Evan Ren: Graduation won't hold Ellison back in new class
November 22, 2005
For some Ellison fans, it's akin to an ominous, dark cloud looming on the horizon.Word is already out that the Eagles will move up to the 5A ranks in next year's realignment, turning this year's incredible playoff run into a party-while-you-can scenario.If the Eagles lose to Wylie in Saturday's 4A Region II semifinal matchup at Waco ISD Stadium, some feel Ellison will have played its last playoff game until at least 2008.I don't agree.Ellison will return as a better football team in 2006 — bank on it. I don't care if they're moving up to 5A, they have too many weapons returning not to be competitive at that level.As it is, the product that Ellison is currently fielding would already beat half the teams in District 13-5A, and that includes the Shoemaker team which whipped the Eagles in Week 2.Yes, Ellison has improved that much.The youth of the team dictated its rapid improvement, and if you don't believe me, consider this: Of the 61 players on the Ellison roster during Saturday's 38-21 area-round win over Corsicana, only 17 are seniors, and several of them didn't even start.The bulk of this team's talent lies in the 26 juniors and 11 sophomores who are set to return next year. You can even toss in the seven freshmen who made the trip, including Daniel Cobb, who starts at free safety!True, the Eagles will have to replace senior receiver Demyron Bell, and frankly, replacing place-kicker Tom Santos is a pipe dream. But assuming the players continue to work and don't let success go to their heads, Ellison, at least on paper, will stack up with any team in the area next year.In 2006, the Eagles will have the area's best quarterback in Ivan Delgado, who will only be a junior. They will have one of the area's best running backs in Eddie Frazier, one of its best linebackers in Morris Winkfield, several capable receivers , and perhaps the best defense it has had since Tommie Harris was in school.If anyone thinks this bunch can't be competitive next year, they're kidding themselves.This, of course, is all on paper. It's also contingent upon Delgado remaining healthy.Delgado, who in my opinion will become even better than Shoemaker's Keith Smith by the time he's a senior, will evolve into one of the best quarterbacks this area has seen in years.Barring injury, this kid is going to be unbelievable in a couple of seasons, and worth the price of admission all by himself. If he continues to progress at his current rate, there won't be a Division-1A school out there he won't be able to attend.Couple that with the fact that the Eagles will provide him with a supporting cast that stacks up with any that Killeen has to offer, and this notion that they won't be competitive at the 5A level quickly evaporates.Ellison will be good again. Just how good, will depend on its own work ethic.
Source: http://www.kdhnews.com/
For some Ellison fans, it's akin to an ominous, dark cloud looming on the horizon.Word is already out that the Eagles will move up to the 5A ranks in next year's realignment, turning this year's incredible playoff run into a party-while-you-can scenario.If the Eagles lose to Wylie in Saturday's 4A Region II semifinal matchup at Waco ISD Stadium, some feel Ellison will have played its last playoff game until at least 2008.I don't agree.Ellison will return as a better football team in 2006 — bank on it. I don't care if they're moving up to 5A, they have too many weapons returning not to be competitive at that level.As it is, the product that Ellison is currently fielding would already beat half the teams in District 13-5A, and that includes the Shoemaker team which whipped the Eagles in Week 2.Yes, Ellison has improved that much.The youth of the team dictated its rapid improvement, and if you don't believe me, consider this: Of the 61 players on the Ellison roster during Saturday's 38-21 area-round win over Corsicana, only 17 are seniors, and several of them didn't even start.The bulk of this team's talent lies in the 26 juniors and 11 sophomores who are set to return next year. You can even toss in the seven freshmen who made the trip, including Daniel Cobb, who starts at free safety!True, the Eagles will have to replace senior receiver Demyron Bell, and frankly, replacing place-kicker Tom Santos is a pipe dream. But assuming the players continue to work and don't let success go to their heads, Ellison, at least on paper, will stack up with any team in the area next year.In 2006, the Eagles will have the area's best quarterback in Ivan Delgado, who will only be a junior. They will have one of the area's best running backs in Eddie Frazier, one of its best linebackers in Morris Winkfield, several capable receivers , and perhaps the best defense it has had since Tommie Harris was in school.If anyone thinks this bunch can't be competitive next year, they're kidding themselves.This, of course, is all on paper. It's also contingent upon Delgado remaining healthy.Delgado, who in my opinion will become even better than Shoemaker's Keith Smith by the time he's a senior, will evolve into one of the best quarterbacks this area has seen in years.Barring injury, this kid is going to be unbelievable in a couple of seasons, and worth the price of admission all by himself. If he continues to progress at his current rate, there won't be a Division-1A school out there he won't be able to attend.Couple that with the fact that the Eagles will provide him with a supporting cast that stacks up with any that Killeen has to offer, and this notion that they won't be competitive at the 5A level quickly evaporates.Ellison will be good again. Just how good, will depend on its own work ethic.
Source: http://www.kdhnews.com/
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