Published: July 26, 2007 02:38 pm      

Les Dixon gives an inside look at who he thinks COULD have a big year in 2007

There’s a great chance this high school football season we could have some Tri-County teams go deep, well, very deep into the playoffs with the change from four classes to six.

To do so, Corbin, Knox Central, Lynn Camp, North Laurel, South Laurel, Whitley County and Williamsburg are going to need some of their skill players to step up.

Steve Jewell’s Redhounds are loaded with returning skill players, while Jason Chappell’s South Laurel Cardinals return some solid skill players, too.

You can’t count out Wayne Mills’ Knox Central Panthers either. Mills has some talented skill players returning and we all know about Lynn Camp’s Joe Roskopf, who has the ability to lead the state in rushing in 2007.

Teams such as North Laurel and Whitley County have some top players returning, too, along with some question marks.

The wild card is Williamsburg.

The Yellow Jackets graduated some of the best skill players in the Tri-County last season and will have a lot of players this season step up.

I didn’t list a Yellow Jacket player in my top 10, but don’t be surprised to see a few by the end of the season.

But with that said, listed below is a list of players I think are top-notch in the Tri-County heading into the 2007 season:



No. 1 - Joe Roskopf

Lynn Camp

Roskopf captured the 2006 Times-Tribune Football Player of the Year award, while finishing second in the state in rushing average with a 207.7 rushing average.

“It was pretty amazing for him to come off of an injury (torn ACL) in the spring and play as well as he did,” Lynn Camp coach David Mitchell said in an earlier interview. “I don’t think he was ever at 100 percent. I had no idea he would carry as much of the load as he did. I think he averaged about 31 carries a game and after Sidney got hurt that went up about 10 more per game.”

Mitchell said Roskopf has gained all of his speed back and is now at 100 percent, leading the Lynn Camp coach to believe Roskopf should be in the running for Mr. Football this season.

“He should be,” Mitchell said. “I’m kind of puzzled why he hasn’t been mentioned or isn’t known statewide. He should be. That just puzzles me.”



No. 2 - Clint Cashen

Corbin

Cahen has the ability and talent to lead the Redhounds to a state championship run in 2007.

Despite missing a couple of games last season after suffering an injury to Rockcastle County, the senior gunslinger still managed to guide Corbin to a 7-6 record and three games deep in the Class 2A playoffs.

He also completed 116-of-315 pass attempts for 2,255 yards with 13 touchdowns.

“I think Clint is ready,” Corbin coach Steve Jewell said. “He looked real sharp in our seven-on-seven games we payed. It’s great to have someone with the ability like Clint to return for another year.”



No. 3 - Ricky Bowling

South Laurel

Despite his team turning in a subpar season in 2006, Bowling still showed he was one of the best quarterbacks in the Tri-County, along with being one of the best signal-callers in the state.

The Cardinals posted a 3-7 record, missed the Class 4A playoffs for the first time in five years (their worst showing since going 2-8 in 2002) and had no answer defensively on how to stop the run.

But that didn’t stop Bowling from having a solid sophomore campaign.

He completed 183-of-306 pass attempts for 2,475 yards, 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions.



No. 4 - Brandon Tolliver

Knox Central

Tolliver is one of the most underrated backs in the Tri-County. He ran for 1,169 yards as a junior, while guiding Knox Central to a 6-5 record and the Class 3A playoffs.

“Brandon had a real good year for us last year, and he will have to repeat that and even more this season,” Knox Central coach Wayne Mills said. “The good thing is, I think Brandon learned a lot from last season and his performance from a year ago will go a long way in his maturity on the field.”



No. 5 - Mike Campbell

Corbin

Campbell is a kid that has the talent to turn in a solid season for Corbin. Campbell, along with Josh Sanders, could be a two-headed monster in the backfield for Corbin.

He played a lot at fullback last season, but look for him to carry the ball more in 2007.

“Right now, it’s tough to say who will be playing where,” he said. “Mike looked really, really good in the spring and I believe he’s going to have a great year for us. I also look for CJ Lite, Ryan Fritz and Corey Sewell to provide time at those positions, too.”



No. 6 - Ryan Brandonburg

North Laurel

We all know how good Brandonburg is on defense, now we’re going to see just how good he can be on offense.

Not only will he be terrorizing defense at the linebacker position, but Brandonburg will also play the wideout position and tight end spot for North Laurel in 2007.



No. 7 - Rob Madon Corbin

Madon might be the best wideout in the Tri-County.

He led Corbin with 715 receiving yards last season along with four touchdown receptions.

“Rob Madon has been released from his injury and he’s really running well,” Jewell said. “We’ve also got Jordan Wagers returning. He’s going to help us out, too.”



No. 8 - Jordan McCumbers and Jamie Lebanion

Whitley County

Whoever gets the starting job at the quarterback position will be able to produce some big numbers for the Colonels in 2007.



No. 9 - Wes King

South Laurel

We all know what Ricky Bowling can do, but if South Laurel is going to be successful, then King must remain healthy.

King had 33 receptions, 556 yards and seven touchdowns last season.



No. 10 - Adrian Wardrup North Laurel

Wardrup might split time at the quarterback spot, but will be on the field on offense most of the game. He’s too valuable not to have him field on offense. He’s another player that might surprise this season.