The start of preseason football practice is less than two weeks away, and Brownwood Lions assistant coaches Dex Dennard and David Jones joined the Brownwood Lions Coach’s Show on KOXE Wednesday to discuss the offense and defense for the 2024 squad.

The Lions, who are coming off a 12-2 campaign and trip to the Class 4A Division I Region I championship game, return 6 offensive and 3 defensive starters from that squad, but all positions for 2024 are open, according to Jones, who serves as assistant head coach and oversees the defense.

“Going into two-a-days we don’t have any starters anywhere and the kids understand that,” Jones said. “If you want a spot, which everybody does, you’re going to have to compete to earn it. If you end up being one of those starters, we want you to feel uncomfortable and feel like there’s a guy breathing down your neck wanting your spot. I think every kid needs to feel like there’s a chance for upward mobility and if you’re not a starter you can strive to become one. We’re going to play the best 11 guys on each side of the ball, but competition breeds success.”

Dennard, the offensive coordinator, stated the strength of the offense as this point lies in the skill position players.

“We’re excited about the guys that we have at the skill positions, especially the sophomores that played last year,” Dennard said. “We’re excited to see those guys come back and grow as juniors as they take the reins of the offense.”

Among the players to watch on offense are receivers Carson Noe, Stone Ratliff, and Aaron Edmonds, tight ends Weston Wolf and Aiden Driskill, and running backs Levi Pearson and Tre Moseley, a move in from Duncanville.

The preseason will also allow the Lions to sort out who will start at quarterback, and which five players will comprise the offensive line.

“For us offensively, we’re replacing a lot on the offensive line and at the quarterback position,” Dennard said. “Speaking offensive line wise, to see those guys grow in the weight room from the time we started in December and January to where we are now, it’s been good.

“We’re going to have a quarterback competition with Braeden Stack, Judson Coalson and Rory McNeese, and we’re going to figure that out. Same thing on the offensive line, there’s going to be a lot of competition and that’s a good thing. Logan Flores, Aidan Packheiser who played last year, and Luke Hagood who was a backup last year, are guys we’re excited about. Tristan Stevens was a JV guy and Robert Trowbridge played center as a sophomore on the JV and played a lot of defense the last two years. That’s who we’re going to roll with up front to start camp.”

The defensive side of the ball appears to have more openings heading into practice, but potentially more players who can fill in at a variety of positions.

“From a linebacker standpoint we were blessed the last two years to have a really strong core, exceptional actually, but all those guys are gone at this point,” Jones said. “We have probably around nine linebackers that are going to be competing for a spot. They all had great offseasons and great summers, they’re big and they’re strong and they’re fast. I’m excited to see who rises to the top.

“Competition is a great thing to have in a program. You’d hate to look out there and see you just have three linebackers who can play and they don’t feel any pressure to have to perform to hold their job down. I think players work better when there’s pressure to perform so they’re going to have to bring their hard hat and their lunch box on Monday, Aug. 5 and go to work.”

Though the openings are plentiful, Jones is confident the lineup will work itself out during practices, the Maroon and White scrimmage and scrimmages against Argyle Liberty Christian and Alvarado.

“We’ve got great kids, being a Brownwood Lion is a big deal and these kids understand that,” Jones said. “They’ve been waiting their whole lives to be a part of this and they’re excited. Everything will pan out the way it’s supposed to and the cream will rise to the top. Guys will compete and we’ll find our guys that will go out there to help us win ball games.”

The Lions find themselves in a new district this season as 4-4A Division I will consist of Brownwood, which enters the season ranked No. 7 in 4A Division I by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, along with Burnet, Lampasas, Marble Falls and top-ranked Stephenville.

Ahead of league play, however, the Lions face a pre-district slate that Jones considers the toughest in his seven seasons since coming back to Brownwood. The Lions host 5A Division II Abilene Wylie in the Aug. 30 season opener followed by a trip to Wall Sept. 6, home games against Glen Rose Sept. 13 and Waco La Vega Sept. 20, aa road game at China Spring Sept. 27 and the pre-district finale against Ingleside in Boerne Oct. 4.

“There’s not a week off and that excites us as a staff and challenges us as a staff,” Jones said. “Our kids are excited about it because each and every week you better prepare properly, go to work, and be ready to play your guts out on Friday night. Then going into district you obviously have Stephenville, who’s the preseason No. 1, but you also have Burnet, Lampasas and Marble Falls and they’re all good programs and well-coached. There’s not a game on our schedule where you can take a deep breath and feel like it’s an easy week. The only way to get better is to play good competition and we’re going to do that each and every week.”