#18 Converse Judson Rockets |  Preseason Top 25 Home |  #16 Mesquite Horn Jaguars

Coach: Reginald Samples
Mascot: Raiders
Region: 2
District: 9-5A
2010: 9-3, D1 Area (L DeSoto, 0-38)

PROGRAM

Fair or not, Skyline is better known for the unbelievable amounts of individual talent they produce rather than their on-field success as a team.  Skyline hasn’t missed the playoffs in 17 years, but in 12 of those they were knocked out in the first round.  However, in the last four years they’ve gone four rounds deep twice, three rounds deep once, and were eliminated by DeSoto in the 2nd round last season.  Coach Samples and his staff have things going in the right direction.

OFFENSE

Returning Offensive Starters: 8

Unit Rankings
Backfield:
Receivers:
Offensive Line:

Key Players
QB Devante Kincaide, Junior (6’1 175)
WR Thomas Johnson, Senior (6’1 185)
OL Kevin Coleman, Junior (’10 1st All-District)

Players to Watch
QB Trey Seward, Senior (6’1 180)
RB/LB David Greene, Senior (6’1 210)
RB Derrick Dixon, Sophomore (5’9 170)
OL Marlon Brown, Senior (6’3 320)
OL Kerrick Huggins, Junior (6’4 275)
OL Samuel Crayton, Senior (5’11 220)
OL Dominique Woods, Junior (6’1 250)
WR Tra Rabon, Senior (6’3 195)
WR Ra’Shaad Samples, Junior (6’0 170)

DEFENSE

Returning Defensive Starters: 6

Unit Rankings
Defensive Line:
Linebackers:
Secondary:

Key Players
LB/RB Peter Jinkens, Senior (6’2 210)
LB Domenic Spencer, Senior (AP 2nd All-State)
DB William Barrow, Junior (’10 1st All-District)

Players to Watch
DE/LB/TE Isaiah Williams, Junior (6’2 220)
DE Roderick Moore, Junior (6’1 210)
DE Davion Anderson, Junior (6’3 215)
DE Victor Evans, Sophomore (6’3 200)
DT Blake Hawkley, Senior (5’11 290)
LB/DL Nigel Robertson, Senior (5’11 235)
LB Jeremy Nixon, Junior (6’0 210)
DB Patrick Robinson, Senior (5’9 170)
DB Shelton Sessions, Senior (6’0 180)
DB Cedric Collins, Sophomore (’10 1st All-District)

SCHEDULE

THE BOTTOM LINE

Offense: Once again, Skyline is absolutely loaded with individual skill talent.  On the perimeter, Johnson (Texas), Rabon (offered by K-State), and junior Samples are all D1 level receivers.  Skyline has been excited about junior QB Devonte Kincaide’s potential and this could be his breakout season.  Despite being on the run a lot, Kincaide completed 63% of this passes for 1700 yards and 17 tds.  Look for Peter Jinkens (LB/RB) and Isaiah Williams (LB/TE) to see plenty of time on both sides of the ball. Up front, Skyline played as many as five underclassmen last season.  They’ve got some big boys, and with a year under their belt, could develop into an imposing group.

Defense: You can always count on Skyline’s defense being among the best in the state and this year shouldn’t be any different.  You look at last year’s 4th ranked unit (-13.92 ADS) and it’s shocking how young they were, especially in the secondary.  The Raiders started a freshman (Collins), sophomore (Barrow), and junior (Sessions) in the secondary, three juniors at linebacker, and several other underclassmen saw significant time. The overall talent on this side of the ball is unmatched.

Overrated if: The offensive line doesn’t settle in and give Kincaide more time to operate and get the ball to their explosive play-makers on the edge.

Underrated if: Kincaide has a breakout year.  Kincaide and the offense really came a long way over the course of last season and showed very encouraging signs heading into 2011.

Photo by: Byron Watters/dallassouthnews.org