By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

THE TEAM

• Head Coach: Brian Coman, 1st year.
  

  BRIAN COMAN

• Coaching Staff: Brett Dubinsky, co-offensive coordinator, running backs; Lester Carney, co-offensive coordinator, wide receivers; Davon Coman, quarterbacks, outside linebackers; Corey Gibson, offensive line; Devin Shipp, co-defensive coordinator, linebackers; Darshan Sanders, special teams coordinator, defensive line.
• League: Metro Athletic Conference.
• Playoffs: Division IV, Region 13.
• 2023 Record: 3-7 overall, 3-4 MAC.
• Returning Lettermen (14): CJ Pellegrini, sr.; Hunter Dray, sr.; Bobby Melzer, sr.; Bryant Thompson, sr.; Jaxon Kelly, sr.; Braylon Burks, jr.; Amare Marshall, jr.; LaDarion Askew, jr.; Jose Carpenter, jr.; CJ Ross, jr.; Bradley Davis, soph.; Mark Miller, soph.; D’Anthony Allen, soph.; Andrew Mladek, soph.
• Lettermen Lost (15) Dean Baker, Austin Marshall, David Davis, Tyler Dohm, Mikey Myers, Charley Pritchard, Mateo White, Daniel Sanders, Andrew Thompson, Dominic Burch, Kaelan Edwards, Cameron Boykin, Jeff Zemelka, JJ Caples, Julian Rios.

OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK

The Ravens won’t sit in just one formation, looking to add some variety to moving the ball.

Within the multiple formations, though, the team will largely run Spread sets, with a spotlight on zone blocking.

QUARTERBACKS

CJ Ross is the team’s returning starter, but Mark Miller has been pushing him and the two have been in a preseason battle to be the starter, according to first-year head coach Brian Coman.

Ross finished 2023 with 496 passing yards (45-of-81), with five touchdowns against two interceptions. He is a multi-threat signal-caller.

RUNNING BACKS

Jaxon Kelly and Amare Marshall have emerged as the team’s starters in the backfield.

The Ravens lose their top rusher from a year ago, with the graduation of Austin Marshall (1,105 yards), who was a solid runner throughout the season, but really began to emerge as a feature back toward the middle of the season.

OFFENSIVE LINE

The group of Bradley Davis, CJ Pellegrini, Hunter Dray, Collin Dray and Dominic Heeter will be leading the group in the trenches.

WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS

The Ravens feature skill and speed with Bobby Melzer and Bryant Thompson.

Both have the ability to be gamebreakers for the Ravens.

Thompson led the team in receiving a year ago, pulling in 20 passes for 232 yards. Melzer had 19 receptions for 227 yards.

Both figure to be key components to the Ravens’ offense this Eason.

Adding depth will be LaDarion Askew, Zander Mehalic and Trey Carter.

DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK

The base defense will be a 3-4, but the Ravens will run multiple looks out of it to keep the opposition guessing.

LINEBACKERS

The team’s top returning tackler is Kelly, who was second on the team last year with 72 tackles. His total fell only behind Tyler Dohm’s 82 tackles.

Marshall, along with Braylon Burks, Nolan Bolser and Miller, are all expected to see significant time at the position.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Melzer, Davis, as well as Seth Gidley and Keon Fortson, will look to gain the advantage at the line of scrimmage.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

D’Anthony Allen, Tykwon Ward, Julius Maddox, in addition to Askew, Thompson and Ross, are the team’s leaders in the secondary.

UNDERCLASSMEN TO WATCH

CJ Ross, Mark Miller, Trey Carter, Amare Marshall.