Head coach: Robert Akins (75-54 in 12 years here; 231-157 overall)
Returning starters: 6 offensive; 6 defensive
Key players: OL Reid Williams (6-1, 285); WR-CB Brayden Broome (6-0, 175); QB-LB Kyle White (5-10, 180); QB-WR Dylan Wright (5-10, 175); DT Michael Toney (6-0, 195); OL James Booth (6-3, 295); OL Scott Clinton (5-11, 280).
Team strengths: Led by recent University of Tennessee at Chattanooga commitment Williams, the offensive line will lead the Tigers. The kicking game should also be strong behind strong-legged sophomore Landon Eaker.
Team concerns: Though six starters return, the defense will be young and most of the returning starters have been so for only one season. The linebacking corps should be fine, but the line and secondary are question marks.
(Photo by Mark Gilliland) Ringgold's Brayden Broomes intercepts a pass during the first quarter of the game against Heritage that took place on August 24, 2018.Breakout candidate: Sophomore Kori Dumas could become the next great running back at Ringgold, though he will have competition from junior Price Pennington. Behind a strong line, whichever back earns the starting spot will have a chance to break out.
Season outlook: In more than three decades of coaching, Akins has had just about every type of football team imaginable. He's had star-ridden teams that have risen to great heights. He's had star-ridden teams that have not lived up to the hype.
Conversely, he's seen several of his teams go from underwhelming in the preseason to playoff teams in November. As he has said, if he could predict the future he wouldn't be coaching football, but the veteran coach has an eerie feeling the 2019 Tigers are going to out-perform predictions.
Dalton's Jack Ridley (29) closes in on Ringgold's Dylan Wright (15) during a GHSA football game at Harmon Field on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018 in Dalton, Ga."The main thing, and this is a real positive for us right now, we don't have any superstars," he said. "We have blue-collar kids, and from what I've seen, they just work and they are more of a team."
Ringgold was a playoff team a year ago, getting a rare at-large bid in Class AAA due to its power ranking. Gone, though, is much of the offensive production. So why is Akins so excited about the season? It all starts up front.
Recent Williams anchors a line that also includes Booth, Clinton, Will House and Bo Black. They range in size from the 5-11, 280-pound Clinton to the massive House (6-8, 323).
"Our offensive line has a chance to be real good, and that will allow us to be better with ball control," Akins said.