looked to be the starter this sea son, but injuries in the offseason have limited Woolbright. now. Runs really well, tackles extremely well. Having him back there for his third season is huge them. They all run well, they all tackle, and that's what you want guys to do at the linebacker posi tion." for us. left tackle. Christian Evans (6-3, 235) is a senior who came on last year probably midseason on. We ended up starting him at right. guard and now he's shifted to right tackle." "On the offensive line we've got two starters coming in Walker Davis (6-4, 280)." Harris "This is the one (position) said. "He played left guard for us where we have to find the guy to last year and we shifted him to get it to all these guys," Harris said. "We have some weapons. We have three guys right now competing for that spot. Jack Woolbright was doing some really good stuff at the end of the year. He played baseball and then Jack had a tough summer. He hurt his elbow pitching in early summer so he couldn't throw a football. Then during 7-on-7, he fell and tried to catch himself on the turf and broke his left thumb. He had surgery on his thumb (mid-July) and he's had a cast on his hand. He's been there, he just hasn't gotten as many reps." "We've got Beau Wright back at weakside linebacker. Beau is what you want your linebackers to look like and play like and run like. He's a top five fastest on the team. He set the state weight meet record this past year power cleaning 350 pounds. We expect big things out of him." While linebacker and second- ary look solid, there are some questions up front with only Hunter Goodwin returning with experience. Karter Sanders and Elijah Harris also will receive the starting nod on the line, with a competition at the fifth line spot going between senior Eli Krebs, junior Connor Morgan, and sophomores Tanner Holden and Caleb Purdy. "We've got one guy back with a lot of playing experience and that's Hunter Goodwin (6-1, 235)." Harris said. "He's had a really good offseason and gained 20, 25 pounds, something we challenged him to do. We're pretty excited about getting hime going. Other than Goodwin, we have to find some guys." Lucas Wilbur, Tate Sparks and Dillon Bosley (currently injured) will see time at kicker. DEFENSE Led by the defensive duo, both the secondary and lineback ers will be a strength on for the Panthers this year. A liability in the past, the secondary should be solid. Aside from Simmons, sophomore Chris Bamard will likely play the other safety spot. with senior Jaden Collinet and Perverious Perkins taking the comerback positions. Morgan and Jayvon Parker will also see time at cornerback. Getting looks on the line. include Conner Jewell, Jaquese Caple and Walker Davis, with Jordan Burr and lan Alvarez competing at defensive end. Lane is capable at QB, but Harris likes his abilities as a slot receiver. Also competing at QB is sophomore Hudson Chandler and Cline Hooten, a move-in. Also moving in late after start- ing his sophomore and junior seasons at Monticello is senior Stran Smith, who will also com- pete for the starting job. Another boost for the Panthers is they return their leading tacklers from a sea- son ago in senior safety Cain Simmons (102 tackles, three for loss, five pass breakups) and senior linebacker Beau Wright (90 tackles, eight for loss, two sacks). After getting injured last season, Zane Manchack returns at linebacker, as do junior Jake Jones with McNeely in the mix. Andrew Armstrong, Patrick Shipp and Tyre Jemerson will also see time. "Defensively, we look good on the back end," Harris said. "We run really well at the line- backer and DB positions, so we like that group. We think that's going to be a strong group for us. Defensive line-wise we've just got to find some guys... they won't be the biggest guys but can run to the football and attack." Of course, blocking up front is always important and the Panthers have two guys return- ing with varsity experience. "Two-year starter Cain Simmons is back at safety," Harris said. "He's had a really good offseason. Cain is prob- ably our fastest player right "We've got about five line backers in there that have played really well for us," Harris said. "Pretty excited about all five of Wright, Manchack and Barnard will see time at punter. Johnston's Home Center 1421 Military Rd. Benton 501-315-6697 f Store Hours: Mon-Fri 9-6 Sat 9-5 Closed Sundays 10 looked to be the starter this sea son , but injuries in the offseason have