[HAIL PIKEVILLE!]

While we are losing some key seniors and they will be missed. We have kids who can step in and be just as good. Estep and Maynard will be the hardest to replace just because of what they brought to the team that can't be measured in a stat sheet. The line loses 1 good tackle in Mullins and one great one in Patton. Tanner Roop, who was a very valuable backup last season at tackle is ready to step in and could be a special player, considering how well he was playing at the end of the year. Our Center and 2 guards are all returning and will be the strength of our line and our locker room. Pugh has potential to be the best back in EKY next season. Hopefully he can keep his emotions in check a little better and work on ball security during the offseason. Those are really the only flaws I see in his game at this point and those can be corrected with a years maturity and reps, respectively. Blake Charles will be the other back and a very capable one at that. Both can block very well and are good receiver out of the backfield. I'm going to preface what I'm getting ready to say by saying this: I intend no disrespect to Squeak Charles in any way shape or form. With that being said, I honestly believe we upgrade at QB with Cody Dials just from a skill set stand point. The kid just has better tools to work with. Better arm, more accurate, better all around athlete in my opinion. Again nothing against Squeak. He was a heck of a player. Dials has the potential to be better IMHO. We have gifted WRs in AJ Vanderbeck, Clay Slone, Cody Charles, and Andrew McNamee. None of these kids have the speed that Estep had, but they are all sure handed and can get open. McNamee will be a tall target and a matchup nightmare in the red zone. The player to watch will be Evan Rhodes. He's only a sophomore but possesses that burning speed that Estep had. With a good offseason and continued progression, he could be a serious weapon!

Defensively, Caleb Skeens will be missed, he continued a long line of Panther Linebackers like Austin Black, Tolliver Heffner, Madison Coleman, JR Robinson ETC. that hard nosed, active, in on every tackle, play to the whistle guy who set the tone for the entire defense. I loved watching that kid play and he was a key contributor to our defense being much improved over the previous 2 seasons. With all that being said. Our LB corps is still an extremely solid group. I expect that trend to continue as now these kids have had a year under Coach Sullivan's system. I may be wrong but I believe we return 5 of our front seven. Clay Slone will be a force in the secondary. He was tested quite a bit last season as he played opposite of Estep at CB and made some big plays. Player to watch: Jonathan Ray- This kid was a special teams demon last season. I'm not sure if he will be a DB or LB. No matter where he plays...he'll play all out. Just like his Old Man did.
The only thing that really concerns me about next years team is special teams. As has been previously stated. We lost a very good kicker in LJ Allara and our punter/ punt returner in Estep. Those are big voids that must be filled. This team has the potential to be just as good as last years team. I'm not sure of our regular season schedule, I know Pike Central has been added but I don't know who they replaced. The Hazard game is a district game now and I think that is a good thing. Of course the trip to Pond Creek next year will have plenty of eyes on it as well. The road won't be easy and it never is. But next years team has a legit shot at going to Bowling Green if we can stay healthy and keep our heads on straight. I'm sure Coach Mac and his staff will have them ready.