[wpbvideo id=”901625″]
By Chris Parker
Kickapoo football will have to replace a large group of seniors that helped lead the program through what proved to be an unpredictable and trying 2020 season.
“They were a special group. That’s the first group we’ve had that have been here for all four years. It’s like I said at the banquet: those are finally my guys. They were just a special group that worked really hard and did it in a very stressful and crazy period of time for football, so obviously we’re going to miss their leadership, especially with the number that we had,” Kickapoo head coach Nate Thomas said.
Kickapoo finished with a 4-5 record last year. That schedule included picking up a game with the perennial state champion Webb City with just a few days of notice and losing another game completely due to COVID.
This year will hopefully bring back some normalcy, and with that new players will have to step up to replace the graduated production.
“I feel like we’ve got some guys that are ready to step into that (leadership) role and keep things plugging away,” Thomas said.
Defensively, Kickapoo has some good talent returning led by linebacker Reed Jensen. He earned honorable mention all-conference honors last season.
CLICK HERE FOR A FULL SEASON SCHEDULE
“He (Jensen) is pushing 6-foot-5 right now, and (he) brings a very athletic presence out there on the edge for us that we really like on both sides when we can get that three front and bring him and Andrew (Link) up on the edge,” Thomas said. “(We are) looking for him to continue what he started last year and step into a leadership role that we need him to and continue down the path that he’s already on.”
Link will join Jensen as the other outside linebacker. Link is a 6-foot-4, 225-pound junior that will also see time at defensive end.
Samias Pickett, who is also a standout basketball player, will be the team’s top cornerback.
“You look at what he does on the basketball court and him being able to be a man-on defender. He just translates that over to corner and does a really good job for us out on the edge being that guy we can count on. There are times we will leave him over there by himself and he gets the job done,” Thomas said.
Anderson Underwood, Jackson Young and Matt Jones are all competing for spots in the secondary as well. Underwood will be at a safety position.
Kickapoo will have a new defensive coordinator in Nick Griffin this season. Griffin comes over from Monett.
On offense, Kickapoo has to fill several key holes, but basketball standout Zaide Lowery will provide whoever ends up playing quarterback with a great No. 1 option at receiver. Lowery holds multiple Division I offers on the basketball court.
“He brings a very tall, long and athletic basketball mentality out there on the edge that he is just able to go up and catch a lot of passes,” Thomas said.
Chance Nelson will be one of the players Thomas looks to in the backfield.
“He (Nelson) was our second half hammer that we brought in and let him get downhill. He’s just a big dude that has done a really nice job this off-season right now,” Thomas said. “Right now he is pushing 223 pounds and, at 5’10, he can be a load to bring down.”
Up front, Blake Reynolds will be a key player on the line as a junior. He stands at 6-foot-1, 285 pounds.
The offense will also have a new coordinator in Luke Miller, who came over from Nixa.
“Getting him to come over and call the offense for us has been a huge hire for us. He spent eight years as the tight ends coach at Pittsburg State before (Nixa),” Thomas said.
DOWNLOAD THE O-ZONE APP NOW!
APPLE – CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
ANDROID – CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
Miller and Griffin both will bring some new looks to the Kickapoo football team.
“I feel like we’ve hit two home runs with our two coordinators. They are young guys that bring a lot of energy that are kid magnets, which are two things you want in those spots for sure,” Thomas said. “(They will bring) some new wrinkles. That’s why we brought them in. Philosophy-wise they are in line with what we did before they came. Obviously there is going to be some changes here and there, but for the most part the core of what we believe on offense and defense, those guys are aligned with it.”
Kickapoo will open the season on Aug. 27 at Camdenton in what will be a tough nine-game Ozark Conference schedule.
“The disparity (in the conference) is gone. I feel like we have a really good conference that you’re going to have to play very well every Friday night if you expect to win,” Thomas said.
