6A

Team Preview: Dallas Skyline Raiders

by
Adam Ogburn
July 30

Dallas Skyline Raiders

Head Coach: Jacody Coleman (2^nd Season)

Last Season: 0-10; 0-7 in district

Dallas Skyline Key Players and Storylines

Last year was one to forget for the Raiders as they finished winless with just 52 points scored all season long.

However, the Raiders faced an uphill climb from the very beginning. They had just 11 seniors on their entire roster a year ago and played several sophomores in key positions.

Coleman believes those lumps they took a year ago could pay off in the long run with the experience his players gained. He’s expecting his team to perform at a much higher level this season.

Eight starters return on offense and five are back on defense.

There’s no shortage of potential at the skill positions where Coleman believes sophomore receiver/running back Tramell Minter (350 receiving yards and 275 rushing yards) and running back Eriyon Ford should play big roles this year.

Junior Rod Harper (25 catches, two touchdowns) will be another player to watch at wide receiver along with senior Brandon Barnes (32 catches, two touchdowns), who will also play at defensive back for the Raiders (43 tackles, two interceptions). Barnes committed to Arkansas State back in late June.

But despite all the promising young talent on the offensive side of the ball this year for the Raiders, there’s no doubt Brandon’s younger brother linebacker Elijah Barnes is Skyline’s standout player. A four-star prospect, he burst onto the scene a year ago, earning the district’s Defensive Newcomer of the Year (131 tackles, 15 TFLs). In addition to the Barnes brothers, Coleman said to keep an eye on safety Jacorey York, who finished last season with three interceptions.

Skyline will still be young in some positions this year, but the potential talent the Raiders have at their disposal can’t be underestimated. Coleman said the Skyline community needs something to celebrate and he hopes his Skyline team can deliver a few more wins on the field this year to provide just that.