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Team Preview: Cedar Hill Longhorns
Story URL: http://hstexas.scout.com/2/637645.html

TexasPrepInsider.com
TexasPrepInsider.com
Apr 22, 2007

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





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