By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Ozark is under new leadership with Jeremy Cordell taking over the reins. Cordell joins the Tigers after spending the previous eight seasons at Lincoln-Way Central high school in Illinois.
He’s produced a 74-52 record over 13 years as a head coach. Now Cordell inherits a program that has been over .500 just once in the last five seasons.
“Taking over a new program has its own challenge,” said Cordell. “I enjoy the challenge and am blessed to have been welcomed by an awesome school and community. With that being said, we are working together to establish a program based upon leadership on and off the field as well as ultra-competitive culture on the field. We believe in being 1-0 and winning anything we are doing and just focusing on the task at hand to win that task whether it be the classroom, the weight room, the locker room, practice, or a game. Be great and strive to be elite in all we do.”
It’ll be a youth movement on both sides of the ball for Ozark.
Senior tight end Jace Whatley is the only returning all-area player for the Tigers. Whatley is currently being recruited by a range of four-year programs.
He’s joined by classmate Jack Bowers at running back and junior offensive linemen Logan Smith and Landon Baldwin as the only players with starting experience.
“Jace will be a physical weapon in the run game and an asset in the passing game,” said Cordell. “Jack has transformed himself into a fast and powerful back. He has good hands and will factor into both the run and pass game. Logan is a great leader. He’s consistent and expects best efforts and enthusiasm from his fellow linemen and his teammates in general. Should be a pillar for the next two years.”
Cordell has been impressed by several players with Senior Jrayen Jenkins and junior Collin Cook carving out roles on the offensive line, while junior Brady Owens is in the mix to receive some carries this year.
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Sophomore Peyton Russell is the clubhouse leader to take over at quarterback in Cordell’s spread attack.
“Offensively, we will be a gun rocket offense with spread components,” said Cordell. “Multi-formational with motions, shifts, and misdirection. We will play disciplined and fast.”
Ozark’s defense also returns four starters from last year, all of whom are underclassmen.
Junior Ruben Arvizu will anchor the defensive line and classmate Parker Elliott will lead the linebackers. Fellow juniors Sam Clark and Peyton Bullinger will return to the secondary.
“Ruben is strong and quick for size,” said Cordell. “He’s quiet, but a solid leader and has a good motor. Peyton has a nose for the ball and will go up and get it when in the air. Sam is fast, moves well on the field. He has the best ball skills and physicality in the defensive backfield.”
Senior Charles Lawson and junior Jordan Giles will look to make an impact at linebacker. Junior JT Cordell adds versatility along the defensive front.
“Defensively, we will be a 3-3 stack with multiple fronts,” said Cordell. “Our defensive motto is to play fast, physical, and free. We pride ourselves in being disciplined and playing systematic defense throughout our program.”
Ozark is looking for its first district championship since 2012. To get that, the Tigers will have to navigate one of the toughest conferences in Missouri, something Cordell will be experiencing for the first time.
But he and the Tigers are excited to help right the ship of one of the area’s most prestigious programs.
“The COC is a great conference and I look forward to being a part of the conference,” said Cordell. “Coming from a highly competitive conference in Illinois, I look forward to the challenge. Our players are hungry to challenge and win a conference championship no matter the history from prior years. It is our job to get better and challenge for championships and that is what we intend to do.
“It will take a shift in mindset and discipline to execute and finish. This includes players, staff, and everyone involved with the program. It takes a village to be great and establish championship culture. We will work as hard as possible to put ourselves in position to win every game we step onto the field. I am very excited for the school community and our program on what is to come; this is only the beginning.”
Ozark will host Nixa and Kickapoo in a jamboree before opening the Cordell Era and the 2023 regular season on Aug. 25 at Carl Junction.
