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ADNA — It took not once, not twice, but three times for the Adna High School football team to jog into their giant circle for jumping jacks.
And Aaron Cochran was not jovial after the first mistake.
“If we don’t do what we need to do, it is not going to be as successful as we want to be,” he stated. “What they’re willing to do as far as the work goes, will show how special they can be.”
The Pirates eventually got it right before closing a 60-plus minute first practice on Wednesday morning to officially ring in the 2026 prep football season. A year after reaching the state semifinals in Class 2B, much of the roster is back in hopes of going one step further.
Stars like Trevin Salme at quarterback, Beau Miller at tailback and the playmakers surrounding the offense headline Adna this season. Still, Cochran knows whatever goals in November are listed can’t be accomplished without an August foundation.
“They have a great opportunity,” Cochran said. “When you have 12 seniors, they have played a lot of football and they’ve been through a lot. They are special kids.”
Here are three takeaways from Adna’s practice.
Salme in control of the offense
The senior is the first signal caller Cochran’s had multiple years in the system. While the running game will still be the focal point, there were some highlights from the right-hander on Wednesday.
He was nearly perfect in offense-only periods, hitting slants and swing passes routinely. His best throw was on a deep ball right into Grayson Humphrey’s bread basket. Salme carried that into team offense for the final 15 minutes.
“We still have to improve, but holding each other accountable, we’ll be fine,” Salme said.
Hultberg makes impression
While the engine of the Pirates’ aforementioned ground game remains Miller, last fall showcased they aren’t just a one-man wrecking crew. The foot injury that forced him to miss a few games allowed Naillon Ramirez to develop into a reliable No. 2 option.
There’s even more ball carriers on the way.
Sophomore Evan Hultberg got several reps in individual offense after Miller. No matter which side he ran to, he put his head down and ran past the assistant coaches.
“I trust him and that goes a long way,” Cochran said.
Offensive line battles
Gone are the two all-state bookend tackles in Noah Hellem and Jackson Knittle that made Adna’s front five a dominant unit. The big question – literally and figuratively – is who replaces the duo.
There’s plenty of options. Brodey Luurs was the constant between the two groups at center and Ryker Workman is also back as a starter. There’s eight other guys in the mix for three spots, plus two different in-blocking tight ends got reps, too.
Through the spring and summer, it’s been a work in progress. The competition though has players and coaches feeling confident heading into Week 1 versus Toledo.
“They have to have technique and they are faster, that is an advantage they have on other teams,” Miller said. “They can be just as good as that o-line last year.”
