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2017 Football Preview 20 n Wednesday, August 23, 2017 The Herald-Leader/Westside Eagle Observer "Same thing with Isaac Knudsen. He played quite a bit last year and really dedicated himself to being a good football player. He plays hard. He's relentless. He's looking forward to having a good senior season." Sophomore Mariano Dominguez (5-11, 236) has shown some flashes of good play at a defensive tackle spot. Senior Jeremy Mote (5-11, 241) is a player that the Panthers "need to step up and play," Ross said. "Mote didn't play as a sophomore," Ross said. "He came back last year and played a lot on Monday nights (in junior varsity). He's a strong kid that moves pretty well. We need him to step up and show what he's capable of doing." Senior Rueben Nino (6-1, 285) will see some reps on the defensive line as well. "We're going to get our best in there," Ross said. "We'll have to rotate some more people. I think any of the three front D-line positions are interchangeable." Linebackers The Panthers will play four lineback- ers in their defensive scheme, two on the inside and two on the outside. Of particular importance in recent football trends is that of the outside line- backer. "That's a position where you have to be able to take on a (offensive) guard or a tackle in the run game and also be able to drop and cover (a receiver or tight end)," Ross said. "To me, those are very import- ant positions. You put a lot on those guys' plates. They need to be able to do several things well, and if they can do those things, it will help you defensively." Manning the outside linebacker posi- tions are a pair of seniors in Jacob Rowe (5-9, 178) and Braden Smartt (5-9, 198). Smartt played outside linebacker last season and recorded 32 assisted tackles and eight solo tackles, including six tack- les for loss. "Smartt moves pretty well," Ross said. "He has a little size to him. We just need him to step his game up a little bit more and play like the senior he's going to be. If he does that, then we've got a chance to do some things defensively. You're asking a lot out of a guy to set the edge. Then you've got to be able to cover somebody. It's a tough position, but we think he can do it." Rowe started last season at linebacker but moved to safety when injuries depleted the Panthers' secondary. He recorded 69 assisted tackles and 14 solos, three tackles for loss and recovered two fumbles. "Now we've got him back at line- backer," Ross said. "I think that's where he needs to be. He'll prosper in that posi- tion." Junior Spenser Pippin (5-10, 186) can play both outside and inside linebacker positions as can junior Dalton Ferguson (5-9, 192). "Dalton, physically, can do it," Ross said. "We've just got to find where he fits best and be the kind of player we think he can be." Senior Kevin Canales (5-7, 194) and junior Chase Chandler (5-9, 199) will get the first crack at the inside linebacker positions. Canales is coming off an MCL injury that sidelined him for half of last season. "He hasn't had any issues with (the injury)," Ross said. "We talked about making him an outside 'backer, but in the spring Coach Bowerman moved him inside and he took a liking to it. When you move positions there's a learning curve there, but Kevin's a smart kid and we think he'll pick up the intricacies of playing inside linebacker. He runs well for that position. You need guys that can run in a 3-4 (defense). I think he'll pros- per." Chandler wound up playing quite a bit of safety last season as well. He recorded 31 assisted tackles and 14 solo tackles and recovered two fumbles. He moved back to linebacker in the offseason. "That's his best fit," Ross said of Chan- dler. "He likes to be physical. He's the emotional leader of the defense. You've got to have somebody that's hard-nosed and loves contact, and I think he'll do a good job back there." Sophomore Thad Wright (6-0, 213) is also getting some reps at inside line- backer. "He's just a sophomore, but I think that physically he looks a lot like his brother (Gus)," said Ross, referencing Gus Wright, a former standout who is now playing college ball at the University of Arkansas-Monticello. "Once he figures things out and learns how to play down- hill, he's going to be a good player for us. He has good size and runs well." Secondary The Panthers suffered their biggest casualties in the secondary last year, losing both safeties in Cade Miller and Dawson Armstrong at different points of the season. Siloam Springs is hoping the young players that saw action at safety and cornerback last year will be more seasoned for the grind in 2017. Senior Luke Gumm (5-6, 136) and junior Primo Agbehi are penciled in to start at cornerback for the Panthers, and they'll also see double action at wide receiver on offense. "Luke has really come on," Ross said of Gumm, who had 20 assisted tackles, six solo tackles and one interception last year. He also started for the Panthers' Class 6A state champion boys soccer team. "He's a guy that we're definitely counting on heavily for sure." Agbehi (5-9, 159) joined the program as an eighth-grader, but he missed most of his ninth-grade year with a broken collar- bone. Last year was his first full year in the program on the JV team, and he ran track in the offseason. "Primo's matured and we like him at corner. He's made a lot of improvements," Ross said of Agbehi. "He's bigger and stronger, and he's definitely a guy that can play well at that position." Junior Dillon Ferguson (5-8, 147) backs up at a cornerback position as will senior Nolan Wallis, who is slated to start at safety. Wallis (5-7, 137) is not real big or real fast, Ross said, but he is a sure tackler. "He's not afraid of anything," Ross said. "He's real scrappy. You like having those guys out there. … He can play safety and corner. That gives us some flexibility with him." Marquan Sorrells is slated to start at the other safety. He was on track to start at safety last year when he moved out of the district just before the start of the season. "He's done what he needs to do to show us that he's going to be here," Ross said. Junior Kaiden Thrailkill (5-10, 186) will see some action at safety, but his priority will be at running back on offense. "Kaiden's just a good athlete and a good football player," Ross said. "We'll have him on offense. He needs to have the ball in his hands. We'll spot him on defense and try and rest him there as much as possible. Kaiden can play anywhere." Sophomore Gage Weaver (5-10, 149) is a good athlete with great hands and moves well, Ross said. "He's not super fast but he's going to have to play some for us," Ross said. "He'll play some on the offensive side as well. I've been pleased with his attitude and effort." Senior Tristan Moose (6-1, 169) could also play some safety in certain situations. "We'll get him reps back there," Ross said. Special teams Gumm kicked a game-winning field goal with no time left as Siloam Springs rallied to beat Sheridan 24-21 in Week 4 last year. Gumm will be among the candidates to kick for the Panthers on special teams. Last year's placekicker, Irvin Rios, did not come out to play this year after successfully converting 15 of 17 extra points and one field goal last year. Gumm and senior Jorge Perez have been working at extra points and field goals. Sophomore Harrison Losh (5-9, 129) may kick for the Panthers at some point as could sophomore Elder Mancia. "We've got several kids there that want to kick and get the job done," Ross said. "In the end we've got to have our points." Perez has a strong leg and will likely handle the kickoff duties and he'll get a look at some long field goals. Thrailkill is penciled in as the primary punter. Gumm had 33 punts for an average of 35.2 yards last year and can punt if needed. Sophomore Miguel Paz also punts. Gumm will be a prime candidate to receive punts. "Luke's got great hands," Ross said. "He can make people miss." Thrailkill and Agbehi are among the early candidates to return kickoffs. Sophomore Marco Salcedo is the long snapper on extra points, while sopho- more Tanner Broyles is the deep snapper for punts. DEFENSE Continued from Page 8