COLLINSVILLE — Collinsville coach Kevin Jones gathered around his football team after Monday’s spring practice session at Sallee Field and told the Cardinals he was looking for “leaders to emerge.”
And Jones said leadership isn’t limited to only seniors.
Potential leaders include juniors Skyler Moorman, who last year became Collinsville’s first fulltime sophomore starting QB since Jones became head coach in 2010, and running back/linebacker Scott Rigby.
Collinsville quarterback Skyler Moorman said he is “a completely different player” during spring practice this year than at this point in 2023.
“We’ve got lots of leaders by example,” Jones said. “We’ve got plenty of those kind of guys. We just need some guys to be more vocal. And sometimes that’s kind of a learning trait.
“Skylar is without a doubt, a lead by example guy, he’s the hardest-working kid on our football team, he puts in more time than anybody, he is an absolute workaholic. We’re just trying to challenge these guys, Skyler and Scott, to be more vocal.”
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Moorman completed 146-of-227 passes for 1,944 yards and 11 touchdowns as the Cardinals went 9-3 and reached the state quarterfinals. He enters 2024 as one of the top quarterbacks in Class 5A.
“I feel like I am a completely different player than I was a year ago,” Moorman said. “Just all the varsity experience, a whole year as a starter, being able to work with the guys and my on-and-off-the-field knowledge is so much better than a year ago.”
Moorman, who is 6-foot-2 and 192 pounds, has multiple major college camp visits scheduled this summer along with a trip to the Manning Passing Academy.
Scott Rigby and Collinsville coach Kevin Jones talk during football practice.
“It’s huge having Skyler back,” Jones said. “He’s leaps and bounds ahead of where he was at this point last year obviously, and we’re real excited about his growth and potential.”
Moorman and the Cardinals are spending the spring and summer identifying a go-to-receiver after Hudson Henslick graduated following his 85-catch season. Henslick was an All-World player of the year finalist and was a quiet leader who became more vocal later in his career. Ben Daniels, who had 27 catches for 398 yards and four TDs last year, is a receiver to watch.
“You can’t replace a Hudson Henslick,” Jones said. “In 14 years as coach here, Hudson Henslicks are few and far between, an incredibly special player. But we have some very good players for Skyler to throw to. Ben Daniels had a very productive sophomore season for us last year, he’s a great athlete and a great natural player. Maverick Davis and Talan Rush are doing a great job as well.”
Rigby was the Cardinals’ leading rusher last season with 1,142 yards and 15 TDs as he split carries with Jack Keith, who graduated. Jones also would like to see Moorman run more often — he rushed for six TDs last year.
Chris Goodman, left, does a drill during Monday’s spring practice at Collinsville.
“If we give them the lane we know they’re going to go score,” tackle Drake DeVore said.
The Cardinals are strong on both sides of the line, led by senior two-way players DeVore and Chris Goodman, who is being shifted on offense to a tight end/H-back role. Both are ends on defense.
“They are super talented kids, very gifted,” Jones said. “Chris is such an explosive player. He’s 6-2, 245 (pounds) and one of the fastest kids on our team. And he is the strongest player on our team after Jack Keith graduating. He is such an explosive player and then Drake’s just as physically gifted, he’s got lots of length and has a really high motor. They’re definitely next level players.”
On defense, the Cardinals return seven starters, including Rigby.
Logan Limbocker catches a pass during spring football practice at Collinsville.
“He’s a football player who can play so many different places,” Jones said. “He could probably play any stand-up position on our defense, all four linebackers spots and all four defensive back spots, and obviously he’s a very special running back. The sky’s the limit for him.”
Daniels had four interceptions in the secondary last season.
“Ben is going to be a big cog and he’ll probably take over that leadership role in the back end that Hudson gave us the last two years,” Jones said.
Collinsville won a state title in 2021 and has gone 18-5 over the past two years.
“We’ve got to uphold the standards and raise those standards every day,” DeVore said. “We were very young last year. I don’t think people thought we would go as far as we did, we definitely opened some eyes and look to do the same thing this year.”
Goodman added, “Look out for us.”
Last year, the Cardinals lost to eventual state champion Carl Albert in the quarterfinals after a first-round comeback win at Coweta.
Collinsville lineman Drake DeVore during Monday’s practice.
“That was memorable,” Rigby said. “We overcame a lot of adversity last year and we’re all ready.”
Collinsville opens this season with a home game against Oologah on Sept. 6.
“We’ve put in a lot of work in this offseason and can’t wait to see how it translates on to the field,” Moorman said.
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