CENTRAL PURPLE POUNDERS
Head coach: Curt Jones (17-32 overall)
Returning starters: 8 offensive, 7 defensive
Key players: OL/DL Wyatt Garrett (6-10, 381); QB Jaheim Jones (5-10, 210); RB/LB Michael McGhee (5-10, 195); OL/MLB Chance Martin (6-1, 225); WR/CB Jacobi Witcher (6-1, 185).
Team strengths: The Purple Pounders have such a collection of speed among their skill-position players that they could put together multiple sprint relay teams. Rashaun Evans (5-9, 175), who will both carry the ball and play defensive back, actually did help the school's sprint relay teams reach the state track meet this past spring. Said Jones: "This team has more overall team speed than any I've coached."
Team concerns: While the Pounders are solid up front on both sides of the ball, there isn't as much depth along either the offensive or defensive line as Class 4A contenders would like.
Newcomers to watch: Because of his speed, Evans is electric and will get the ball in a variety of ways as a receiver and running back as well as returning kicks. Running back Donya Parker (6-0, 215) will bring a physical presence to the backfield and at defensive end. He's the younger brother of former Central all-region back Michael Davenport.
Season outlook: There's a sense of nostalgia surrounding the program, and Central supporters hope the team can bring back some of the past success in Jones' second stint as coach. He led the Pounders to the playoffs in two of his four seasons during his first term, including an 8-4 record in 2003.
After helping Notre Dame play in the Division II-AA title game last season as defensive coordinator, Jones was brought back and has enthusiasm around the program soaring.
"I've seen some of the preseason rankings where we're picked to be in the top 10 in the state," Jones said. "There's no need to shy away from it; we've just got to keep working to live up to our potential. We just need one big win early to get the confidence going. I've seen it in the workouts and how willing the kids have been to make themselves and this team better. Hopefully that will translate on the field."
Jones prefers having speed over size on defense, which led him to move up some of the bigger defensive backs to play linebacker and the larger linebackers to the defensive line. He inherited a talented young roster, but among the tweaks he has also made was putting quarterback Jaheim Jones on defense, where he should make the linebacker corps even more athletic.
"I'm putting into play the things that I've learned over the last few years since the last time I was a head coach," Jones said. "I like having expectations. It's an exciting way to start."