By Chris Parker
Miller football returns six starters on each side of the ball coming off a three-win season.
On offense, the Cardinals will need a new backfield after graduating last year’s starting quarterback and top four rushers.
Jaylen Madsen (junior) and Baylor Clayton (sophomore) are candidates to fill the quarterback role.
Blake Walters (senior), Same Ferguson (junior) and Conner Neely (junior) will handle ball-carrying duties. Walters is the team’s leading returning receiver with 268 yards and two touchdowns on 22 catches last season.
Both Walters and Madsen are poised for breakout years.
“Both guys have excelled behind some guys above them that have moved on with graduation,” Miller head coach Derek Hill said. “Now those touches will come their way, and I expect big things.”
The offensive line will feature Eli Woods (senior), Dallas Prior (senior), Eric Mincey (senior), Mason Neely (junior), Jarrett Rinker (junior), Brodie Mitchell (sophomore) and Brock Snow (junior).
Charlie Langston (sophomore) and Kyle McWorther (senior) will be at tight end. Out wide, look for Kendall McWorther (senior), Trenton Pearce (junior), Nathan Cunningham (junior) and Brayden Williams (senior) at receiver.
“We will be a very balanced team with a spread base,” Hill said.
On defense, it will be many of the same names as offense with Conner Neely, Mason Neely, Woods, Snow, Mincey and Levi Guthrie (sophomore) on the defensive line.
Conner and Mason Neely bring a wealth of experience. The combined for 146 total tackles and 21 tackles for a loss last season.
“These guys have started every game since their freshman year on both sides of the ball,” Hill said. “They have matured a lot football wise and sense a huge breakout by them.”
The second level will feature Langston, Clayton, Cunningham and Marce Amaral (junior).
Langston had a huge freshman season.
“He started all 11 games as a freshman last year and recorded 97 tackles,” Hill said. “He’s a driven kid that has worked his tail off in the weight room to bulk up to take his game to the next level.”
Look for Walters, Madsen, Pearce, Ferguson, Williams and Jerald Mart in the secondary. Walters had 76 total tackles last season.
Miller will host El Dorado Springs, East Newton and Diamond for a jamboree on Aug. 22 before opening the regular season at home against Clever on Aug. 29.
“(We want) to get over the hump on the close games,” Hill said. “We were in a lot of games last year but had a few mistakes here and there that prevented us from winning those games against playoff caliber teams.”
