I really don't like knocking specific positions or players, but the X secondary needs to improve. I know that our pass defense wasn't great for most of season, but it was painful to watch against Elder.
Speaking of improvements, I was really impressed by how the sophomore FOOLS came into their own toward the end of the season. (Just watch the snap counts please!)
At the start of the season 2 year starter Wiles Dolle was at one corner and the other corner spot was shared by a pair of inexperienced sophomores, Ryan Nolan and Josh Anderson.
Nolan played QB his frosh year and Anderson I believe safety so as far as I know both had no prior experience.
Then Dolle got hurt week 2 and both were starting.
Anderson may have gotten injured shortly after and DuBois was moved from adjuster to corner where he played on JV last season.
When Dolle returned mid season he and DuBois were the starting corners for the remainder of the year.
So returning next season with varsity experience in the secondary are Eli Kirk (36 tackles and 1 INT returned 100 yards for TD vs Mason), Gabe Dubois (43 tackles and 3 INTs), Dylan Overbeck (10 tackles in 5 games, subbed for Hundley when he went out the second half of Moeller), Anderson (2 tackles in 2 games) and Nolan (8 tackles in 3 games).
Eli Kirk and classmate Marquee Cummings (LB on JV) who played special teams in both post season games (had 2 tackles vs both Mason and Elder) are 2 players that next season will be on the field and either could be at LB or in the secondary.
Other secondary players from JV are Joe Nelson, Jack Wildefeuer and Amare Leslie
Returning varsity LBs are Matt Devine (leading tackler with 99 tackles and 5.5 sacks) and Danny Kirk (15 tackles).
Other LB options besides Eli Kirk and Marquee Cummings are the best JV LBs Reilly, Monzel and Schaeper.
Even without Hundley I think the pass defense will be better next season.
The pass rush should be much better as well as sack leader NG Gio Albanese (65 tackles and 7 sacks) returns.
The JV team had a handful of good sized prospects including Sam Buerkle (who subbed for Bailey in the Elder game), Trimble, Lyons, Poneris and Uhl