2023 LUFKIN PANTHER FOOTBALL TOPIC DISCUSSIONS

[PackAttack]

Pre Season Rankings: CLASS 5A DIVISION I

Rank School Week 1 Opponent

1 Aledo (0-0) vs Dallas Parish Episcopal

2 Longview (0-0) at McKinney

3 College Station (0-0) at Lucas Lovejoy

4 Lancaster (0-0) at Dallas Skyline

5 Mansfield Timberview (0-0) vs South Grand Prairie

6 Smithson Valley (0-0) vs San Antonio Reagan

7 Frisco Lone Star (0-0) at Texarkana Texas High

8 Port Arthur Memorial (0-0) vs Port Neches-Groves

9 Fulshear (0-0) at Houston Strake Jesuit

10 Frisco Reedy (0-0) vs Azle

[PurpleNation]

1 hour ago, PackAttack said:

I remember our LBs from 2001 and the State Championship team, they were the backbone of that defense.

We had Girverius Shelley (125 tackles), Ataymian Skinner (121 tackles) and Drefus Thompson (85 tackles) that year. 

There was also Mandela Roberts (6-0, 220) with 128 tackles in 2006.

 

He is that level of LB

[PurpleNation]

1 hour ago, PackAttack said:

Kaden Hooper had 49 tackles - 4 TFL- 1 Sack - 1 FR in 2022 as a sophomore. Hooper is a junior, so he has two more years to make his mark for the Lufkin Panther defense.

And this was from the DE spot playing in a mostly back-up roll. He is easily better then Shelly and Thompson. I'd put him in that Skinner and Roberts category. Lebrandon Shepherd is probably the best LB Lufkin has ever produced. Aaron Darks and Tyson Kirksey are high on my list. 

[PackAttack]

21 minutes ago, PurpleNation said:

And this was from the DE spot playing in a mostly back-up roll. He is easily better then Shelly and Thompson. I'd put him in that Skinner and Roberts category. Lebrandon Shepherd is probably the best LB Lufkin has ever produced. Aaron Darks and Tyson Kirksey are high on my list. 

Your going way back for Sheppard in 1999-2000, pre championship year.  He was a big LB if I remember him correctly, about 6-2 and 210 or 215 lbs. Think he made a committed to Texas A&M but never played there. It's been a while, so I don't remember much else or do I have any tackle statistics for him at Lufkin. 

I definitely remember Tyson Kirksey and Aaron Darks.  We really missed Darks in that playoff game against Southlake 2004. Outlaw said he had stepped on some glass during the week, cut his foot and could not play in that game..

[PackAttack]

[timeout!]

25 minutes ago, PackAttack said:

Your going way back for Sheppard in 1999-2000, pre championship year.  He was a big LB if I remember him correctly, about 6-2 and 210 or 215 lbs. Think he made a committed to Texas A&M but never played there. It's been a while, so I don't remember much else or do I have any tackle statistics for him at Lufkin. 

I definitely remember Tyson Kirksey and Aaron Darks.  We really missed Darks in that playoff game against Southlake 2004. Outlaw said he had stepped on some glass during the week, cut his foot and could not play in that game..

I’d throw Hunter Slayton in the mix too. His junior was something nice. He actually got the start because of an injury to Kirksey if I remember correctly. Agree about Shepherd he was part the group that began to turn the program around during the time. 

[timeout!]

14 hours ago, PackAttack said:

These Panthers know two things about their plans for 2023.

1. They're ready for the playoff drought to end.

2. It won't be easy.

Coach Quick said " That's been the mindset of this team since January 1st". " This group has been working at a high level in the offseason".  He said he liked the hard work the young kids have put in and the seniors have put in the hard work to lead the team. "It won't be easy!".  The 7-5A DI district is really good, probably better than it was last year. This district has 5 of the best RB in the State of Texas, and fortunately one of them is playing for Lufkin, Kedren Young.  It's going to be a fight every night in this 2023 district.

Quick said " If your looking at the district from the outside, Longview is probably considered the best team, but there are athletes all over this district. It's not going to be easy.  "Kedren Young is our go-to guy". "We are going to try and make teams try to stop our run game". "We'll go with a two-back and even three-back formations.  "We are going to use RB Bacquari Murphy and also Gavin Phillips as an H-Back or TE Hybrid, he can also play QB. .He can be a weapon wherever we put him".

The Panthers will have two QB threats this year. T J Hammond will start the year, he was a full time starter in 2022 throwing for 1464 yards. Quick said, "he threw the ball really well in 7 on 7 this Summer". "He is our pocket passer and they are expecting big things from him".  A new threat at QB will be Javion Johnson, who is expected to make an early impact. Quick said, "he is a tall lean kid who is a good runner". "He can be a passing threat as well, but he is a real threat in the zone read".  Quick said, "we are planning on having a two QB system". "We are excited about it because we can have two totally different things when T J is back there or when Johnson is in the game".

