2015 Canyon Springs Football Capsule
CANYON SPRINGS
League: Division I Northeast
Head coach: Keith Jones, first season
2014 record: 6-4 (3-1 Northeast, first)
Returning lettermen: 15
Returning starters: One offense, four defense
Base offensive set: New pro style
Base defensive set: 4-3
Top offensive players: QB Trevon Dean (Sr.); C Ernesto Trejo (Sr.); RB Jerrod Blackwell (Sr.)
Top defensive players: DB Marcell Selmon (Sr.); DB Christian Minor (Sr.); DB Tyson Odum (Sr.); DL Jaleel Rogers (Sr.); LB Emmitt Gray (Sr.)
Top newcomers: RB Diamante Burton (So.); RB/WR Lazerus Kyle (Jr.)
Key losses: DL Melvin Johnson; WR Kajuan Casey; QB Bradley Alexander; LB Gregory Banks
Outlook: Jones inherits a tall task in replacing former UNLV and arena-league standout Hunkie Cooper, who made the Pioneers perennial contenders.
Cooper, who was 43-20 in six seasons, left to take an assistant coaching job at San Diego State.
Jones also inherits a team with little experience, especially on the offensive side of the ball.
Gone is all-league quarterback Alexander, who passed for 1,442 yards and 17 TDs while throwing just five interceptions. Leading rusher Zaviontay Stevenson (722 yards, 8 TDs) also is gone along with essentially the entire receiving corps.
The athletic Dean showed flashes when he spelled Alexander last season. He finished with 501 passing yards and five TDs, but will have to shoulder a much bigger load this season.
So will Blackwell, who rushed for 255 yards and five TDs while backing up Stevenson.
The secondary looks like a strength on the defensive side of the ball, and returning all-league lineman Rogers (34 tackles, two sacks) will lead the front seven.
