BUFORD — It almost sounded as if Jess Simpson was speaking a different language when he described the 2016 Buford football team.
"We're kind of starting over in a lot of spots; we've got a lot of question marks, and there's more questions created every single day," said the Wolves coach, who is entering his 12th season at the helm of the state's most successful high school football program over the last decade-and-a-half -- one that has made a habit of replacing graduated greats with young greats and one that has finished no worse than state runner-up since 2007, winning seven championships in that time (and 10 since 2001).
Yet with just two returning starters on defense, several unproven faces on the perimeter (on both sides of the ball) and an intriguing schedule, there are legitimate concerns for the Wolves ahead of kickoff.
"The potential is there for this to be a great team, but we don't have some of the big names we've had in the past along the defensive line, and we have a lot of new guys in starting positions," Simpson added.
That said, this is still Buford, and the 2015 Class AAAA runner-up is not short of talent -- especially in the offensive backfield, where running backs Christian Turner and Anthony Grant combine with fullback TD Roof and quarterback Mic Roof to give the Wolves leadership and four players likely to play at the next level (the Roofs have already committed to programs, TD to Georgia Tech and Mic to East Carolina).
And while only two starters return on the offensive line -- Tyler Thurmond and Dean Powell -- there are three seniors currently in position to win the other starting spots, meaning that Buford's ground-and-pound attack will likely stay formidable.
The question comes on the outside, where several players are battling for primacy, including plenty of talented underclassmen. That is also very much the case in the defensive secondary, where only one true veteran features -- safety Bryson Richardson. The group will be fronted by an experienced linebacker corps, however, one that returns the team's two leading tacklers from a year ago in TD Roof and Jake Simpson. The defensive line, however, will feature plenty of new faces, as six players figure to rotate and share playing time.
"There's no real stars there, just good football guys," Simpson said.
They will be tested right out of the gate against a Roswell team loaded with SEC-caliber talent in the Kell Classic before taking on three out-of-state foes to complete their non-region slate.
"To have a great year your seniors have to play the best football of their lives, and this class can do that," Simpson said. "But we're going to find out a lot about ourselves early, reboot and work the problems we encounter."
BUFORD: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Wolves
- TEAM COLORS: Green, Gold and White
- CURRENT REGION: 8-AAAAA
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Jess Simpson, 12th season, 151-10
- 2015 RECORD/ ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 13-2, Class AAAA runner-up, Region 8-AAAA champions
- KEY LOSSES: TB/CB Xavier Gantt, FB/CB Martin Mangram, OL Cooper Simpson, TE/DE Caleb Auer, NG Shug Frazier, OL/DT Innis Claud,
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Pro-style -- The Wolves like to pound the ball with their running game but will mix in the pass using tight ends and receivers.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 6 returning starters -- Sr. QB Mic Roof (1,507 yards passing, 15 TDs, 7 INTs, 66 percent completion rate in 2015), Jr. RB Anthony Grant (743 yards, 9 TDs, 7.4 yards per carry in 2015), Jr. RB Christian Turner (788 yards rushing, 10 TDs, 9.4 yards per carry in 2015), Sr. OL Tyler Thurmond, Sr. OL Dean Powell, Sr. FB TD Roof
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: 4-3 -- The Wolves base their defense around physicality at the point of attack and speed in pursuit. There are no real big-time names at defensive line, but there are plenty of solid players.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 2 returning starters -- Sr. LB TD Roof (team-high 108 tackles in 2015, 8 for loss), Sr. LB Jake Simpson (97 tackles), Jr. LB Anthony Grant, Jr. Saf Bryson Richardson
- SPECIAL TEAMS: Sr. P Nick Chmielowicz, So. PK Bernardo Burgos, Sr. KR TD Roof, Jr. KR Anthony Grant, So. KR KJ Johnson
- STRENGTH: Senior class/work ethic/offensive backfield/linebackers -- Last year's disappointing title game loss gave the Wolves a little edge in preseason workouts, and the senior class is determined to make the most of their year to shine in a new classification. And with the Roofs, Grant and Turner leading the offense, there is plenty of reason for comfort. TD Roof and Jake Simpson also continue Buford's stellar linebacker tradition.
- QUESTION: Perimeter players/youth -- With just 2 starters back on defense and plenty of inexperienced starters there could be some early growing pains -- at least compared to recent Buford teams.
- KEY GAMES: Kicking off the campaign against a loaded Roswell squad that is loaded with three- and four-star prospects in the Kell Classic should prove a stout test, while Jefferson Davis (Sept. 16, home) is a program on the rise in Alabama. The region schedule begins with an athletic Clarke Central under a new head coach, which could prove intriguing.
- TRENDING: Despite last year's championship game loss, Buford is still THE gold standard for programs in the state, having played in nine straight title contests and winning 10 championships since 2001. The Wolves do not have some of the big-name prospects on the defensive line this year but still have plenty of overall talent, and, despite moving up a classification, will be expected to contend for region and state titles.
2016 SCHEDULE
Aug. 19 vs. Roswell (McEachern), 5:45 p.m.
Sept. 2 vs. Bishop Timmons, Buffalo N.Y.
Sept. 16 vs. Jefferson Davis, Montgomery, Ala.
Sept. 23 vs. International School of Broward, Hollywood, Fla.
Sept. 30 at *Clarke Central
Oct. 7 vs. *Johnson
Oct. 14 at *Cedar Shoals
Oct. 21 at *Walnut Grove
Oct. 28 vs. *Loganville
Nov. 4 vs. *Flowery Branch
*- Indicates region game
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
