Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 2:15 PM

The 2024 season is all about getting back to playing physical, smashmouth football.

SOUTH DEARBORN KNIGHTS

Head Coach: Rand Ballart (42-50 in 10th season)
2023: 5-5 (lost in First Round of Sectional)
Graduated 13 seniors: Hudson Shackelford, Adam Kunkel, Blake Lagaly, Oli Babcock, Reid Thornton, Dylon Wynn, CJ Evans, Brayden Johnson, Sean Head, Tyler Schlemmer, Scott Myers, Blake Pruss, Ben Borntrager.

Stylistically, South Dearborn will look much different in 2024. In recent seasons, the Knights have focused on putting the ball in the air and playing up-tempo. This season, South Dearborn intends to get back to basics as a physical, run-dominant team behind an experienced offensive line. Defensively, the Knights are poised to be stout with nine returning starters.

OFFENSE: Gone are the days of throwing the ball 30 times a game. In years past, the Knights were set up well to have a throwing offense with record-breaking quarterbacks such as Adam Dixon and Adam Kunkel. With Kunkel graduating in the spring, the Knights will turn the keys to the offense over to Conor Huff, who spent last season playing as a receiver. Huff started his high school career as a quarterback during his freshman season before transitioning to wide receiver. With Mason Hamlett electing not to return to the program, Huff has risen as the top choice at quarterback.

He will lead a run-heavy, wing-type offense that will feature several different ballcarriers. Senior Carson Cheek and junior Brady Ballart return as the Knights' top two rushers from last season. Cheek carried the ball 95 times for 433 yards and eight touchdowns, while Ballart totaled 525 yards and eight scores.

Colton McClure, JD Wickersham, and Ronnie Armah look to get snaps as ballcarriers, while Ballart and Caden Thompson factor in as tight ends or wings.

The Knights picked a good time to go run heavy on offense following the graduation of their top three wideouts: Hudson Shackelford, Oli Babcock and Reid Thornton. Last season, the trio combined for 1,210 yards and 14 touchdowns. Conor Huff would have been their top returning receiver, but Head Coach Rand Ballart sees more value in playing Huff at QB.

South Dearborn's most experienced position group heading into the 2024 season is its offensive line. The Knights return four starters: Colt Hensley, Mahlon Bressert, Zaniel Juan, and Jacob Purcell.

DEFENSE: Nine starters return on defense, including IFCA 2023 Junior All-State and Indiana Preps 2024 Top 22 Preseason All-State (Underclass) selection Brady Ballart. Rated a 3-star recruit by Rivals, the junior linebacker holds five D-1 offers from Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Miami (Oh.), Toledo, and Louisville. He has also taken unofficial visits to Wisconsin and Notre Dame. Ballart has totaled 162 tackles as a two-year starter.

The Knights plan to switch from a three-man front to a traditional four-man front this fall. Returning on the defensive line is senior Caden Thompson, sophomore Mason Lane, and junior Elliot Meek. The trio combined for 92 tackles (13 TFL) and four sacks in 2023.

Landon Walton (41 tackles) and JD Wickersham (38 tackles) are back at linebacker, while Dylan Leffler (INT), Colton McClure (3 INT) and Tyeler Gulden (2 INT) make up an experienced secondary.

Juniors Aiden Davidson and Eli Sizemore are expected to see snaps on defensive line. Sophomore Drake Lee and freshman Dallas Terrell have stood out this offseason and look to carve out a role on the defense.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Senior Taytum Barker returns as the Knights' place kicker. Last season, she connected on 18-of-21 point after attempts and made 2-of-3 field goal attempts, including a season-long 25-yard make. Additionally, Barker averaged 31 yards per kickoff in 2023.

COACH COMMENTS WITH RAND BALLART:

On playing style change:

"It's not going to look like the South Dearborn Knights that you've seen in the past. We're going to be a very physical, run-oriented football team. We're going to grind and grind. Maybe some quick football games this year. We are changing the defense up too (four-man front). We'll be getting back to the way we play South Dearborn football and that's hard-nosed, smashmouth football. We are going to play about 24 dudes. That's a philosophy I've always gone against, I've always been a two-platoon guy. The change is based on personnel a little bit, but more importantly on our scheme and where we wanted to go.

On new starting quarterback Conor Huff:

"Conor Huff has taken the reins on this offense and has been unreal. I told him the other day he has shocked me. His tenacity, his energy, and the knowledge, as much as he studies. He is not a prima donna quarterback that is afraid to get up there and smack you in the mouth. He'll lead block up in there and it's been pretty cool to see. He's done an unbelievable job of taking over and leading the offense.

On the new athletic facility:

"It's really been a longtime coming. That old brick building was rough, we moved into the barn and didn't have any water or anything. These guys, especially the seniors, have trekked in that barn the last three years with no AC. This new facility is second to none. It's absolutely incredible. Our lockers are full sized lockers, floor to ceiling. We couldn't ask for anything better."