Head coach: E.K. Slaughter (32-23 in five seasons here; 63-56 overall)
Returning starters: 7 offensive; 4 defensive
Key players: QB Nick Hanson (6-3, 195); OL Derek Gibson (6-1, 280); OL Kobe McAllister (6-6, 275); WR/CB Cade Kiniry (5-11, 150); LB Maddox Rose (5-10, 185); DL Zach Brown (6-3, 225); WR-DB Sam Randolph (6-2, 185).
Team strengths: Few teams in northwest Georgia boast a better pair of offensive linemen than Gibson and McAllister (a Cincinnati commitment). The Generals also return the area's most prolific passer in junior Hanson.
Team concerns: A team that gave up 437 points in 11 games last year and will have seven new defensive starters is going to be a concern, though Slaughter is optimistic.
"We're just more experienced and, overall, we are just a more intelligent defense," he said. "We're further along right now than we were at any time last year, which is exciting."
Breakout candidate: Former East Hamilton receiver Sam Randolph is now a General and will have plenty of passes thrown his way in the aggressive pass-first attack.
Season outlook: The Generals would have been a scary offensive team regardless, but the addition of an elite weapon could catapult Slaughter's sixth Heritage team to a different level.
Heritage brings back a 2,000-yard passer in Hanson, an experienced and talented offensive line and several complementary playmakers to improve on last year's average of 30 points and 350 yards per game. Add former East Hamilton receiver/defensive back Randolph to the mix, and the expectations skyrocket.
"Sam is unique," Slaughter said. "He's inexperienced on the offensive side of the ball, but he's just a freak of an athlete who can go up and get it, and he can make people miss."
The Generals also are counting on Hanson taking the next step in his third year of starting in a complex offense.
"A lot of it is just understanding the concepts of what we are doing and taking care of the ball," Slaughter said. "Now he can recall things he did and we can take that next step."