Team Preview: Cedar Hill Longhorns

The Cedar Hill Longhorns accomplished lots of firsts last year. The first undefeated regular season. The first playoff win. The first state championship under Coach Joey McGuire.

Optimism is high, and so are the expectations on this team. A team that has never won a playoff game now has the biggest target in the state on their back. But, Coach McGuire says there is a talented junior class to back up the statement that his team made last year, with a JV that finished 9-1.

Five offensive starters will be back to see if James Hamilton will be the next William Cole. Three are back on the offensive line, including standout lineman Thomas Ashcraft. With size and great speed, he will be one of the top recruits next year in the nation. Several sources have told me to watch out for Ben Malena. As a FRESHMAN on the JV team, he scored 25 TDs in 7 games. As a sophomore, he will start with Imari Thompson playing along side of him. He has 4.4 speed and has great football vision. Word is that he may be the best running back in the state by the end of next year. Jordan Young leads the receiving corps.

Negative publicity followed the defense of Cedar Hill until the four down goal line stand against Garland. Jarvis Humphrey will be back from that. He is rocketing up the recruiting charts with his 6'2, 285 pound frame and sub 5.0 40 speed. Tyler Washington is a big body at nose guard who will make a big impact this year. Watch out for Aaron Benson at Middle Linebacker. Most people talk about this kid in the same breath as Ben Malena. Could be special in several years. Size is a big question for Cedar Hill, as they have 5A speed but 4A height.

Coach McGuire was quoted in the Dallas Morning News as stating this junior class might be better than the senior class, more athletic overall, even without the talent of William Cole. Of course, not many knew who Cole was in the beginning of the year - after all, he was the BACK-UP QB. Will a player step up and make a huge impact? Might that player be a sophomore? Cedar Hill should still be pretty good, and Region I in Division II hasn't gotten any better, so Cedar Hill has a clear path if they can put some wins together - but that path will have the laser light of success shining on their huge red target this season.

OFFENSE OVERVIEW (PROJECTED STARTERS)
Position
NAME	HT	WT	40	CLASS	STATS/NOTES
QB	James Hamilton	5'10"	180	4.6	SR
RB	Imari Thompson	5'11"	190	4.5	SR	505 yards and 4 TD's
RB	Ben Malena	5'10"	185	4.4	Soph
WR	Jordan Young	6'1"	180	4.5	SR
WR	Montrel Green	5'9"	165	4.4	SR	13 catches 171 yards
WR	Trent Pearson	5'11"	175	4.5	SR
OT	Michael Washington	6'2"	245	4.9	SR	Started 16 games
OG	Osaze Idumwonyi	6'2"	265	5.01	SR	Started 16 games
C	James McLemore	6'2"	250	5.3	SR
OG	William Jackson	6'1"	255	5.2	SR
OT	Thomas Ashcraft	6'5"	275	5.01	JR	Started 16 games
DEFENSE OVERVIEW (PROJECTED STARTERS)
Position	NAME	HT	WT	40	CLASS	STATS/NOTES
DT	Jarvis Humphrey	6'2"	285	4.98	SR	Started 16 games
NG	Tyler Washington	6'1"	220	4.63	JR
DT	Demarcus Goodall	6'0"	290	5.3	JR
OLB	LB Suggs	5'10"	185	4.53	SR
OLB	Corwin Hicks	5'11"	190	4.6	SR	3 year starter
MLB	Aaron Benson	6'1"	205	4.6	SOPH
S	Howard Hodge	6'0"	175	4.5	SR
S	Darius McGraw	5'10"	180	4.5	SR
CB	Jameel Bagby	5'9"	170	4.5	JR
CB	Greg Brown	5'11"	175	4.5	SR
FS	Elijiah Olabode	5'10"	185	4.48	SR	Started at FS and SS
SPECIAL TEAMS OVERVIEW (PROJECTED STARTERS)
POS	NAME	HT	WT	40	CLASS	STATS/NOTES
K	Eduardo Camara	5"11"	165	4.8	Soph	Started 15 games

OTHER RETURNING LETTERMEN (NOT PREVIOUSLY LISTED)
POS	NAME	HT	WT	40	CLASS
RB	Keenon Walker	5'10"	190	4.8	JR
FS	Chris Ogbonna	5'10"	170	4.5	SR
OT	Emmanuel Chirume	6'1"	225	5.1	JR
WR	Dedric James	6'0"	175	4.53	SR
WR	Ryan Bradley	6'0"	170	4.5	SR
TE	Chris Villines	6'1"	215	4.8	SR
S	Zac Ponder	5'10"	170	4.55	SR
MLB	Tyler Smith	5'10"	185	4.78	JR
C	Daniel Burgess	5'11"	205	4.98	SR
S	Brizeek Martin	5'10"	165	4.6	SR
OLB	Welmon Mayes	5'9"	175	4.7	JR
S	Eduardo Posas	5'10"	175	4.78	SR
OG	Ricky Gonzales	5'11"	265	5.3	Soph
OT	Herman Moore	6'0"	220	5.02	JR
WR	Anthony Caston	5'9"	160	4.6	SR

TOP NEWCOMERS (NOT ON VARSITY IN 2005)
POS	NAME	HT	WT	40	CLASS	STATS/NOTES
RB	Ben Malena	5'10"	180	4.4	Soph	25 TD's in 7 games on JV
MLB	Aaron Benson	6'1"	205	4.5	Soph
RB	Mason Hayes	5'10"	185	4.53	Soph
QB/WR	Oliver Wells	6'0"	170	4.5	Soph

COLLEGE PROSPECTS : CLASS OF 2008
POS	NAME
DT	Jarvis Humphrey
RB	Imari Thompson
CB	Greg Brown
WR	Montrel Green
OT	Michael Washington
OG	Osaze Idumwonyi
OLB	Corwin Hicks
FS	Elijiah Olabode
S	Darius McGraw
WR	Dedric James
COLLEGE PROSPECTS CLASS OF 2009
POS	NAME
OT	Thomas Ashcraft
NG	Tyler Washington
CB	Jameel Bagby
MLB	Tyler Smith
COLLEGE PROSPECTS CLASS OF 2010
POS	NAME
RB	Ben Malena
MLB	Aaron Benson
RB	Mason Hayes
QB/WR	Oliver Wells