[CowboyDad]

This stings a little to say it but Somerset at 5 is a bit high. Not that I don’t think they won’t be there at the end of the season it’s just not been more important an off-season that I can remember in the last 4/5 seasons.

The cupboard isn’t bare by any means as there’s a lot of young talent. It was a tall task to lose 24 seniors last year and another 11 this season of the caliber they lost on a 2A team that dresses about 50-55.

One key piece will be needed is a QB to emerge. Hard to replace Kaiya Sheron. You won’t duplicate him but you have to find one that fits the offense and tailor an offense around whomever is the starter. Josh Gross is most likely and a very good athlete. Can’t judge him solely on the Corbin game. Next would be a sophomore Cayden Cimala or a freshman Josh Bruner.

They’ll have a very good rushing attack returning in Doan and Bailey and I really think the receiver corps has a chance to be pretty nice if some of the ones on the roster can step up and make things happen. Gavin Stevens was a huge addition and there’s a couple other kids in that junior class I wish were still playing that could be difference markers. They’ll need Kam Hughes, Chaz Reams and Grayson Turner to make strides to be able to give more weapons in the receiver corps.

The line will be young but they have some kids who will make some stands early and be starters for the season. They’ll be a good group for Somerset.

Defense will be anchored by Jacob and Jerod Smith. Replacing Tyler Harvey up front will be by committee until they find that person. Where they get hit the hardest will be at linebacker where they lose three seniors that really accounted for a huge majority of the tackles in Mikey Garland, Dyllan Keith and Brandon Jones. Those three will be incredibly hard to replace as Dyllan signed to play college ball and I have no doubt the Mikey and Brandon could have played next level as well had they chose to. I can see some tough kids in the mix who can move to a linebacker spot and make some plays but it’ll be a tough decision to make for the DC because Jerod could easily play linebacker but he’s a huge playmaker up front as a defensive end. Same for his brother Jacob. Possible to lose a lot up front of you move them around. You’d have to find great replacements up front if you make those switches.

I like the possibilities on this team. I like the upside but they’ll be one team at the start of the season and a much different one by end. It’s pretty scary yet pretty exciting to see what happens.

All that to say, maybe ranked 8-10 and have a chance to move up if they get all the pieces working together.