oldgrappler

Is Saladin an Inside Linebacker this season? He played OLB last season.

Boone's scrimmages are almost always played on Thursday. It's not unusual.

Excellent summary of each team C_W_B. Your efforts are appreciated.

I like to hear that. What do you base your prediction on?

I wish Rankin had not stopped playing football for a while. He's a big, athletic guy. He will be hard to cover for smaller DBs. Played QB when I saw him as a freshman. I noticed England's stiff arm last year. He also has a low center of gravity with powerful legs. I think he could have a really good year for Ryle. And finally, Ryle is the team to beat in Boone County. All three of the other programs are coming back from difficult seasons. I know the least about Conner but it seems like Cooper may have another year to go to get back to the top of their game. Of course Boone is just trying to change the culture this year. Lots of emphasis on leadership and kids stepping up. I think this year will be the first step in a multiple year journey back for Boone. We need more kids in our Pee Wee feeder system to stay at Boone for High School. I will get a close up look at both Cooper and Ryle in a matter of weeks. The best thing I can wish for everybody is to stay healthy.

And, btw, it isn't a given that the senior FB will get the majority of the carries. I expect there will be two or three other backs getting significant carries, including a sophomore that they are grooming for the future. Last season, there were several games where the FB kind of disappeared out of the offense. He was used primarily as a blocker, or they put in a different package utilizing smaller and quicker guys. I am anxious to see what they will do this year.

A thousand yards may be a lot to ask for a kid who had 381 yards last season and will play a major role in stopping the opposition at MLB, and be the kicker, and also personal protector on punt team and run downfield and make the tackle. However, he did average over 5 yards a carry last year, primarily between the tackles, and just about everybody in the stadium knew when he was going to get the ball. But who knows, if he goes for a thousand yards the stands at Owen Hauck Stadium will be rocking because that means he will be steam-rolling the opposition. lol. The offense has every opportunity to show improved production because there is more talent at the skills than we had last year and the line should be improved. I will tell you, the power run game is ready now. Some of the other stuff will need work before Aug. 24. Tevin Merritt has help on the O-Line. A kid who will provide beef upfront is Drew Baker. He's over 300 pounds. Those two are great kids, besides being good at football. This is the most solid Boone has been at all five positions on the line in some time. Staying healthy will be key. BTW, at the Ryle lineman challenge Merritt pushed a 225 lb sled 100 yrds in 37 seconds and Boone's line won all the team events. We are excited for the season to get started. The only problem is the other guys standing across the line. Will they cooperate with our renewed drive to win? We'll see.

Anybody who was there, can you tell where Michael Spencer lined up on defense? I heard he may be the MLB this year. Last season he played DE.

He is working hard at ASAP. I haven't seen him play since grade school but he had tremendous athleticism. Very quick for a tall, gangly kid. Doug at ASAP is going to get him incredibly fit by the time the basketball season starts.

Congratulations on a great opportunity for the young man! What position does he play?

An article in the NKYTribune quotes Head Coach Marty Steele as saying the O-line is much improved over last season. He goes so far as to say that it is one of the best lines he's ever coached. Coach Steele is usually pretty blunt so he must think this line is quite good. That is good news. 2

On this one occasion, @rjs4470, I agree with you. Last year, I sat at a table at a football banquet with a former AD and coach of Walton/Verona and asked him why they weren't in the NKAC and he explained it but I can't remember what he said. Glad I could clear that up.

Good for Mason. I'm guessing that Valpo attended a UC camp, saw Mason there and invited him to Valpo to their camp in July. I think a teammate also went to that Valpo camp. Valpo probably then let him know that they have a spot for him on their roster, similar to D3 schools. The price tag at Valpo is north of $50K and no athletic scholarship. They may find other money for Mason because he has a good ACT, I heard. We got the same invitation to their camp but chose to go to a different school's camp that day because we figured, even with academic scholarships, we'd still be too far off from where we would need to be. I guess you never know unless you try. Valpo does have a very good education and it would be really cool to play there. It's not easy figuring out what to do and how to get to the school you'd really like to be at. Some of it is shaking the bushes and some of it is being in the right place at the right time. Good luck to Mason and John Williams on the recruiting trail. I hope they find a place where they can play football, afford the school, and get an education that will help them get to the place in life they want to be. Oh... and have fun doing it.

I believe he went against Boone's #1s .

This was my thought exactly. Burch won back-to-back state championships. You can't easily replace that kind of experience. Not to mention he was smart and accurate.

Well, C_W_B, not from an objective bystander. I was not there but someone who was there said that Beechwood got the better of both teams they went against, then Boone Co., then Dixie Heights. But it was close against Boone with Beechwood scoring one TD more than Boone. Hergott was at QB for the Beechies. I didn't hear much about Dixie. That's about all I can tell you.

It was on Monday, July 23.

This explains why this week's 7 v 7 between Dixie, Boone, and Beechwood was moved to Beechwood.

Fantastic pic!

@Mustang, Bezold and Dennis are listed as 1st and 3rd on the NKY Active Leaders list for tackles. Did they play as freshman?

Jaylyn Alan, I think that is his name.

They have an athletic LB with some size. I met him on the football camp circuit at UK in June. A gregarious kid. Looks to be about 6'2" and 230 lbs, but is actually about 6' 0". His hair made him seem taller. His father is around 6' 2" legit so the son will probably grow some more. He will be a junior this fall, I believe.

I will pray for him.

Monday, July 23 8am - 11 am Boone County @ Dixie Heights

Fantastic! @Fear the Nation. Excellent information. Thank you. Just to be clear for anyone who may too quickly glance through what Fear the Nation posted, those are the points earned for their team by gaining 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place, etc. in an event. The numbers I posted in the OP are accurate for the actual number of reps for the 185 lb bench.