#13 Klein Collins Tigers |  Preseason Top 25 Home |  #11 Cibolo Steele Knights

Coach: Hal Wasson
Mascot: Dragons
Region: 1
District: 7-5A
2010: 10-4, D2 Regional final (L Denton Guyer, 14-24)

PROGRAM

Southlake Carroll’s success as a program is well documented, but becomes even more impressive as time goes by.  Seven state championships in total, four in the last decade, back-to-back-to-back champions from 2004-2006, and five straight state final appearances from 2002-2006.  Only a one point loss in the 2003 final kept the Dragons from five straight state championships.  Also, only once since 2000 have they not gone at least 3 rounds deep in the playoffs.

OFFENSE

Returning Offensive Starters: 6

Unit Rankings
Backfield:
Receivers:
Offensive Line:

Key Players
QB Kenny Hill, Junior (’10 1st All-District, District Soph of Year)
RB Zach Thomason, Senior (5’11 195)
WR Peyton Williams, Senior (’10 1st All-District)

Players to Watch
RB EJ Ezzard, Sophomore
WR/DB Sabian Holmes, Senior (’10 2nd All-District)
WR Ben Sago, Senior (5’11 185)
WR Cory Kemp, Senior (5’11 175)
C Austin Tyrone, Senior (6’2 240)
OG JJ Prince, Senior (’10 1st All-District)
OG Avery Hill, Senior (6’1 265)
OL Cam Manning, Junior

DEFENSE

Returning Defensive Starters: 5

Unit Rankings
Defensive Line:
Linebackers:
Secondary:

Key Players
LB Will Davis, Senior (’10 1st All-District)
LB Dillon Rake, Senior (6’3 220)
DB/WR Sabian Holmes, Senior (’10 2nd All-District)

Players to Watch
DE Jeff Miller, Senior (6’2 225)
DE Matt Watford, Senior (6’2 225)
NT Brock Sales, Senior (6’2 220)
LB Nash Neu, Senior (6’1 190)
LB Jackson Mitchell, Junior
LB Jeremy McClellan, Senior (5’8 185)
DB Matt Swoyer, Junior
DB Nick Melocik, Senior (6’1 185)
DB Tanner Jacobson, Junior (5’10 175)
DB Britton Wallace, Senior (6’1 185)

SCHEDULE

THE BOTTOM LINE

Offense: We’ve established that this isn’t quite the Dragon offense under Dodge, but it can still be very effective with an experienced quarterback at the helm.  As a second year quarterback in 2009, David Piland completed 214 of 351 for 2935 yards and 23 touchdowns while also running for 439 yards and 7 touchdowns.  We think it’s reasonable to expect a similar output from junior QB Kenny Hill who took over last season as a sophomore.  In his first year, he completed 73% of his passes for 1761 yards and 15 touchdowns while adding another 435 yards and 7 scores on the ground.  The offensive line is behind where it was in 2009 though, so building depth will be key.  Hill’s top four targets in Williams, Sego, Holmes, and Kemp all return.

Defense: The highlight of this group are the linebackers.  Three very good ones are back in Will Davis (Kansas St.), Dillon Rake, and Jeremy McClellan.  They make up a chunk of the five returning starters from a defense that performed really well in their first season running the 3-4 scheme (21st in ADS).  If NT Brock Sales can hold his own in the middle of a 3-man line, this will free up the linebackers to really put their stamp on games.

Overrated if: There’s any major drop-off along the offensive line.  It doesn’t matter how strong you are at the skill spots if you can’t get it done up front.

Underrated if: The offensive and defensive lines develop into a strength.  If those pieces fall into place, December football isn’t out of the question.