By Chris Parker
Neosho took a big step forward in 2022 winning four games which was the most since the Wildcats won eight games in 2018.
This year a strong senior class is leading the way in coach Brandon Taute’s third season.
“We feel really good where we are at as a culture team. The standard has been set. Those seniors all know exactly what the standard is, and they’re doing a great job of holding the younger kids accountable. Those first few years, it was kind of on the coaches to hold people accountable all the time and now we have upperclassmen doing that. Those younger kids just don’t know any different. Everybody is coming in and working and meeting standards. I am really pleased with where we are in the culture department,” Taute said.
Six offensive starters return led by one of the area’s best quarterbacks in Quenton Hughes. Hughes threw for 2,836 yards and 28 touchdowns last season.
“He (Hughes) is everything you look for in a quarterback as far as leadership goes. I don’t know if there is a kid in the whole school who wouldn’t follow Quenton. He is friends with everybody. He does a great job of holding everybody accountable but doing it in a positive way and really pulling them up and not calling them out,” Taute said. “Along with that, he’s a great athlete. He’s got a strong arm; he understands defenses and, with this being his third year starting for us, he knows the system and he knows what we’re trying to do whenever we call a play. He’s just like a coach on the field.”
Hughes’ top target in Isaiah Green graduated and took with him 112 receptions, 1,473 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Cade Camerer is the top returning receiver who hauled in 33 catches for 301 yards and three touchdowns. Camerer is a three-year starter.
“He (Camerer) does a great job of finding holes in defenses. He has real sure hands. He understands defenses and knows exactly where to find those holes and where to sit,” Taute said.
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Tyrone Harris will also be looking to step up at wide receiver.
Running back is another big offensive hole to fill with the graduation of Jared Siler. Siler had 343 carries for 2,178 yards and 26 touchdowns last season.
Denver Welch, Konnor Siler, Kade Lawson and Keisean Rhone are all in the mix at running back.
“We feel really good about our depth at running back, and we are excited to see them battle it out,” Taute said.
The offensive line should be a strength for Neosho.
“It all starts up front and we feel really good about the offseason we have had with our offensive line. They have gotten stronger, and their understanding of our system has grown,” Taute said.
Willy Velasco will be the leader of that unit at center. He will start for a third season.
“He is as about as good of a leader we have,” Taute said. “Any time your center is one of your best leaders, it is a good thing for you as a team.”
Xavier Tomlinson and Tyce Hardin are both two-year starters on the offensive line.
Nathan Rogers saw limited action on the offensive line last season.
Seven defensive starters return led by Trey Hardin. Hardin was second on the team with 97 total tackles, which was second on the team in 2022.
“He is just a football player. We could put him almost anywhere on the football field and he is going to have success. He has a nose for the football. He is a big, strong and physical kid. He has added a lot of good weight this off-season,” Taute said.
Korbyn York (39 total tackles) and Drake Swift (65 total tackles) also return at linebacker.
Up front, Xavier Tomlinson will move over from offensive line to the defensive line. Zak Goff and Brice Warren return as starters at defensive end.
The secondary will feature Brody Crane at safety. He started at linebacker last year as a freshman and will move back to safety this season. He had 62 total tackles last season.
Bostyn Patterson and Cade Camerer along with Hudson Williams will look for time in the secondary.
“We want them to be a relentless defense. We want them to be fundamentally sound. It is alignment and assignment like everybody talks. Most importantly we want them flying to the football,” Taute said.
One addition to the program that has led to improvement is a new indoor facility built before last season.
“It (the indoor facility) is huge as far as advantages to not lose practices to storms and giving us a spot we can go when it is cold outside or just extra space to practice,” Taute said. “More importantly it shows how much this community supports their kids and their school system and athletics. That carries way more weight than the ability to go inside to practice.”
Neosho will open the season on Aug. 25 at Willard.
“Our goal since I have gotten here is to get better every single day. That is tough thing to judge, but without a doubt we are a better program today than we were three years ago,” Taute said. “We want to continue to improve as a program in all aspects whether it be in the classroom or in the community or just our work ethic in general.”
