By Alex Nicoll
Editor-in-Chief
@NicollMac
When Coppell opens the season Friday night against former district opponent Hebron, fans will be seeing many new faces for both teams.
Hebron returns 10 starters and Coppell returns even less than that with nine.
One of the biggest challenges for Coppell is filling in the gaps on defense. Only two starters return between the defensive line and linebacker corps. Chris Biggurs seems to have settled into his role on the defensive line for his second straight year after starting on the offensive line his sophomore year.
Senior Scott Huntsman and junior Matt Rockefeller are projected to replace Army All-American Solomon Thomas, who is now a member of the Stanford football team, and all-district selection John Herubin (Yale) on the defensive line.
Huntsman, who already has an offer from Purdue and interest from other schools, is also slated to replace Blake Mahon (Baylor) at tight end.
The secondary is anchored returning senior starters Bryce VonZurmuehlen and Jacob Murray. Murray has orally committed to Northwestern and is one of the top returning tacklers for Coppell after collecting 55 tackles a season ago.
Senior quarterback Skylar Bonneau has his top target back in junior wide receiver Josh Fink. Last season the duo connected 17 times for 368 yards and five touchdowns.
Bonneau will also have star running back Charles West as another option. West rushed for a team high 1,177 yards and 10 touchdowns and has multiple offers from schools like Arkansas and San Diego State among others.
Another challenge Coppell will face is replacing its whole offensive line. Converted tight end and highly-touted prospect Conner Williams moves over to fill in at left tackle. Two 6-8 giants in senior guard Glen Williams and senior tackle Jordan Murray anchor the right side of the line.
Hebron loses its top rusher in running back Treyvon Hughes and its leading returner is senior Angelo Garbutt who gained 100 yards last season in limited time.
The team’s strength comes from its offensive line which features Arkansas commit Zach Rogers.
On defense, Hebron runs a 3-4 and return its leading tackler last year in Clay Holford, who had 93 tackles.
In other news this will be coach Mike DeWitt’s first game as head coach.
