug. 1.

Tackling, not talent, was last year's problem

Tackling is priority No. 1. Campbell said the past two seasons featured players trying to do too much individually rather than executing their assignments within the defensive scheme.

Rising senior linebacker Cooper Buck (90 tackles in 2025) and rising senior safety/wide receiver Chase Fritz (84 tackles) anchor the returning defense. The Sailors did lose tackles-for-loss leader Jackson Costlow to graduation.

Larrick headlines a receiving corps stacked with D-I talent

The player who has impressed Campbell most this offseason is rising junior wide receiver Evan Larrick. The 6-foot, 185-pound pass-catcher hauled in 33 receptions for 504 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore and holds eight Division I offers: California, Sacramento State, Toledo, Arizona, Samford, Buffalo, FIU and Marshall.

Larrick won't be alone. Rising senior Jayden Rivers returns after a breakout junior campaign of 66 catches for 1,052 yards and 16 touchdowns. Two IMG Academy transfers, rising sophomore Jayden Montgomery and rising junior Julian Wilcom, join the group.

Throwing to all of them: rising junior quarterback Hudson West, who has started since his freshman year. West completed 55.1% of his passes for 2,836 yards and 26 touchdowns with five interceptions in 2025. He holds 22 Division I offers as of July 20, according to Your Observer, including Florida, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Colorado and North Carolina.

Sailors open with a preseason test before facing Bayshore

Sarasota hosts Hillsborough at Cleland Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 14 in a preseason game. The regular-season opener follows at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21, also at home, against Bayshore.