Both QB will have excellent targets at WR with KeVondrick Taylor, Krisean Preston, Keandre Hooper and Brayden Murphy.

An improved OL will be a big key to the success of the Panther offense with Jordan Nichols, Gio Villegas and Daniel Torres returning with significant playing time last year. Quick said, "We had the biggest improvement from those guys in the offseason than any other group on the team". "We are expecting those guys to be the backbone of our offense". 

The Lufkin defense gave up 44 average points per game in 4 district games last year. In 2023 Junior Zion Williams returns as one of the most recruited in the Nation. He will be at NT, and there is depth at that position with Elijah Alexander and Brenden Baker.  Jordan McClendon, Cooper Conrad and Maurice Curl will start and anchor the DE positions. Quick stated, "We've got good depth on the defensive line". "We've got some guys that can play on the inside and the outside, so we will have an excellent rotation there. We won't get worn down as games progress this year. Isaiah Menefee at 6-3, 190 has been moved from safety to OLB, while WR Amarion Campbell 6-1, 185 has been moved to safety. Lufkin is expecting big things from Menefee this season.  Mike Mosley Jr is in the mix in the secondary, with a ton of speed. Lufkin will start Kenneth Timmons and Evan Young at CB. "They both had really good Spring workouts and an excellent track season".  "They have no issues playing on an island with anyone". 

Lufkin has good depth at LB and have a variety of options at that position. Keithan Davis is an OLB who can play as an extra safety. Jacoriane White was a DB last season and moves to OLB this year.  Kaden Hooper will hold down the middle of the LB group. Quick said, "He is a very physical kid who will make the calls defensively," " He will be in charge of the huddle".  Juan Lara and Ross Byrd, Jordan Booker and Elijah Menefee will be in the LB rotation. Lots of depth here.

"The key to our defense is getting the right 11 in the right spots", said Quick. "We have guys we know can play. Playing together as an 11 - man unit will be the big thing".

Noland Hansard is returning as kicker and punter this season. Kaden Hooper and Damian Diaz will be the kickoff and punt returners.  

Quick said," The offseason has been good". "We've had 125 guys in here working hard all Summer. They want to be back in the playoffs and hard work is what it's going to take".

The journey begins this Friday night, we have been waiting two years to see this come together.  I for one am feeling a sense of excitement in this group.  You could see it in the scrimmage.  I have hope in them too. Go Pack!

 

 

I don't think I have ever seen Quick this excited about a group. He will usually name a few a kids to look out for and maybe a group as a whole. He basically menetioned whole starting lineups by names and backups. I like that they are planning on using both Qbs and have a clear vision on what they want. Johnson definitely has a great ball fake on the read option. 

Also excited to see the defense. The two corners are impressive. Evan Young at 6'1 can be matched up against taller receivers. I watched some footage of him and he looks to be the real deal. Timmons on the other side is good too. Can't remember the last time Lufkin had two corners who we could leave on an island. I can remember one. And that was Hewitt. He had some serious ball hawk skills.

So much to look forward to. Keeping my fingers crossed that it all comes together. I don't want to look back at this group a few years from now. And only see 2 or 3 wins playoffs wins..

 

 

[PackAttack]

Just looking at this weather forecast is depressing. There seems to be no let up to this heat predicted ahead until a week after Labor Day.  The high predicted for this Friday is 108, so it will be a couple degrees hotter than the scrimmage last Friday, with a 2 hour later start time. This is key, because we sat in the shade of the press box for the scrimmage, there was a nice breeze blowing. I brought along a water and Powerade and did just fine the whole scrimmage, it wasn't that uncomfortable. So I'm past the psychology of any heat issues, it's important to just stay hydrated.  Of course I've been working on a few projects outside off and on in this heat the past couple months. I shoot basketball in my driveway 3 or 4 evenings a week for exercise, so I can tolerate this heat a little better. Hey, I enjoy my A/C but don't stay in it full time either. This heat will be different for lot of different folks this Friday evening. Got to stay safe.

[LufkinPack]

13 minutes ago, timeout! said:

don't think I have ever seen Quick this excited about a group.

He better make some noise with it. He’s out of excuses now. 

[PackAttack]

10 minutes ago, timeout! said:

I don't think I have ever seen Quick this excited about a group. He will usually name a few a kids to look out for and maybe a group as a whole. He basically menetioned whole starting lineups by names and backups. I like that they are planning on using both Qbs and have a clear vision on what they want. Johnson definitely has a great ball fake on the read option. 

Also excited to see the defense. The two corners are impressive. Evan Young at 6'1 can be matched up against taller receivers. I watched some footage of him and he looks to be the real deal. Timmons on the other side is good too. Can't remember the last time Lufkin had two corners who we could leave on an island. I can remember one. And that was Hewitt. He had some serious ball hawk skills.

