Whoever plays Ryle will have their hands full for the next two seasons (Travis Elliot).

Who in NKY will have the most success in 2010?

 

Highlands and Ryle. They play twice again; 2010 may be the year in which a NKY team has a legit shot at taking away Highlands unbeaten streak...but that is such a long ways away.

Yes!

 

Which team will they replace?

Ryle will be very good next year... I think they will give the Birds a run for their money..Should be two highly competitive games..

This will be Ryle's best team ever!

 

Why?

Why?

 

I'd say the fact they return arguably the best RB in NKY (Elliott) and a talented Qb in (Hempel). I don't know what they return in the trenches but I'm sure they have the numbers to compensate any loss from this season.

Highlands having 7 returning starters on defense is huge. They have an extremely talented group of freshman coming up who might fill a couple spots right away. I can see McCoy playing a llinebacker position much like Quillen played this year. I think the only holes will be the DLine and those can quickly be filled with fast athletic kids who work hard in the weightroom this winter. On Offense expect Towles to be a much better passer. He will have Daniel Gold back and from what I have heard there might be a return of a freakish athlete who can definitely stretch the field in Kevin Deuenas.

 

Ryle vs Highlands next year will be Awesome to watch.

Highlands having 7 returning starters on defense is huge. They have an extremely talented group of freshman coming up who might fill a couple spots right away. I can see McCoy playing a llinebacker position much like Quillen played this year. I think the only holes will be the DLine and those can quickly be filled with fast athletic kids who work hard in the weightroom this winter. On Offense expect Towles to be a much better passer. He will have Daniel Gold back and from what I have heard there might be a return of a freakish athlete who can definitely stretch the field in Kevin Deuenas.

 

Ryle vs Highlands next year will be Awesome to watch.

 

While I think we'll be very good next year on defense, your 7 returning starters on defense comment is not really correct. Roller, Alford, Rosenhagen, Dierig, Snyder and Johnson are seniors. Those 6 started unless they were injured. That leaves 5 returning starters, not 7. Figured I better point that out before some non-Highlands fan tears you a new one. :thumb:

 

The good news on defense is that some returning players got a lot of playing time, particularly at the lb spots. We will be set at the lb and db spots (with Abner, Seidl and Bruns returning in the defensive secondary). What we really have to work on is the D line. Hopefully the kids vying for those positions realize right now the opportunities waiting them if they work their tails off this off season, which started this past Saturday.

 

Same is true for the O line. There are 3 interior positions opening due to graduation. To win state next year, we are going to have to capably fill those spots. I have faith in the kids and Coach Turner that by mid season next year, we will have another very good O line. Towles has the qb spot locked assuming he works real hard during the off season. RB position opens up widely also. But with Streeter, True, McGurn and perhaps McCoy, to name a few, there is plenty of talent available to fill those spots. Like all other open positions, I think the RB spots will be filled by those that work the hardest between now and 2 a days. We should be solid at the WR position with Gold, Carson and Gall. Nienaber picked up some valuable experience at the tight end spot this year. If Hollinsworth works hard to put on some muscle and mass, I can see him being a very good TE next year also.

 

As always, there are going to be several of those kids that weren't on the radar this year, that due to hard work and committment, are the surprise players next year. To me, that's one of the most enjoyable things about watching Highlands football: seeing the kids that, having watched them play the prior year, you didn't think they'd do much this year, and then they come out, play exceptionally well and surprise the heck out of you.

 

Bottom line is that Highlands should again be very, very good next year. As good as this year? Well, that's a question and challenge for next year's team to answer.

While I think we'll be very good next year on defense, your 7 returning starters on defense comment is not really correct. Roller, Alford, Rosenhagen, Dierig, Snyder and Johnson are seniors. Those 6 started unless they were injured. That leaves 5 returning starters, not 7. Figured I better point that out before some non-Highlands fan tears you a new one. :thumb:

 

The good news on defense is that some returning players got a lot of playing time, particularly at the lb spots. We will be set at the lb and db spots (with Abner, Seidl and Bruns returning in the defensive secondary). What we really have to work on is the D line. Hopefully the kids vying for those positions realize right now the opportunities waiting them if they work their tails off this off season, which started this past Saturday.

