By Benny Rogers
Sports Information Officer Trinity Valley Community College
Photo by Travis Tapley
Cardinal football turns 75 this season . It may feel more like starting over .
Roster raids by D-1 schools in May have resulted in a far different personnel look than fifth-year head coach Sherard Poteete had anticipated . Gone , in a one-month period , are 17 players , including eight offensive and two defensive starters .
When the dust settled , the Cardinals were left with no returning offensive starters , four on defense and just 15 lettermen .
But you will not find Poteete , his staff and the Cardinals feeling sorry for themselves . They are also aware the rest of the
Southwest Junior College Football Conference will not . “ Yes , we were hit hard ,” Poteete said . “ But everyone took hits , and we will still be expected to get off the bus ready to line up and compete on Saturdays this fall . “ The timing of losing the players we did was unfortunate , but we are here to move our players on to the next level . Due to the portal , junior college is becoming a one-year program .” Though it may seem like it , the cupboard is not completely bare for the Cardinals . They return four starters on the defensive side of the ball – all up front in the trenches – and highly-regarded kicker / punter Jake Gaster . Expected to anchor the defensive unit while the newcomers grow up are ends Darren Roberson ( 6-3 , 230 ), Elliot Spiller ( 6-0 , 235 ) and tackles Deundre Blanton ( 6-4 , 270 ) and Alvino Carbajal III ( 6-0 , 300 ).
Roberson was a major contributor as a freshman in the Cardinals ’ 5-4 campaign last year . He was in on 65 tackles , eight of which were for losses , and four sacks . Spiller had 49 tackles and Carbajal 44 and Blanton 38 . Although the secondary is void of starters , Poteete has three returners he knows he can count on . Rashad Onezime ( 5-11 , 170 ), Zayteak McGhee ( 5-10 , 185 ) and Dabari Hawkins ( 6-4,190 ) all took meaningful snaps in 2021 . For the first time since 2006 , the Cardinal defense will be under the tutelage of new coordinator . Mark McMillan , beginning his
80 | Fanfare 2022