Your 2016 All-County preseason team

Your 2016 All-County preseason team

Sports Editor

If you’re like me, then you love preseason watch lists.

I don’t put a ton of stock into them, but it does illuminate who many people will have a big impact on the upcoming season.

But they don’t really mean anything.

Except this one.

Two years ago, I wrote a preseason All-County Team column as a tag-team partner to my postseason team that was based more on merit and was named at the conclusion of the year.

My goal with this is not to hurt anyone’s feelings, but more put myself on the record as to who I think will have the biggest season this year.

Quarterback Gerry Bohanon, Earle, junior Bohanon was my pick each of the past two seasons. As a freshman he more than lived up to the hype and led Earle to the state semifinals and a 10-4 overall record.

Additionally, the other three area schools went through coaching changes, and while that called for a more passhappy offense for the most part, it also called for growing pains.

I assumed Bohanon would continue to roll into his sophomore year, but injuries zapped his health, and if you caught him in an honest moment, he’d probably tell you that he was never 100% healthy at any point in 2015.

This year? I’m all in on Bohanon. He’s the guy in Earle now. If there’s a play to be made, A.C. Coleman and his staff will count on Bohanon to do it.

He’s taken ownership of the offense, has arranged summer workouts at Bulldog Stadium, and isn’t afraid to jump his guys to get them in line.

This is all assuming he stays healthy of course, but I’d argue that he’s due to stay on the field, and if he does, then he’ll slap together an awesome season. Offensive line Dathen Miller, Marion, senior Hayden Ellis, West Memphis Christian, junior Jason Robinson, West Memphis, senior Dallas Hill, Earle, sophomore This group of linemen should be among the best at their respective positions across the state.

Normally, counting on a sophomore on your offensive line isn’t a recipe for success, but Hill is a special case.

Head coach A.C. Coleman said that he was one of Earle’s best players overall on last season’s undefeated district titleist in junior high.

In addition, Earle struggled on the line last season, and you could argue that an upgrade was needed as well.

Ellis is a two-way star at West Memphis Christian and was named coach Darrow Anderson’s player of the game in the Black Knights’ season opener against North Delta after posting six tackles and playing well on the offensive line.

Robinson is a workout warrior who has gotten stronger every year at West Memphis.

He was a full-time starter last year, and played at times as a sophomore as well.

Miller is a silent assassin for Marion and will take over duties as the all-important left tackle this fall. That role is crucial with a right-handed quarterback as they are counted on to protect the passer’s blind side.

Running backs Tom Young, Marion, senior Devontae Dean, West Memphis, senior This one was an easy call as two of the three most productive runners from 2015 returned to the varsity this season.

It’s also interesting that they’re so much different in their respective running styles.

Young is a waterbug, weaving in and out of traffic like a Ferrari.

Dean is more of a bruiser and can run at you and dish out damage to would-be tacklers.

No matter how they arrive at those yards, you can’t deny their productivity and importance to their teams.

Wide receivers Collin Chambers, Marion, senior Dontrell Johnson, Earle, senior Matthew Baker, West Memphis Christian, junior Defense line Decameron King, West Memphis, senior Kias Knox, Marion, junior Hayden Ellis, West Memphis Christian, junior The most interesting part of these three is that King and Ellis also contribute on the offensive line for their schools. I like that type of versatility.

Linebackers Michael McNeeley, Marion, senior Jerry Edwards, West Memphis, senior Kentrell Allen, West Memphis, senior Gerry Bohanon, Earle, junior This is a star-studded group, probably the most impressive collection of talent of any position group listed here.

McNeeley is a three-year starter for the Pats, while Edwards and Allen are a really nice one-two punch for the Blue Devils.

In Bohanon, you have a guy that has multiple Division 1 offers to him as a linebacker.

Defensive backs Kuriston Hill, Marion, senior Kabryn “K.B.” Williams, Marion, senior Brien Glasper, West Memphis, senior Dontrell Johnson, Earle, senior This may have been the toughest group of players to pick and choose from as there were six or seven worthy picks.

I like the big play ability of Hill and Williams, while Glasper is more than solid at corner and Johnson has a ton of ability against the run and the pass.

By Chuck Livingston