Last season, Tuscaloosa Academy's Preston Lancaster led the state in passing yards and was named the Class 2A Back of the Year by the ASWA.

Heading into the upcoming season, Lancaster is leaving last season's success in the past and instead has his sights set on the future as he is preparing to lead the Knights on the gridiron in 2024.

"I leave that in the past and focus on the next year," Lancaster told the Tuscaloosa News. "You never know how the next season will go, and you don't want to get too cocky or anything."

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound quarterback was named the ASWA's 2A Back of the Year after going 254-of-365 for 3,941 yards with 46 touchdowns — along with carrying the ball 90 times for an additional 213 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023. He was also a First-Team All-State and All-Area member and is the first player that TA coach Josh Wright has coached to be named the ASWA's Back or Lineman of the Year.

"We are gratefully humbled," Wright told The Tuscaloosa News in January after Lancaster won the award. "He had a phenomenal season and everyone that watched us knew we went as he went."

Lancaster led the Knights to a Class 2A, Region 5 championship and a quarterfinal playoff appearance in 2023, which was TA's second season competing in the AHSAA. In 2022, its first season in the AHSAA, the Knights finished as Class 2A, Region 5 runners-up and made it to the quarterfinals of the 2A state playoffs.

Ahead of his senior season, Lancaster has his sights set on two things: improving his game and winning a state championship. During the offseason, he put on muscle and dropped about 15 pounds. He also has been focusing on his knowledge of the game, specifically his knowledge of reading different defenses and coverages.

"I'm hoping to do better than I did last year," Lancaster said. "My expectation is that we are going to win the state championship. We've gotten close, my freshman year we went to state, and the past two years we have gone to the third round. We are going to try to make it this year."

PRESTON LANCASTER: Meet Tuscaloosa Academy's Preston Lancaster, the 2023 ASWA Class 2A Back of the Year

2024 SCHEDULES: High school football schedules for the 2024 season for the Tuscaloosa area

Lancaster has had his sights set on the 2024 football season immediately following the conclusion of the Knights 2023 baseball season, which ended with a 2-0 series loss to Ariton in the first round. For Lancaster, who was a Second Team All-State baseball selection in 2023, the transition was nothing new. A few months prior, Lancaster had done the same thing, going straight from football season into preparation for baseball.

The transition from baseball to football, Lancaster said, has been a good one.

"I like both (baseball and football)," he said. "Being here (football), it's easy to get into it because we work our way into it, so that helps out a lot."

Lancaster currently holds an offer from Murray State University and has been taking a number of unofficial visits this summer. Wright, who has coached Lancaster since his arrival at Tuscaloosa Academy in 2021, has no doubt he will see his quarterback playing at the next level.

"He's a very humble kid," Wright said. "But he's grown up a lot ... He will end up playing somewhere, we just have to find the right suit."

The Knights return about 13 starters from last year's team and open their 2024 slate on Friday, Aug. 23, hosting American Christian Academy. They open region play on Sept. 6 vs. Aliceville, looking to defend their 2023 region title.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Preston Lancaster: How reigning 2A Back of the Year is preparing for 2024