2011 Preseason Top 25: #3 Coppell Cowboys
By 5ATexasFootball.com on May 30, 2011 with Comments 2
#4 Longview Lobos | Preseason Top 25 Home | #2 Euless Trinity Trojans
Coach: Joe McBride
Mascot: Cowboys
Region: 1
District: 7-5A
2010: 13-1 D1 Regional Finalist (L Euless Trinity, 40-41)
PROGRAM
| Rank | Avg. | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | |
| Wins | 18 | 9.40 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 8 |
| Adj. Offensive Scoring | 15 | 10.21 | 13.11 | 6.11 | 10.69 | 7.26 | 13.89 |
| Adj. Defensive Scoring | 11 | -9.06 | -19.85 | -15.31 | -0.61 | -4.78 | -4.78 |
| Dominance | 11 | 19.28 | 32.96 | 21.42 | 11.29 | 12.04 | 18.67 |
This is a program knocking on the door of doing big things. The Cowboys moved up to 5A ball in 2000 and have only recorded one sub-.500 season (2004). Since then, they’ve shown steady improvement each year notching 5, 8, 7, 8, 11, and 13 wins respectively. Last season was their deepest playoff run in school history losing an absolute heart-breaker to Euless Trinity 41-40 in the Regional Finals.
OFFENSE
Returning Starters: 5
Unit Rankings
Backfield: 
Receivers: 
Offensive Line:
Key Players
QB Jake Larson, Senior (6’4 190 4.6)
OG Jake Williams, Senior (’10 1st All-District)
OT Sam Rice, Senior (’09 & ’10 1st All-District)
Players to Watch
RB Gavin McDaniel, Sophomore (5’10 170 4.5)
RB Chris Lavin, Junior (5’8 180 4.6)
WR Cameron Smith, Junior (6’0 170 4.5)
WR Jason Lister, Junior (6’0 170 4.6)
WR Henry Bush, Junior (6’1 175 4.6)
C Leighton Light, Junior (’10 1st All-District)
OG Emelio Primera, Senior (5’11 290)
DEFENSE
Returning Defensive Starters: 4
Unit Rankings
Defensive Line:
Linebackers:
Secondary:
Key Players
DE William Udeh, Junior (’10 5A All-Soph, 1st All-District)
SS Jacob Logan, Junior (’10 1st All-District, District Soph of Year)
FS David Busby, Senior (’10 1st All-State, 1st All-District)
Players to Watch
NT Austin Buss, Senior (’10 1st All-District)
DE Soloman Thomas, Sophomore (6’2 230 4.8)
OLB Tanner Masters, Junior (6’2 205 4.6)
ILB Ethan Evans, Senior (6’2 215 4.6)
CB Dillon Speight, Junior (5’11 175 4.5)
SS Chris Adkins, Sophomore (6’0 175 4.6)
SCHEDULE
| 8/26 @ Mesquite Horn
The Cowboys shut-out Horn last season, 13-0. Horn is a very talented bunch and provides Coppell a great Week 0 test. 9/30 @ Denton Guyer Last season’s 31-14 win marked the first ever meeting between the two teams. Both are very talented areas with great communities, so this is just the start of a great series. 10/14 @ Southlake Carroll These two have a rivalry that dates back to when Coppell opened in 1963. Carroll has had the better of the overall series by a large margin, but Coppell has won two of the last three meetings. |
2011 Schedule: | |
| 8/26 @ Mesquite Horn | ||
| 9/2 vs Arlington | ||
| 9/9 @ Dallas Jesuit | ||
| 9/16 Open | ||
| *9/23 vs Saginaw | ||
| *9/30 @ Denton Guyer | ||
| *10/7 vs Keller Fossil Ridge | ||
| *10/14 @ Southlake Carroll | ||
| *10/21 vs Justin Northwest | ||
| *10/28 vs Keller | ||
| *11/4 @ Keller Central |
THE BOTTOM LINE
Offense: Graduating QB Joe Minden was great a season ago, just like Hayden Hawk a year before him. It doesn’t stop there as the Coppell coaches are very high on senior QB Jake Larson (6’4 190 4.6). He picked up a few backup snaps as a junior (18-23, 248 yards, 2 tds, 2 ints; 11 car., 59 yards, 2 tds). The strength of the offensive line, four returning starters, will make the transition to a new quarterback and new skill guys much easier for the Cowboys. Notre Dame bound RB Cam McDaniel moves on after 4000+ yards of offense and 60+ tds over three years on varsity. Little bro sophomore RB Gavin McDaniel (5’10 170 4.5) steps into the spotlight, along with junior Chris Lavin (5’8 180 4.6) and sophomore Boris Mulume (6’0 175 4.5).
Defense: The defense returns four starters from a group that finished 2010 as the leader in adjusted defensive scoring. All four returning starters, junior DE Udeh, senior NT Buss, senior FS Busby, and junior SS Logan are all legit all-state candidates. Four new linebackers will be taking the field this Fall. Junior LB Tanner Masters is expected to highlight the new group. Two younger names to remember are sophomores DE Soloman Thomas (6’3 230 4.8) and DB Chris Adkins (6’0 175 4.6).
Overrated if: The inexperienced offensive talent at QB, RB, and WR doesn’t perform well under pressure. When you’re looking to win a state title, the offense will be put in a tough spot or two and they’ll need to deliver.
Underrated if: If they pick up where they left off in 2010. They lost an absolute heart-breaker 41-40 in the D1 Region 1 final to Euless Trinity, but by many accounts were the better team from start to finish. The Cowboys fully expect to find themselves with a similar opportunity in 2011.
Filed Under: 2011 Gridiron Guide • Featured • News • Preseason Top 25
[...] 5ATexasFootball.com on May 30, 2011 with Comments 0 #3 Coppell Cowboys | Preseason Top 25 Home | #1 Allen [...]
People hve said that Trinity was the best one-loss team around that mat be true but dont forget about Coppell. I dont i have ever seen a team play so well and so hard and loose like i saw Coppell did against Trinity. Coppell should be back and be just as good if not better than they were last season. Im a Trinity alum and fan but I have to give credit where credit is due Coppell is a great team and a great program they are going anywhere anytime soon.