McMINN COUNTY CHEROKEES
Head coach: Bo Cagle (77-62 in 13 years here)
Returning starters: 6 offensive; 6 defensive
Key players: RB Jalen Hunt (5-10, 180); OL Bryce Goodner (6-3, 300); OL Garrett Priest (5-9, 250); OL Bode Patton (6-1, 235).
Team strengths: Four starters return on the offensive line. That group led by Goodner, who has committed to Virginia Tech, will pave the way for Hunt, who plans to play for Western Carolina. The defense features a solid returning line and a pair of returning players in the backfield.
Team concerns: Breaking in a new quarterback, sophomore Jayden Miller, will put more pressure on Hunt, who no longer has Nelan Evans and Jalen Sharp – who combined for 884 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2019 – around to take pressure off him. The Cherokees, who won nine games last season, lost their entire linebacker unit, which will lead to the need for some new names to step up there.