93.7 The Fan High School Football Preview 2016 Class 5A: McKeesport
McKeesport
Big East Conference
The legendary George Smith retired as the Tiger's coach in January after 31 seasons, 226 wins, 2 WPIAL and 2 PIAA titles and that means there is change in the air at McKeesport.
But the changes will probably be more subtle than drastic because the Tigers new head coach is Matt Miller, who was a long-time assistant to Smith at McKeesport and thus, learned from the master himself.
McKeesport will play 5-A this year and while the classification isn't quite as top heavy as 6-A, it is probably the deepest class in terms of quality teams.
And Miller will have some rebuilding to do as well because the Tigers return only ten starters but that doesn't mean the cupboard is completely bare.
The Tigers will continue to run the triple option offense and the trigger man will be 5-foot-9, 170-pound quarterback Jayvaun Shears, who is a Division I prospect at cornerback as well.
McKeesport's offensive line should also be strong as it is anchored by 6-foot-3, 295-pound guard Curtis Harper, a Syracuse recruit, and Youngstown State recruit, 6-foot-3, 225-pound tight end Antoine Cook.
The Tigers option, however, doesn't work without great running backs but fullbacks Ray Zellars and Davon Brown, have that covered as they are a great one-two punch and great combination of power and explosiveness.
Miller has some rebuilding to do on defense but the Tigers never seem to have a shortage of players on that side of the ball so there is no reason to believe this won't be yet another successful season at Weigle-Schaeffer Stadium.
That stadium, by the way, is also now appropriately named George L. Smith Field.