Play It Again, Eagles: Inside Oak Hall’s Pregame Playlist
Oak Hall is 6-3 and fresh off a 42-14 win against Winter Park Trinity Prep. With the football postseason starting Thursday, the Eagles’ focus has shifted to a playoff run.
But before each takes the field, one important, unskippable pregame ritual remains: music.
For some Eagles, the playlist they reach for changes completely on a game day. That shift helps with attitude, mindset and energy.
“Throughout the week, before the games, I listen to Rod Wave to have me chill,” two-way standout Darius Medley said. “But then, it’s Friday morning, we go straight to YoungBoy. That’s just the artist to go to.”
Louisiana rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again is a popular go-to in the locker room, giving players the energy needed to play game night.
Medley had a career season in 2026 before being sidelined due to injury. The baseball player-turned-football star registered 699 total yards and nine total touchdowns as a halfback. As a defensive back, he logged four interceptions, 47 total tackles and four tackles for loss.
BJ Johnson, the team’s quarterback and Medley’s half-brother, has a similar routine.
“Before 4:30, I’m normally a chill guy. I just like to listen to regular music,” Johnson said. “But once 4:30 hits, it’s straight, just drill music, like whatever is the hottest with the best beat.”
Medley and Johnson credit their pregame playlist with helping them perform to their best.
“It’s something just to get me hype. Ready to have me run through somebody,” Medley said.
Teammate Amari Ray is the team’s music guy, according to the half-brothers. The senior defensive back and wide receiver is the Eagles’ unofficial DJ, controlling both the ball and the locker room speakers.
“I play a lot of YoungBoy before the game,” Ray said. “It gets us hyped. We like to listen to a lot of Chief Keef in there too.”
Ray said the team’s two main hype songs are “Love Sosa” by Chief Keef and “Green Dot” by YoungBoy.
While rap seems to be tried and true, not every Eagle relies on YoungBoy and Chief Keef. Sophomore lineman, linebacker and kicker Noah Poniatowski said he sticks with rock before each game.
“Every single game, five minutes before each game, I throw on Thunderstruck by AC/DC,” Poniatowski said. “That’s my go-to song.”
Coach RJ Fuhr also leans toward rock, listening to music like AC/DC and Styx. Fuhr, a self-described “Pittsburgher,” grew up attending Steelers games and developed a personal favorite song.
“As the third quarter ends, on the jumbotron they show all these big hits, and they play ‘Renegade’ by Styx,” Fuhr said. “So that’s kind of like my go-to, just because, growing up going to Steelers games, that’s been a thing with them.”
The coach’s music taste extends well beyond rock, though.
“I’ll have country, I’ve got old Tupac, I’ve got old-school rap,” Fuhr said. “Morgan Wallen to Journey, I’m kind of all over the place.”
Whether it is YoungBoy, Chief Keef or AC/DC, the Eagles each have their own musical way of getting ready for game day. With the start of the postseason, the locker room playlist will likely be blasting louder than ever.
Oak Hall hosts Panama City Bozeman (3-7) at 6 p.m. Thursday in the regional round of the FHSAA’s Independent League 2 playoffs. Oak Hall is the No. 4 seed in the Independent North Pool B bracket.
Category: Football, Gainesville, High School Sports, Oak Hall High School
