Head coach Gary Joseph (center) has a solid foundation of players that return from last year's state championship team, including (left to right) Jake Blomstrom, Kiley Huddleston, Cody Gessler, Tanner Ebrecht, Tim Wilkerson, Rodney Anderson.
Photo by Jim Redman
With seven state championships to its name,
Katy (Texas) is a bona fide Texas high school football powerhouse.
And in Texas, powerhouses normally don't rebuild — they reload.
That's probably the best way to describe the 2013 Katy squad, which returns just four starters on each side of the ball but still has the look of a state title favorite.
Quarterback
Kiley Huddleston returns after guiding Katy to the Class 5A-II title a year ago. He was behind center for 16 victories last year, a claim that no other high school quarterback this fall can make.
He'll be joined in the backfield by junior
Rodney Anderson. Already billed as one of the nation's top running backs in the class of 2015
by 247Sports, Anderson is ready to be the team's workhorse with the graduation of do-everything senior Adam Taylor.
Quarterback Kiley Huddleston
Photo by Jim Redman
, who is recovering from a knee injury, should be back in time to line up again at center. The rest of the line will be comprised of players who saw limited time last year, including
Grant Sims,
Brandon Dalton, and
Jared Gonzalez.
On the other side of the ball, Katy should be as fierce as last season.
Gone is Matt Dimon, now at Oklahoma, but returning on the defensive line are
Cody Gessler and
Tim Wilkerson.
Linebacker
Jake Blomstrom will be in his third year as a varsity letter-winner. If head coach Gary Joseph can find some replacements at linebacker, Katy's front seven will be very difficult to run against.
The secondary loses three starters but returns
Tanner Ebrecht. Only a sophomore,
Collin Wilder saw varsity action as a freshman last year. He brings some more experience to the unit.
The trend of younger players making a splash on varsity could continue this year, as the Tigers have several other sophomores that could figure prominently on the depth chart.
Local look: "The priorities going in were solidifying the offensive line, finding a fullback and a go-to receiver, and, defensively, shoring up the perimeter defense, including the secondary and outside linebackers."
- Jason McDaniel, Houston Chronicle (Story)
