Published: May 14, 2008 10:46 am         

Kuhn says youth key to success for Durant

The word is out that Durant will be one of the teams to beat in Class 1A this season. While flattered, first year head coach Ashley Kuhn isn’t exactly sure where all of those expectations are coming from.

“We are going to be a lot younger than people realize,” Kuhn said. “We are going to start five eight or ninth graders.”

While Durant was huge across the offensive line last year, he said that won’t necessarily be the case in 2008

“We are going to be very small, but we have maybe one kid with good size,” he said. “We will be smaller than last year.”

The Tigers lost several key players to graduation and had others decide not to come out this season, but Kuhn said he wasn’t going to dwell on it. “We are moving on,’ he said.

Don’t feel too sorry for The Tigers, there are a few weapons returning.

One is sophomore running back Cortez Frizelle, who had a big season in 2008. Another is strong-armed Willie Davis, who was the back-up quarterback last year.

“We have four for five skill guys, receiver types,” Kuhn said “We are also pretty set on defense. We may not be big, but they will play hard and tough. We will be pretty athletic.”

Kuhn is not the only new face on the coaching staff. Jeremiah Braswell has come down from Clarksdale to serve as defensive.

The Tigers started the spring with 45 players, but were down to 37 or 38 as the final week of practice began. While Kuhn wasn’t hired until the second semester he said he has had a chance to become familiar with his players.

“I got to come in here early on the third of March and got two months in the weight room,” he said. “That really gave me a chance to get to know them.”

While Thursday’s spring jamboree at Weir won’t count in the standings, Kuhn said it would serve as a measuring stick.

“It will be important for us to see where we are and how we match up with the competition,” Kuhn said. “It is not a make or break thing. We have only been out three weeks.”

The Tigers open the 2008 season on the road against Edinburg, then follow that up with a match-up against arch-rival Williams-Sullivan — the Tigers only non-division game of the season.