Travis Hobson has never been the head coach of a team as talented as this year’s Century Diamondbacks.

Not in his last four seasons with Century or three seasons as the head coach at Shelley.

Those are his words.

“I’ve never had a team that was this loaded,” Hobson said. “What we do with it is up to them.”

When going through Century’s roster, it is obvious as to how he arrived at that assessment.

Leading the way, Century has upperclassmen De’Qua Lang, Titan Fleischmann and Drew Gunter, who have all been offered scholarships to Division I football programs. Plus, the Diamondbacks have a rising star in first-team All-Area and first-team all-state quarterback Nate Manning, a senior.

Staying with superlatives, Hobson said this is the most tight-knit group since his 2013 Shelley squad that won the 3A state championship.

“They’re friends. They’re not just teammates,” Hobson said. “You have to have that in any football team.”

The Diamondbacks are coming off winning their first district title since 2009. But they also tripped up in the first round of the 4A state playoffs, which Hobson said was a topic of discussion at a preseason barbecue.

The Century coach said his team failed to respond when it had its back against the wall.

“That’s when a leader’s got to step up,” Hobson said. “That was a learning experience for all of us. They don’t want to have that feeling again.”

The Diamondbacks return six starters on offense and three on defense from last season.

While strong-bodied Lang carries a big responsibility on the defensive line, the offense appears to be the strength of the team.

Manning will most likely be available by the second game of the season after recovering from breaking his throwing hand around late July, according to Hobson.

Sophomore Bruin Fleischmann, Titan’s brother, will fill in for Manning, who last season completed 62.7% of his passes for 2,007 yards and 23 touchdowns against four interceptions. Manning added 245 yards rushing and three rushing touchdowns.

The quarterbacks will have ample passing threats, with second-team All-Area pass-catchers Gunter and Fleischmann at the forefront at wide receiver and tight end, respectively. Both have received football scholarship offers from Idaho State.

Gunter, a 6-foot-5 senior, snagged 29 catches for 629 yards and six touchdowns in 2018.

“Drew’s an athletic freak of nature. He’s made some circus catches,” Hobson said. “The sky is the limit for him.”

Titan, a junior who was listed at 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds last season, caught 20 passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns in 2018.

“He’s going to see a much more expanded role on the offense. He’s not going to be off the field a lot,” Hobson said of Titan, who will also play defensive end. “He’s one of the guys that’s really stepped and put the team on his back and got to work.”

After Hobson’s program turned a corner last season, it will be determined if the program takes the next step in this year’s playoffs with the likes of Titan and Co. being the guiding force. Hopes are high despite losing four all-state players from last season's squad.

“What the guys from last season did is they instilled that confidence, a swagger that they truly believed they were a good football team,” Hobson said. “And this year’s team is as good, if not better.”