Head Coach: Kurt Tippmann (12th season)
2020 Schedule:
Aug. 21 Fort Wayne North
Aug. 28 at Carroll (Fort Wayne)
Sep. 4 Fort Wayne Concordia
Sep. 11 at Fort Wayne South
Sep. 18 Homestead
Sep. 25 at Fort Wayne Wayne
Oct. 2 Fort Wayne Northrop
Oct. 9 at Fort Wayne Dwenger
Oct. 16 Fort Wayne Luers
Key Returning Players:
OG DJ Moore
DE Reece Thomas
OLB Isaiah Maxwell
MLB Dominick Moon
CB Tavarious Jones
Key Losses:
QB Jon Barnes Jr
RB Lenny Bennett
RB Kameron Trotter
DB Michael Eley
WR Dillon Duff
WR Alonzo Derrick
OT Randy Holtz
DT Gianini Belizaire
MLB Nick Pezley
CB Jayshawn Underwood
There are few things more important for a team in the offseason than picking a quarterback. If you have a returning starter then it’s almost certain that he’ll be the quarterback again. But as is the case with the Snider, when you’re quarterback graduates, you have to choose between multiple guys within a matter of weeks to start for your team come week 1. This year, with Jon Barnes Jr gone, the Panthers will have to choose between Deron Swanson, Cameron Conley, and Luke Haupert. Right now with the current circumstances, this is made more difficult.
“It’s kind of hard to tell at this point in the summer because we’re not able to do much other than just fundamentals and mechanics,” head coach Kurt Tippmann said. “The deal with quarterbacks is they got to make decisions and they got to make them in split seconds. That’s what we haven’t been able to get them to be in that situation yet this summer because we’re not allowed to do the competition yet. That’s something that we’re going to evaluate.”
While the quarterback competition will be monitored closely, there’s also a battle for the running back position between Tyrese Brown, Langston Leavell, and Kedrell Billingsley. The great thing about running backs though, is that you can use multiple in a game and be very successful, as the Panthers were last year with Lenny Bennett (950 yds, 8.0 yds/car, 12 TDs) and Kameron Trotter (558 yds, 7.8 yds/car, 10 TD) both making a huge impact. Therefore, it’s very possible that Tippmann will elect to use all three of them at certain points in a game.
The remainder of the offense will also be very inexperienced, with the Panthers rolling out new wide receivers and a fresh offensive line. WR Alonzo Derrick (35 rec, 458 yds, 5 TD) and WR Dillon Duff (20 rec, 324 yds, 2 TD) have both graduated, meaning some receivers will have to step up in 2020. Since the offense may take some time to get going, the defense will have to do their job this year. Thankfully, Snider returns some very important starters on that side of the ball.
The strength of this team will be their front 7. Reece Thomas who didn’t play often last year, but made one of the most memorable plays of the year, blocking a game-tying extra point against Carroll, will be a factor on a defensive line that loses their sack leader, Gianini Belizaire, with 6 sacks a year ago. Behind him will be the disruptive LB Isaiah Maxwell who made 33 tackles, 3 TFL, and 1 sack last season. Maxwell will be returns the most production on the Panthers defense and should be near the top again statistically.
“I’ve grown a lot,” Maxwell said. “I had a lot of guys ahead of me that made sure I was good. Watching those guys and being able to come back, I feel like I’m in a very good position to be successful this year.”
LB Domanick Moon also returns with 27 tackles, 4 TFL, and 1 sack, and should form a nice duo with Maxwell. In the secondary, it will be Tavarious Jones taking the place of Jayshawn Underwood (19 tackles, 2 TFL, 3 INT) in the secondary. Jones made 11 tackles and had 1 forced fumble, but the Panthers expect him to be more disruptive in coverage and come up with some interceptions. He’s improved over the last few years, and Tippmann believes he’s made an even bigger jump now going into his senior year.
“He’s improved greatly, you can see that in his demeanor out here this summer. He’s more confident. He’s worked extremely hard on his development, both physically, mentally. He’s just an all around more confident kid. A lot of times the biggest growth we see is from their junior to their senior year and TT is one of those great examples.”
The main story of Snider football in 2020 will be their inexperience. Tippmann, though, doesn’t want to use that as an excuse and instead wants to make the most of what they have and see how his team grows as the season progresses.
“Obviously last year when you have 37 seniors, that’s a great plus to the program. But then that limits the number of reps that the younger guys get on last year’s team. We’re going to be inexperienced, but the only way you get experience is by playing and kids are going to make mistakes and we just have to learn from those mistakes.”
“I think it puts a premium on the fact that we have to do a great job as coaches. We’re going to find out if we can coach. There’s kids who are talented, they want to learn, they want to get better, it’s our job as coaches to prepare them so that they get better each week and continue to have success.”
Snider opens the year at home against North Side on August 21.
