Talented Panthers poised for a breakout season
ASHDOWN, Ark.—The Ashdown Panthers are locked and loaded for a deep 2017 playoff run this season. In Matt Richardson’s eighth season, with his junior college recruiting experience and knowledge of what college coaches desires are, he has turned a sleepy town in South Arkansas into a defensive back hotbed.
Mississppi State cornerback commit Ladarrius Bishop (6-0, 205) and Arkansas
State safety commit Tre Green (6-0, 195) will man the Ashdown secondary, replacing two seniors to graduation, who were also Division 1 signees.
“We’ve got great kids and a great staff. There’s a a bunch of enthusiasm and good attitudes going around,” Ashdown head football coach Matt Richardson said. “If they put in the work and buy in, the sky’s the limit for this team.”
The Panthers are returning arguably one of the deepest rosters top to bottom in the area.
Ashdown returns LSU baseball commit senior Jaden Hill (6-4, 215), who accounted for 26 touchdowns during his junior campaign. The Panthers will rely heavily on the progression of the AllAmerican baseball player, while sophomore Brett Bond (6-0, 180) will backup Hill if necessesary.
“Jaden is a great kid and the glue of our team. He’s out captain and people look up to him like the captain. We’re excited for Jaden this upcoming season,” Richardson said.
Green will handle the running back duties for the Panthers, as well as safety. Green recently broke all of his track and field records this past season for the Panther track squad.
“Tre has put on 20 pounds this offseason and was able to break all of his personal records during the track and field season, which shows you he hasn’t lost a step or explosiveness,” Richardson said.
The Panther wide receiever corps will include rising senior prospect Anthony Nelson (6-0, 175), Bishop, juniors Shuntori Montue
(6-0, 175) and Keamon Nutt (5-9, 150). Rounding out the receivers are junior Ben Birtcher (5-10, 160) and transfer Patrick Christopher.
“In our offense we don’t play much of a tight end. We have a talented group of receivers led by Bishop, Nelson and Montue but we expect for all of our guys to contribute when their name is called,” Richardson said.
Seniors Alex Simmons (5-10, 280), Chris French
(6-2, 220) and Cullen Young (6-0, 210) look to anchor the explosive Panther offense during the upcoming season. Juniors Tyler Burns (6-1, 225) and Dylan Pauldan (6-0, 265) round out the offensive line starters for Ashdown.
“Our offensive line is one of the best we’ve had in my eight years. They’re big, physical and actually the nucleus of our team,” Richardson said. “We’re going to look to those guys to lead us in the fourth quarter, when the games are close and its tough.”
Ashdown prides itself on being on the best defensive back high school in the area within the past few years.
Not only will the Panther defense behold Bishop and Green, but Nelson, Montue, Nutt and Christopher will also roam the defensive backfield for Ashdown.
Junior Warren Smith (5-9, 150) and Taylan Robinson (5-10, 160) have taken most of the snaps this summer at safety and Richardson expects both to make positive impacts for the Panther defense this fall.
“I have eight defensive backs that are all athletic and can play. I’m excited at our depth and experience of our defensive secondary,” Richardson said.
The defensive line will include experience and athleticism for Ashdown.
Seniors Alex Day (6-0, 195), Demondrick Davis (5-10, 210), Chris Ogelsby (5-10, 186) and Kameron Ricks (5-10, 280) will provide varsity snaps to give the Ashdown defense a push on that side of the ball.
The athletic and versatile Panther defense uses complex formations where the defensive lineman picks his hand off the ground and drops back in coverage as a linebacker.
“Our defensive line is extremely strong and athletic. We’ve had to switch a few players around but our guys have really responded well this offseason,” Richardson said.
“We expect to win a few ball games this season, we certainly have the athletes on both sides of the ball to do so.”