Plant City High quarterback Corey King didn’t disappoint in the Friday, Sept. 9, locally-televised game. King threw four touchdown passes to four different wideouts in the Raiders’ 41-7 win over Brandon.
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This is your first time running the same offense two years in a row. What do you have a better grasp of now than you did last year?
I feel like I’m reading the field better. Now that I know where the plays are going, where I have to read and where I have to throw, I feel better. Last year, I was just getting comfortable with it. Now I feel more comfortable.
You guys lost a lot of stars after last season, but there’s still plenty of talent on this offense. You know these guys well. What about this offense might surprise people?
I feel like people are going to realize we’re a fast offense. We’ve got playmakers, we’ve got receivers, we’ve got a running back that’s amazing and he’s only a sophomore. People are going to see that we’re a fast offense. We keep it moving.
You got the reins to the offense last year, and now you’ve got plenty of experience leading the team. How have you grown as a leader in the last year and one half?
I feel like the team helped me become the leader I am today. Last year, that was my first year starting as a quarterback full time. I had players coming to me and helping me lead the team. I’m not saying that I’m the only one, that I’m leading by myself, but the whole team helped me. I feel like, if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be in the situation I’m in now.
What’s your proudest moment as a Raider?
Winning and competing in practice. Every practice, it’s a competition. You don’t know if you’re going to win a job or lose a job. I feel like, every time I come out here, I’ve got to compete.
There are three of you King brothers at PCHS; you and Xavier are the ones playing football. That’s got to be fun, huh?
It’s going to be a lot of fun. He’s got more things to learn about, but me and him are brothers and we’re going to work on that.
You two played together for the Turkey Creek Trojans too. What’s the most fun you’ve ever had playing football together?
Against Riverview, that was his first touchdown on varsity. Right before we got on the field, we knew that he was going to get a touchdown before the end of that game. When it happened, it was just like, it was crazy. We just knew that, if that was going to happen, everybody was going to talk about “King to King” all night.
What are your college prospects looking like?
I’ve got a lot of interest. Right now, Eastern Kentucky is topping it off. I talk to the head coach every day. FIU is showing a lot of love, and Georgia Southern is showing a lot of love too.
You ever talk to Bennie Coney at EKU?
I talk to him all the time. He’s looking forward to me coming up there. When I go up there, I’m staying with him. I’m very excited. I’m planning on taking an official visit up there after the season.
What’s it take to get a hard commitment from you and to get you to sign with a school in February?
A team is going to have to show me a lot of love but, really, it’s the education department. That’s what I’m looking forward to. I want to go to a school where I can succeed in the classroom first.
What do you want to major in?
Broadcast journalism or sports management.
What do you have to say about this guy (Peyton Cantu) who just crashed our interview?
That’s my quarterback. That’s my quarterback. When I come out here, I know that I’ve got to compete with him. No days off.
What are your expectations for the team this season?
Get W’s. Win every game. Succeed in every game. Never give up. It’s all about the family.