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The injury limited Thrailkill through the first six games of the year as he only rushed for 66 yards on 38 carries. Toward the end of the season, the Panthers began to see what a healthy Thrailkill could do. He rushed for 52 yards at Lake Hamilton and then 32 more yards against El Dorado. Then in Week 9 at Texarkana, Thrailkill carried a team-high 20 times for 115 yards. In the season finale in Week 10 against Russellville, Thrailkill carried nine times for 85 yards and also caught two passes for 69 yards for 154 all pur - pose yards. Thrailkill finished the season with 89 carries for 350 yards (3.9 yards per carry) and 11 catches for 141 yards. Now a junior, the 5-10, 186-pound running back is heading into the 2017 season healthy and ready to go. "Kaiden's just a quality young man," Ross said. "He tried to play on that ankle because the team needed him. I've got a lot of respect for that. He just goes out there and plays football. He's a good one." Thrailkill will be joined in the back - field by senior Kevin Canales and junior Dalton Ferguson. Canales (5-7, 194), a team captain, rushed for 57 yards against Van Buren but his season was halted in Week 5 with an MCL sprain at Benton. He had 33 car- ries for 106 yards on the season. Ferguson (5-9, 192) carried 22 times for 79 yards and a touchdown as a soph- omore. "We're really going to count on both of them on the defensive side of the ball as well," Ross said. Sophomore Damein Martin (5-0, 167) could see some snaps at running back as well. Wide receivers The Panthers graduated their top three receivers statistically from last season. J.D. Horn led the team with 52 catches for 675 yards and five touchdowns and signed to play football at Lyon College in the offseason. Montana Burke (13 catches, 172 yards) and Carlos Gonzales (13 catches, 167 yards) also graduated. Siloam Springs will operate with multiple receivers out of the spread for - mation, going from two-receiver sets to three- and four-receiver options as well. Senior Luke Gumm (5-6, 136), who had two catches for 41 yards last year, has developed into a player who could give the Panthers a chance to hit some big plays on offense, Ross said. "He's got really quick feet, great hands," Ross said. "He's looked good so far. He's not very big, but I don't know that I've seen one person tackle him in the open field." Junior Primo Agbehi (5-9, 159) also has a chance to be a playmaker for the Panthers at wide receiver. "He needs to be a little more consis - tent catching the ball at times," Ross said. "He'll make a really good catch and drop one that he should have had. We think he's going to give us a chance to make plays down the field." Senior Seth Hufford caught eight passes for 87 yards last year. Ross said he's capable of playing either an inside or outside position. Eye Exams 960A S. Mt. Olive, Siloam Springs 479-524-5161 or 888-736-2020 GRAVETTE EYE CLINIC 1008 First Ave SE, Gravette 479-323-7005 Good Luck PANTHERS! Country Plant 2017 Football Preview Wednesday, August 23, 2017 n 3 The Herald-Leader/Westside Eagle Observer 22 — Alex Mejia Junior, LB 24 — Payton Norberg Senior, TE 25 — Gustavo Fuentes Junior 26 — Tristan Moose Senior, WR/S 27 — Tanner Broyles Sophomore, WR/CB 28 — Jackson Norberg Sophomore, WR/S 30 — Armando Munoz Sophomore, WR/CB 32 — Kaiden Thrailkill Junior, RB/S See OFFENSE on Page 7 OFFENSE Continued from Page 2