BADGERS

continues and we keep taking the ball away and securing it.”

All-conference selection Dahlon Turner returns at defensive tackle after racking up eight tackles for loss. Jack Burnham, Patrick Dobbins and Jordan Jarboe round out the rest of the Badger defensive line.

Junior Josh Burnham leads the linebacker unit after finishing second on the team with 93 tackles a season ago. Griffin Brown and John Michael Collett work at outside linebacker alongside Josh Burnham.

Junior cornerback Dillion Scott wreaked havoc in the playoff victory over the Cobras, recovering two fumbles and returning one for a first-quarter touchdown. Brayden Todd returns at cornerback after missing all of last season with a broken leg.

Senior Eric Groom and junior Tyrell Caudle at safety round out the secondary. Even with the loss of graduated linebacker Danny Joe Spradlin, who led the team with 96 tackles last year, Eldridge doesn’t expect his defense to miss a beat.

“Danny Joe was a really good football player, but I feel great about Patrick Dobbins, Dahlon Turner, Jordan Jarboe, Griffin Brown, Josh Burnham, Jack Burnham and Eric Groom,” he said. “I could sit here and name them all off. I feel really good about our defense, so I’m looking forward to seeing them compete every Friday night.”

Eldridge credited his program’s ability to develop players for the success in replacing players and maintaining success during his six-year tenure at the helm.

“Even though we lose great players every year, we never feel too much of a drop-off because we’re teaching these guys the right way to play the position,” said Eldridge.

Arkadelphia fans get their first look at the new starters when the Badgers host Stuttgart Sept. 2.