James Monroe has some big shoes to fill on the offensive line

Mavericks have made the state football playoffs for four straight seasons

There has been no real need for James Monroe to be concerned about the left tack position the last four years.

That will not be the case heading case heading into the 2025 football season.

All-stater Brady Baker has graduated and moved on to Division I Morehead State leaving some massive shoes to fill up front.

Adding more complication to the line situation is the fact that Baker is not the only key player lost to graduation.

"Kole Ballengee did a fantastic job for us on both sides of the ball. Those were two really good ones and will be big shoes to fill," James Monroe head coach John Mustain said. "Kole didn't have the weight of Brady, but he was a tall kid and a pretty stout kid."

The good new for Mavericks fans is the well is not exactly dry.

Tyson Meadows will be back at center, along with Kristian Ogle who started on the line. Kolton Dowdy also spent some time in the middle of the line, but he will likely do more than just put his hand on the ground.

"Kolton is one of our hybrid kids," Mustain said. "You could see him in the backfield some and on the line some for us."

Another versatile player for James Monroe is Cade Dillon who will be a large key to the team success.

"Cade is another hybrid kid. He has some athleticism about him," Mustain said. "He can help us on the line and he can help us as an H-back, a tight end, or even a wide-out. The kid runs pretty well. He has to be ready to step in to whatever role we need him. The thing I tell kids, the more positions that you can play, the more valuable you are to the team. That is the type of attitude the kids have to have."

Dillon and Ogle's position movement will be determined in large part to the development of some younger talent in the trenches.

"We have three or four sophomores that I think are going to come in and help us out," Mustain said. "But, you know how the younger ones are, it as much about the mind as anywhere else. I think we can be alright."

While Mustain has confidence in his trench warriors, he did admit to be a little concerned heading into August.

"I think we have some kids that can do it, but you are talking about kids that played JV last year," Mustain said. "Two or three of them have worked really hard in the weight room and have grown a little bit. The potential is there, it is just a matter of them grasping the concepts and getting the right amount of desire to do that job."

If the young men up front can come together to create some time for the quarterback and space for the running backs, the Mavericks have some horses that can run and make plays.

Brock Parker is one of the top running backs in the state and Kadyn Hines is an elite receiver on the outside. The Mavericks also have options at quarterback as well.

"Ryan (Mann) has looked really good at quarterback," Mustain said. "Jayden Miller has looked good and both of them throw a pretty good ball. Ryan played a little bit of quarterback, but with Layton (Dowdy) there, he didn't get to play a lot (last year). The judgement thing will come into play with both of them. They have the tools."

"Ryan can play in the slot as well," Mustain went on to say said. "He can play in the backfield. I thought he had some carries for us last year. Him and Brock back there together."

James Monroe opens the season on the road against perennial football power Williamstown, Saturday, August 30. The game, originally scheduled for Glenville State University, will now be played at Roane County High School.