Page 3 - TL Football Preview Sept 2017

TRI-LAKES EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FOOTBALL PREVIEW | SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2017
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BENTON PANTHERS
Benton head coach Brad Harris calls a play during a Panthers preseason practice.
PHOTOS BY JUSTIN MANNING/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Benton kicker Taylor Akdamar practices a field goal with the special-teams unit during practice.
BENTON continued from 2TT
said. Fellow senior Jared Hastings moves from left tackle to left guard. Junior Jenson White, 6-3, 280, lines up at left tackle, and junior James Durling, 6-3, 290, is at right tackle. Junior Joshua George earned the cen- ter job in the spring. Juniors Henry Hicks and Joshua Doyle labored on the line in the spring, and big sophomores Austin Jones and Jackson Shelton add depth.
Defensively, the line is athletic with 6-5, 235-pound senior end Blake Edwards wreak- ing havoc in opponents’ backfields. Edwards, who is gaining attention from NCAA Divi- son II college programs, racked up 45 tackles last fall.
“He had a really good year as a junior. That should set up a big year for him this year,” Harris said. Junior Ty Neathery moves to end after collecting 12 tackles at linebacker last season.
A group of candidates worked at nose guard, including Belcher, who had 27 tack- les last year. Senior Seth Manion and juniors Dylan Ferguson and Michael Duke add depth on the line.
Seniors Brock Morris (330-pound bench press and 280-pound power clean) and
Bryson Krebs step into the linebacker spots after coming off the bench last fall.
“We are hoping both of those guys can fill those roles and have big years for us,” Harris said.
Carroll “brings an element we need speed- wise at linebacker,” Harris said of the CAC transfer. Junior Camron Ross also “looked good’ at the strong-side linebacker spot in the spring.
Junior Caleb Easterling, who didn’t play last fall, and sophomores Bryce Golle- her and Sean Thornton also worked at linebacker.
Senior Beau Brewer racked up 80 tackles at safety in 2016. Senior Blake Smith mans the other safety spot.
Senior cornerback D.J. Stirgus (4.5 speed) is one of the faster Panthers. He is attracting college attention after he inter- cepted two passes and totaled 33 tackles a year ago.
“I look for him to have a breakout year,” Harris said.
Senior Tristian Hutchinson rotated at corner last fall and locked down a spot in the spring.
“He has made great improvement from last season,” Harris said.