Head Coach Kyle Cook Q&A
Q. What are the key things we should know about your offense?
A. Our offense will continue to be a triple option offense. We mainly run the option out of a flex-bone look but will at times throw in a pro slot or pistol look. I have several players returning that will impact our offense.
First is the Quarterback, Austin White, who is a three year starter and was first team all league last year with 700+ rushing yards, 400+ passing yards and 16 TD’s.
Brett Hepler is also a three-year starter at Dive Back. Brett was also first team all league last year after rushing for over 600 yards and over 8 ypc.
My receivers, Craig Stanley (6 ft 180lbs, 4.8 40) and Austin Darrow (6-4, 190lbs, 4.8 40) both return from successful seasons a year ago.
We also return both our Guards up front, who improved each game last season, Christian Miller 6-0, 220 and Evan Aldrich 6-0 245.
Q. What are the key things we should know about your defense?
A. We will continue to run a 5-2 base defense. Defensively we do not have several bodies to replace but do need to replace a lot of experience in key positions.
Both inside linebackers graduated and we will look to Austin White to move inside and have Zach Conrad set up during his junior season.
Up front we return Christian Miller at DE (1st team all conference last year). Evan Aldrich at NG, and C.J. Mallery at DT.
In the secondary Brett Hepler will return at FS and was third in tackles for our team last year. At Corner we return Craig Stanley.
Q. What are the key things we should know about your special teams? Who are your kick and punt returners? Who are your kicker and punter?
A. Steve Jesse will do the kickoff and extra point duties for a third straight season. He has greatly improved his strength and form in the off-season and has picked up some attention from some Division 2 and 3 colleges.
Punting will be Hepler who last year averaged 35 yards per punt and placed over 15 punts inside the 20 and 6 of those were inside the 5 yard line.
Returning punts will be a speedy sophomore in Jarred Mills.
Kick return duties will go to Zach Conrad and Nolan Hausser.
Head Coach: Kyle Cook (2nd season)
2013 Record: 5-6, Lost in first round of district playoffs
Key Starters Lost: MLB Curtis Mills, MLB Lewis Esposito and WR/CB Craig Monks
Offensive Starters Returning: (7) (triple option)
QB- Austin White
FB- Brett Hepler
RB- Austin Felter
WR- Austin Darrow and Craig Stanley
OG- Christian Miller and Evan Aldrich
Defensive Starters Returning: (6) (Base 50)
NG- Evan Aldrich
DT- C.J. Mallery
DE- Christian Miller
LB- Austin White
CB- Craig Stanley
FS- Brett Hepler
Key Newcomers: Michael Vaccaro- Sr. OL/DL 6-2 240, Dylan Stout- Jr. OL/DL 6-0 235, C.J. Mallery- Jr. OL/DL 5-11, 270, Zach Conrad- Jr. LB 5-11, 170, Luke Brinton- Sr. LB 5-7 180, Wes Richardson- Jr. TE/LB 5-10 190 and Willard Cobb- Sr. DL 6-4, 250.
D1 (FBS & FCS) Prospects: Austin White (FCS) QB
Key Stats: Austin White Sr. QB/LB- 812 rushing yards and 16 touchdown’s, 388 passing yards and 4 touchdown’s. On defense he had 80 tackles and 5 tackles for loss.
FB/S Brett Hepler Sr., had 579 yards rushing and 5 total touchdown’s. He averaged 8.4 yards per carry. On defense he had 91 tackles and 2 interceptions and averaged 35-yards per punt with 17 inside the 20 yards line.
DE Christian Miller Sr., had 71 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 15 sacks.
2014 Outlook:
The Sabers are returning 5 out of 6 of their skill positions on offense but do have to replace a 3-year starter at center, two-year starter at tackle and a three year starter at wide receiver. There are several talented upcoming Juniors that will have to fill the void on the line and will compete for RB positions. White at QB along with Hepler and Austin Felter Sr. (5-7, 175) will carry much of the load in the running game. Austin Darrow Sr. (6-3, 190) will be back at WR joined by Craig Stanley Sr. (6-0, 185) or Steve Jesse Sr. (5-11, 165). Up front Miller (6-0, 235) and Evan Aldrich Jr. (6-1, 250) return at the guard positions. Mallery and Vaccaro will look to step into the tackles positions but will be challenged by Stout.
Defensively we are losing both starting middle linebackers that had over 160 tackles combined last year. Also a three-year starter at the CB position will need to be replaced. Miller had a big year at DE in 2013 and will look to improve in 2014. Hepler has a nose for the ball and loves to hit coming from the FS position. Conrad, Richardson, Brinton and Sophomore Jarred Mills (5-7, 160) will need to learn on the fly at the MLB position. White is a solid OLB and will need to help lead the young group of linebackers. Aldrich should take over the NG position with Stout, Vacarro, and Mallery competing with newcomer Cobb for the DT positions. Stanley is a two-year starter at CB and will have Felter, Nolan Hausser Jr. (5-10 160) or Brady Towner Sr. (5-10, 180) joining him the secondary.
Hepler returns to do the punting as a 2nd team all conference punter. Jesse will anchor the kicking game having 5 touchbacks last season with 1 FG and 15 XP’s.
