2012 P r e -season outl ook
faster, he was able to play faster. As the defense was making the windows tighter, he was able to still make completions.” One aspect of Sisson’s game that has improved drastically has been his footwork. As a freshman, Sisson was always able to throw the ball down the field without a problem, but now that his footwork has enhanced to a higher level, he will be able to reach his full potential. Not only has Sisson been able to improve immensely on the field, but he has also been able to take over the leadership role that comes with being the quarterback. “What I’ve seen from Eric from a progression standpoint is his ability to lead other people. He has put in a lot of time and effort to enhance not only his skills of throwing the football, but to really get other people around him to get better,” said offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Shaun Hayes. Being the natural leader he is, in addition to his abilities on the field, Sisson looks to have a great 2012 season leading the Scots down the field.
With the absence of the Scots’ all time leading receiver Wesley Idlette due to graduation, Maryville is now looking forward to another upcoming star in Blake Williams. After an impression freshman season in 2010, Williams really stepped up his production this past season. Blake was able to tally nearly 300 yards receiving on 23 receptions and was able to show his versatility by being productive in the run game also. Coming into his junior season, Williams will be looked at by the coaches as the ‘go-to’ guy in the passing game. “His biggest strength is his ability to take what I teach him and pick up on it pretty quickly,” said coach Rader, who is also the wide receivers coach. He continued by stating “I think the first thing that comes to mind with what he improved most would be his ability to get in and out of breaks and understanding how to win at the top of the route.” Improving these aspects of his game is going to lead to a break out year for this lengthy wide out. At 6 ft. 1 inch with good speed and his ability to snag anything his way, Williams will be a deep threat on every play, as well as a possession 8
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receiver to make big catches in traffic. With that being said, Blake will have a great opportunity to be one of the best receivers in the conference. “I know Blake pretty well, and I know that he will want to be one of the top receivers in the USA South,” said Rader. Although Blake will be looked at as the leader of the pack, he won’t be able to do it alone. Williams will be accompanied by a host of talented receivers looking to make names for themselves. Senior returners include Zane Winders and Matt Likins. Both of these wide outs have seen significant playing time in their careers here at Maryville and will be looked at heavily to produce for the Scots’ offense this season. Winders is a versatile athlete with great hands who, because of his size, can be moved around to either tight end or receiver. Other than Williams, Kaleb Mitchell is the lone junior receiver returning for the Scots. Mitchell, who is making the transition from cornerback to receiver, is a quick and speedy athlete that can be used as an outside receiver or even as a slot. Sophomore returners consist of J.T. Ostrowski and Ed Johnson. Johnson, who opened the eyes of the coaches ever since he stepped on the gridiron here at Maryville, will be another guy expected to be one of the main contributors to the Scots’ receiving core. His speed and crisp route running will prove to be a great asset to the Scots’ aerial attack. “I think Ostrowski kinda caught my eye, with a guy I didn’t know a whole lot about,” said Rader. Ostrowski is a quick learner who will be ready to make an impact on the field in the 2012 season. With the leadership that the Scots have in their upperclassmen receivers, along with the talent and potential of the younger guys, the Scots’ passing game will be a sight to see in this upcoming season. In their newly acquired offense, the tight end position will be a key ingredient in the success of both the run, as well as the pass game. Sophomore Jared Miller and senior Tim Foster will be vital aspects at this position. Miller came in his freshman year and was able to produce immediately. He was able to record seven receptions for nearly 60 yards on the season. His big frame allows him to be a solid run blocker and his soft hands make him a mismatch for any defense. Miller can also be moved around from tight end to wide receiver in certain packages. Along with Miller, Tim Foster, a 6 ft. 6 inch former basketball player, played his first year of football last season. In only his first year, Foster was able to haul in three touchdown receptions. His height and glue-like hands make him a dangerous target in the red-zone. Because of his decent speed and route running skills, Foster is another guy that will be able to play the tight end position, as well as the wide receiver position. Coach Rader understands that having athletes such as Miller and Foster will be a great advantage to their offense. “What the game has become, is when you can take a big guy, like Jared who’s athletic, and you can turn him into a wide out, or you can have him attached to the line of scrimmage or put him at fullback. That really puts the defense in a bind,” said Rader.