So much to look forward to. Keeping my fingers crossed that it all comes together. I don't want to look back at this group a few years from now. And only see 2 or 3 wins playoffs wins..

 

 

There are a few people I talk with, who are close to Quick or speak to him on a regular basis, tell me how excited he is about this group of kids this year and next year too. They say he tries to keep it low key, but say you can tell he is expecting really good things from them.

[Pack05]

1 hour ago, PackAttack said:

I will say this , I myself haven’t seen enough to place Hooper in that class just yet! I really hope he is that good though!

[PurpleNation]

1 hour ago, PackAttack said:

There are a few people I talk with, who are close to Quick or speak to him on a regular basis, tell me how excited he is about this group of kids this year and next year too. They say he tries to keep it low key, but say you can tell he is expecting really good things from them.

Next season they will return 8 starters on defense and probably another 4-5 that will see a decent amount of snaps. Going to be one to remember.

Offense that will bring back 6 starters and a few kids that will also play meaningful snaps. They will look different and Kedren is irreplaceable but they have some legit pieces to work with. 

[Pack05]

I really like the idea of Lufkin using both QB in different situations . That could be an issue for a defense !!!! 

[mr. b]

1 hour ago, Pack05 said:

I really like the idea of Lufkin using both QB in different situations . That could be an issue for a defense !!!! 

The only reason to use 2 QBs is because neither is good.  Hope we have a definite starter. 

[Pack05]

7 minutes ago, mr. b said:

The only reason to use 2 QBs is because neither is good.  Hope we have a definite starter. 

Naw. I think each of them has a different skill set 

[Pack05]

Just now, Pack05 said:

Naw. I think each of them has a different skill set 

 

Just now, Pack05 said:

Naw. I think each of them has a different skill set 

 

9 minutes ago, mr. b said:

The only reason to use 2 QBs is because neither is good.  Hope we have a definite starter. 

TJ will start . But if you have a package for the other QB who is a better runner , then why not use it ? That’s something else a defense has to work on . 

[PackAttack]

1 hour ago, mr. b said:

The only reason to use 2 QBs is because neither is good.  Hope we have a definite starter. 

Thankfully we have two good QBs, Hammond is the starter, our starting pocket passing QB. He is in his 3rd year on the Varsity. Johnson is an excellent RPO guy. The first game is Friday and some folks are still searching for a starting QB. We are fortunate to have two quality kids in that position.  

[Pack05]

49 minutes ago, PackAttack said:

Thankfully we have two good QBs, Hammond is the starter, our starting pocket passing QB. He is in his 3rd year on the Varsity. Johnson is an excellent RPO guy. The first game is Friday and some folks are still searching for a starting QB. We are fortunate to have two quality kids in that position.  

Well said!!!

[timeout!]

39 minutes ago, PackAttack said:

Thankfully we have two good QBs, Hammond is the starter, our starting pocket passing QB. He in in his 3rd year on the Varsity. Johnspn is an excellent RPO guy. The first game is Friday and some folks are still searching for a starting QB. We are fortunate to have two quality kids in that position.  

And we can always use Gavin in an emergency situation. 

[PackAttack]

10 minutes ago, timeout! said:

And we can always use Gavin in an emergency situation. 

Yea, we have 3 QBs and we know Gavin can play well. What a great position to be in this year.

[Pack05]

36 minutes ago, PackAttack said:

Yea, we have 3 QBs and we know Gavin can play well. What a great position to be in this year.

A position most teams not in!

[LufkinPack]

LP! 🔮

[LPPACK]

12 hours ago, PackAttack said:

Your going way back for Sheppard in 1999-2000, pre championship year.  He was a big LB if I remember him correctly, about 6-2 and 210 or 215 lbs. Think he made a committed to Texas A&M but never played there. It's been a while, so I don't remember much else or do I have any tackle statistics for him at Lufkin. 

I definitely remember Tyson Kirksey and Aaron Darks.  We really missed Darks in that playoff game against Southlake 2004. Outlaw said he had stepped on some glass during the week, cut his foot and could not play in that game..

 Ok PA have to dispute your claim sir.Lee Brandon was the best at LB.But he did play at A&M. How i know i went and watched him play.Lol He started for McNeese and they played A&M in College Station,got to talk to him,

 

[PackAttack]

9 hours ago, LPPACK said:

 Ok PA have to dispute your claim sir.Lee Brandon was the best at LB.But he did play at A&M. How i know i went and watched him play.Lol He started for McNeese and they played A&M in College Station,got to talk to him,

 

Thanks for the correction. That's going way back for me and I did not have any records. Remembered A&M but that was it. You see, that's why I need you guys to help me out. Thanks again.

[Pack05]

What do we know about Legacy?