High school football preview: Chester Cyclones

Basics

Coach: Victor Floyd, first year (second stint at Chester)

Career record: 69-55

Last year: 2-8, 0-5 in Region 3-3A

Assistant coaches: Ronnie Baker, defensive coordinator/outside linebackers; Ricky Campbell, defensive backs; Jerry Caldwell, defensive backs; Chris Powell, linebackers; Kelvin Minter, linebackers; Shawn Reen, defensive line; Dave Fleming, defensive line; Chris Dodson, offensive line/assistant head coach; Chris White, offensive line; Gene McCaskill, wide receivers; Eric Park, running backs

Returning starters: 5 offense, 4 defense

Twitter account: @CHSCyclonesFB or @ChesterCyclones

Players to watch: Soph. C Anthony Foster, Jr. QB Malik Williams, Jr. DE/TE/WR Troy Minter, Sr. WR Justin Sanders, Jr. RB Jalyn Reid, Sr. LB/RB Javarious Gregory, Sr. OL Stanley Yarborough, Soph. WR John Irby, Sr. Quay Strong, Jr. OL Xy Simpson, Fr. DB/RB Pha’leak Brown.

Chester football is an unknown quantity in Victor Floyd’s first year back at the school, following a successful tenure from 2004-07. The team’s identity is a key aspect still in flux.

“Mmm, still trying to figure it out right now,” Floyd said earlier this month. “We’re in the process of getting an identity. I’ll have a better feel once we get through preseason and see who the play-makers are with pads on; we know who they are in helmets, but that tends to change. So I think our identity is still forming now.”

One thing for sure, is the team’s roster will look considerably different, due in part to graduation and attrition caused by the new coach’s arrival.

“A lot of guys we’re depending on probably didn’t play as many snaps last year,” said Floyd. “But I think they’ve made up ground in the offseason. We’ve been getting it for about six months, but it definitely will be a different look.”

Standout, do-it-all quarterback Tommy Sanders is gone, with junior Malik Williams taking his place. The Cyclones have a bevy of skill position players, many with excellent size. Chester returns three offensive line starters, but is otherwise thin in the trenches. Could depth concerns manifest?

Floyd: “It’s hard to say. I’ve seen years where numbers can be an issue and I’ve seen years where you stay healthy and it’s not. It just depends.”

The same answer applied to Floyd’s expectations for this season. The first time he was at Chester, it took about four years for the program to really get going. But when he was at Greensboro (N.C.) Dudley, he had his team in the state title game within two years.

Schedule

Aug. 21 Lewisville

Aug. 28 at Fairfield Central

Sept. 4 at Rock Hill

Sept. 11 at York

Sept. 18 Lower Richland

Sept. 25 OPEN

Oct. 2 at Lancaster*

Oct. 9 South Pointe*

Oct. 16 Broome*

Oct. 23 at Clinton*

Oct. 31 Union County*

* Region 3-3A game

This story was originally published August 20, 2015 at 7:14 AM with the headline "High school football preview: Chester Cyclones."