 

Same is true for the O line. There are 3 interior positions opening due to graduation. To win state next year, we are going to have to capably fill those spots. I have faith in the kids and Coach Turner that by mid season next year, we will have another very good O line. Towles has the qb spot locked assuming he works real hard during the off season. RB position opens up widely also. But with Streeter, True, McGurn and perhaps McCoy, to name a few, there is plenty of talent available to fill those spots. Like all other open positions, I think the RB spots will be filled by those that work the hardest between now and 2 a days. We should be solid at the WR position with Gold, Carson and Gall. Nienaber picked up some valuable experience at the tight end spot this year. If Hollinsworth works hard to put on some muscle and mass, I can see him being a very good TE next year also.

 

As always, there are going to be several of those kids that weren't on the radar this year, that due to hard work and committment, are the surprise players next year. To me, that's one of the most enjoyable things about watching Highlands football: seeing the kids that, having watched them play the prior year, you didn't think they'd do much this year, and then they come out, play exceptionally well and surprise the heck out of you.

 

Bottom line is that Highlands should again be very, very good next year. As good as this year? Well, that's a question and challenge for next year's team to answer.

 

 

Just knowing the family, and the athletic success that his older siblings have had, working hard is ingrained. I don't believe it will be a question of how hard he works, but how much of a leader he becomes over the off season. He will have to step up as a JR and be THE voice in the huddle. That team last year, looking from the outside in, was full of leaders. You can't be that efficient and not have everyone buying into the system.

If CovCath can find a QB, they will do very well.

They will be very deep a running back, and return who I believe will be the best reviever

in NKY, in Connelly.

They must replace both O and D lines, but that can be done.

Defense will be a question, but QB is the key .

 

QB and Dline are the big holes to fill. In addition they lose some great Senior leaders like Garnick, Geisen, Couch, Robinson etc.

 

On offense the following players either started or saw significant varsity action this past season:

Thaxton OL

Way OL

Connaughton OL

Kuderer OL

Halpin OL

Schaefer RB

Slabaugh RB

Gray RB

Connelly WR

Best WR

Massey WR

 

ON Defense (either Started or played significant Minutes)

Jones DL

Timmerman DL

Henderson DL

Sizemore DL

Connaughton DL

Neinaber LB

Chailand LB

Clark LB

Guess LB

Ritter DB

Connor DB

Cosby DB

Batts DB

 

The QB is the big question, and perhaps the injury situation of several good athletes. If Torebeck, Manis, and Wendling can return that would be a huge boost to next year's team.

 

With the RB talent in the program, next years version of the spread may be much more run oriented. If the QB can throw 12 -15 times a game, enough to keep teams honest, I think the offense will be fine.

 

The key may be defense. Hopefully playing so many soph's late in the season (5 starters on D ) pays off next year. If they can stop the run better next year, the Colonels could be very good.

Which team will they replace?

 

Boone Co. Talent level at Boone is not what they are used to having . IMO they will struggle again this year.

Ben Frisch started DL.

Kevin Morrison started OL.

Bo Geison started TE.

Frank Kramer?

 

These were all big contributors.

 

Forgot about Ben, yes he will be the hardest player to replace.

The other seniors Morrison,Kramer,Couch,Geison were all good players.

They showed if given a change they could play, however I believe they will be easier to replace. See POST #25

I believe Dixie is losing a lot of experience to graduation this year... I wonder how this will impact their team next year?

 

They played a lot of juniors and sophomores this past season. However, that always doesn't mean much. Pike has the potential to be one of the best QBs in NKY. He has the size and arm strength. I imagine Bruns will get most of the work at the RB position as he backed up Klei this past season. Leonard will be back at the WR spot. Most of the DBs will be back. The o-line, I think, will be the biggest question mark for them.

They played a lot of juniors and sophomores this past season. However, that always doesn't mean much. Pike has the potential to be one of the best QBs in NKY. He has the size and arm strength. I imagine Bruns will get most of the work at the RB position as he backed up Klei this past season. Leonard will be back at the WR spot. Most of the DBs will be back. The o-line, I think, will be the biggest question mark for them.

 

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but is this Bruns the brother of the Bruns from Highlands?

Correct me if I'm wrong but is this Bruns the brother of the Bruns from Highlands?

 

Nope. No relation. There were 3 Bruns on Dixie's freshman team 2 years ago. The two that were brothers left and went to Highlands.