limited Woolbright . now . Runs really well , tackles extremely well . Having him back there for his third season is huge them . They all run well , they all tackle , and that's what you want guys to do at the linebacker posi tion . " for us . left tackle . Christian Evans ( 6-3 , 235 ) is a senior who came on last year probably midseason on . We ended up starting him at right . guard and now he's shifted to right tackle . " " On the offensive line we've got two starters coming in Walker Davis ( 6-4 , 280 ) . " Harris " This is the one ( position ) said . " He played left guard for us where we have to find the guy to last year and we shifted him to get it to all these guys , " Harris said . " We have some weapons . We have three guys right now competing for that spot . Jack Woolbright was doing some really good stuff at the end of the year . He played baseball and then Jack had a tough summer . He hurt his elbow pitching in early summer so he couldn't throw a football . Then during 7 - on - 7 , he fell and tried to catch himself on the turf and broke his left thumb . He had surgery on his thumb ( mid - July ) and he's had a cast on his hand . He's been there , he just hasn't gotten as many reps . " " We've got Beau Wright back at weakside linebacker . Beau is what you want your linebackers to look like and play like and run like . He's a top five fastest on the team . He set the state weight meet record this past year power cleaning 350 pounds . We expect big things out of him . " While linebacker and second ary look solid , there are some questions up front with only Hunter Goodwin returning with experience . Karter Sanders and Elijah Harris also will receive the starting nod on the line , with a competition at the fifth line spot going between senior Eli Krebs , junior Connor Morgan , and sophomores Tanner Holden and Caleb Purdy . " We've got one guy back with a lot of playing experience and that's Hunter Goodwin ( 6-1 , 235 ) . " Harris said . " He's had a really good offseason and gained 20 , 25 pounds , something we challenged him to do . We're pretty excited about getting hime going . Other than Goodwin , we have to find some guys . " Lucas Wilbur , Tate Sparks and Dillon Bosley ( currently injured ) will see time at kicker . DEFENSE Led by the defensive duo , both the secondary and lineback ers will be a strength on for the Panthers this year . A liability in the past , the secondary should be solid . Aside from Simmons , sophomore Chris Bamard will likely play the other safety spot . with senior Jaden Collinet and Perverious Perkins taking the comerback positions . Morgan and Jayvon Parker will also see time at cornerback . Getting looks on the line . include Conner Jewell , Jaquese Caple and Walker Davis , with Jordan Burr and lan Alvarez competing at defensive end . Lane is capable at QB , but Harris likes his abilities as a slot receiver . Also competing at QB is sophomore Hudson Chandler and Cline Hooten , a move - in . Also moving in late after start ing his sophomore and junior seasons at Monticello is senior Stran Smith , who will also com pete for the starting job . Another boost for the Panthers is they return their leading tacklers from a sea son ago in senior safety Cain Simmons ( 102 tackles , three for loss , five pass breakups ) and senior linebacker Beau Wright ( 90 tackles , eight for loss , two sacks ) . After getting injured last season , Zane Manchack returns at linebacker , as do junior Jake Jones with McNeely in the mix . Andrew Armstrong , Patrick Shipp and Tyre Jemerson will also see time . " Defensively , we look good on the back end , " Harris said . " We run really well at the line backer and DB positions , so we like that group . We think that's going to be a strong group for us . Defensive line - wise we've just got to find some guys ... they won't be the biggest guys but can run to the football and attack . " Of course , blocking up front is always important and the Panthers have two guys return ing with varsity experience . " Two - year starter Cain Simmons is back at safety , " Harris said . " He's had a really good offseason . Cain is prob ably our fastest player right " We've got about five line backers in there that have played really well for us , " Harris said . " Pretty excited about all five of Wright , Manchack and Barnard will see time at punter . Johnston's Home Center 1421 Military Rd . Benton 501-315-6697 f Store Hours : Mon - Fri 9-6 Sat 9-5 Closed Sundays 10