By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

THE TEAM

• Coaching Staff: Rich Graves, pass game coordinator/wide receivers; John Schumm, run game coordinator/offensive line; Trei Thomas, wide receivers; Craig Peeps, offensive line; Jimmy DeLeone, offensive line; CJ Dennison, defensive coordinator/defensive backs; Marcus Wright, defensive coordinator/defensive line; Al Ehlert, defensive backs; Luke Larkin, safeties/tight ends; Kevin Hockett, strength and conditioning/defensive backs; Jen Sepi, strength and conditioning.
• League: Suburban League American Conference.
• Playoffs: Division III, Region 9.
• 2024 Record: 2-8 overall; 1-6 league.
• Returning Lettermen (13): Ke’Shan Talbert, sr.; Jaiden Portis, sr.; Gavin Peeps, sr.; Ethan Humbert, sr.; Teddy Maccarone, sr.; Brock Catalucci, jr.; Tyler Ellington, jr.; Cyler Foreman, jr.; Max Froman, jr.; Luke Haney, jr.; Sevyn Jones, jr.; Makhi Jones, soph.
• Lettermen Lost (18): Patrick Barkley, Ethan Braham, Jeremiah Brumfield, Tyree Buchanan, Gavin Corbett, Parker D’Sidocky, Jaden Dennison, Deonne Dickerson, Noah Dunlap, Lucas Fankhauser, Carter Foreman, Adam Ghumrawi, Joseph Harris, Mar’Chaun Lawrence Gore, Tristyn Page, Kyle Salazer, Michael Shannon, Ra’Shan Talbert.

THE OFFENSE

The Rough Riders want to take advantage of space and will attempt to do that through a multiple spread look, with a mixture of 10, 11 and 12 personnels.

“We want to put our players in a position to be successful,” head coach Kardell Jackson said.

QUARTERBACKS

Gavin Peeps started last year as a wide receiver on the depth chart, but eventually found himself under center by the end of the season.

At 6-foot-5, he has the height to see over the line and create open-field opportunities.

Also on the depth chart is Cyler Foreman, along with underclassmen Ka’Yir Brown (soph.) and Demetrius Moore (fresh.).

RUNNING BACKS

Ke’Shan Talbert was the team’s leading rusher last year, with 382 yards and averaged 7.4 yards per carry.

There are plenty of others in the group that will be pushing for time this season, including Chase Bell, Kevin Boykins, Emanuel Churn, Brendan Douglas, Miracle Enwerem, Makhi Jones, Xavier Lowe, Avery Stauffer and Jeremiah Taylor.

OFFENSIVE LINE

This was an area of depth last year, but has been impacted by graduation as the group heads into this season.

This year’s group consists of Dylan Benshoff, Brian Brown, Trustin Bytheway, Noah Catanese, Max Froman, Anderson Haney, Ethan Humber, Derrick Jackson, Ayden Kendrick, Max Lane, Mason McDaniel, Donovan Miller, Oliver Walter, Henley Wiley and Noah Wynn.

WIDE RECEIVERS & TIGHT ENDS

One of the team’s most electric players, Jaiden Portis, finished in the top 10 in the county last year with his 329 yards receiving and was top five in receptions with 25.

Tyler Ellington was another effective target, and he had 14 receptions for 144 yards last year.

Depth at the position will be provided by Toby Brunner, Brock Catalucci, Zac Coleman, Chace Dennison, Justin Green, Nic Inward, Sevyn Jones, LeWilliam Jones, Marquay Jordan, Brayven Lucas, Samuel Luthman, Teddy Maccarone, Camden Marucci, Demetrius Moore, Adrian Rugby, Lawrence Snoody, Keith Stewart and Damon Woodard.

THE DEFENSE

Three adjectives are presented by Jackson to describe what he wants from his defense this season: Disciplined, fast and physical.

The Rough Riders will line up in variations of a three-man and four-man front.

LINEBACKERS

Foreman is the leading returning tackler. He had 48 a year ago.

Through graduation, there are a number of players vying for starting spots, including Bell, Boykins, Brunner, Catalucci, Churn, Haney, Inward, Jones, Lowe, Lucas, Luthman, Marucci, Moore, Peeps and Wiley.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Getting pressure on the opposing quarterback was a weakness for the Rough Riders last year.

This year’s push from the trenches to change that, while also plugging up the run, will come from Benshoff, Brown, Trustin Bytheway, Noah Catanese, Froman, Haney, Humbert, Derrick Jackson, Ayden Kendrick, Max Lane, Mason McDaniel, Donovan Miller, Oliver Walter and Noah Wynn.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

There is athleticism and speed across the secondary for the Riders, with ability to create havoc and turnovers.

Creating that kind of optimism is a group that includes Ka’Yir Brown, Coleman, Dennison, Douglas, Ellington, Enwerem, Green, Sevyn Jones, LeWilliams Jones, Jordan, Maccarone, Portis, Rugby, Snoody, Stauffer, Stewart, Talbert and Woodard.

UNDERCLASSMEN TO WATCH

Zac Coleman, soph.; Makhi Jones, soph.; Oliver Walter, soph.

CAUSE FOR CONCERN

“We do not have a lot of depth or size, but our guys have been working hard this summer and taking advantage of the extra reps,” Jackson said.