[Cardfan1]

A season removed from a 3A state finals run the Cardinals are hoping to get back to the upper echelon of their football class. That class is now 4A with a new district with Knox, Rock, Clay, and Russell County.

Injuries early in the season turned 2014 into a rebuilding year where several young players saw varsity game time that should pay off especially up front in the trenches where the Cardinals have some beef with 4 of the 5 starters today tipping the scale at 300+.

Behind that line: Junior RB Dalton Garner returns after leading the Cardinals in Rushing in just 5 games in the backfield; Senior Michael Lawson began the 2014 season with a lot of success but injuries slowed him after a couple of games; and speedy Soph German Ruiz who saw limited varsity time in 2014.

At QB the Cardinals have a healthy battle going on between two sophomores: Stetson Simpson and Lorenzo Linsey. Simpson started in 2014 and showed promise; however, Linsey led the JV Cards to a 9-0 record and has worked hard in the offseason to prepare. This battle could continue throughout the season.

At Wide Reciever: Senior Colton Turpin who led the Cardinals in receiving in 2014, and Soph Grant Shoemaker who started the last 5 games of 2014.

At TE: Senior Nathan Garner and Soph Jacob Wright are both big bodies that should both be able be run blocking and receiving threats.

Defensively the Cards are bringing back 6 starters from 2014 led by Linebackers Senior Nathan Garner and Soph Clay Shelton. Both started all of 2014 on defense.

Up front speed will be the strength of the Cardinals with JR Tanner Hatfield and Soph Kobe Brumley at DEs.

The secondary replaces the most components with one returning starter in SR cornerback Colton Turpin.

Big Question marks for the Cards will be

Who will win the quarterback battle?
Will the defensive secondary come of age?