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Presenting the 2018 Preseason All-TCN Football Team
AllCounty
Newton's junior jitterbug, Jerrol Hines, has added a bit of physicality to his ball-carrying style over the season. - photo by Sydney Chacon

Some may say it will lack some of the recruiting star power of previous years. We like to think of it as being chocked full of emerging stars that the high school football world will know well come November. 

Introducing The Covington News’ 2018 All-County preseason squad, compiled by our sports staff consisting of sports editor Gabriel Stovall and staff writers Tyler Williams and Matthew Grimes. 

Like last year, mark these names and let’s see how they all stack up when we put out the postseason list in December. 

All-TCN Preseason Offense

QB- Noah Cook – Jr. Eastside - The Eastside quarterback emerged as a surprise starter at the start of the 2017 season in a plan that sought to have him balance time with then-senior Brayden Harper. Cook went down in the Newton game, and plans changed. This year, it’s likely solely his offense to run.

RB- Adarius Thomas – Sr. Newton - The explosive, all-around back will likely be the workhorse after splitting carries with Nuru Tinch last year. His coming out party in last year’s playoff game at Parkview gives hope that he’s every-down-back material. 

RB- Taylor Carter – Sr. Eastside - Carter is a shifty back with great vision and the ability to gain tough yards between the tackles. With 607 yards and 7 TDs in 2017, he’s also the county’s leading returning rusher.

WR- Michael Mathison – Sr. Newton - Mathison maybe turned the most heads this offseason with a beastly weight room work ethic and stellar spring game performance that netted him several Division I offers.

WR - Robert Lewis — Jr. Newton - Only Mathison has more yards in the county as a returning wide receiver. 

WR- Davis Smith – Sr. Social Circle - His 6’5” frame, combined with quarterback Tate Peters’ huge arm, is sure to make defenses miserable all year on deep balls.

OL- Kendrick Carlton – Sr. Newton - He is Newton’s lone ranked prospect in the 247sports.comClass of 2019 ratings. He holds an offer from Louisville, and he’ll be expected to anchor the Rams’ O-line.

OL- Dustin Morgan – Sr. Eastside - The most experienced returner from 2017, Morgan will be expected to tutor a young corps of linemen this season. 

OL- Marcus Perdomo – Sr. Alcovy - The fact that Perdomo is one of two Tigers named preseason shows the dramatic improvement Alcovy’s made in the trenches in the last two years.

OL- Ken Sheats – Sr. Social Circle - At 6’3”, 367 pounds, Sheats will be the solidifying force behind what the Redskins hope will be a strong running game. 

OL- Gavin Fletcher – Sr. Alcovy - Though he plays both ways, on the offensive line, Fletcher’s presence was felt in 2017, leading to a first team all-region selection last year. 

K/P- Kade Mote – Sr. Eastside - Mote is a standout soccer player for the Eagles, but has proven capable to connecting on field goals from as far as 50 yards away.

K/P - Jose Ramos - Sr. Alcovy - The Alcovy placekicker was fairly efficient from the 35-40 yard field goal range last year. 

ATH- Andrae Robinson– Jr. Alcovy - He’s that old “slash” player we often refer to — an athlete that can virtually line up anywhere and make things happen on both sides of the ball.

Adrian Robinson
Don't be surprised if both the Robinson twins, Adrian and Andrae, find their way to the postseason All-TCN squad.

ATH- Jerrol Hines – Jr. Newton - The flashy junior plays primarily slot receiver but is sure to see some time in the return game where his open-field ball carrying skills can be put on display.

All-TCN Preseason Defense

DL- Jalen Banks – Sr. Alcovy - The highly touted recruit — as much for his academic success as what he can do on the football field —  is looking to bolster a potentially dominant Alcovy defense from the defensive end position.

DL- James Adams – Sr. Alcovy - Watch for a breakout year from Adams. According to coaches, his offseason work has helped establish him as a key cog in the defensive front seven.

DL- Tomarkus Woods – Sr. Eastside - We think the 6-foot-2 nose tackle can turn heads for the Eagles this year as they look for big bodies to replace the likes of Spurgeon Gaither and LaMarius Benson. 

DL- Alex Jackson – Sr. Newton - Though we haven’t seen much of him so far in his Newton career, his impressive size and field presence during the spring game warranted him a spot on this list, as his potential is very high. 

LB- Jamari Brundage – Sr. Eastside - He’s been described as the quarterback of the Eagles’ defense. 

LB- Cozbi Craig – Sr. Newton - One of only two front seven starters returning from last year, Craig’s experience is invaluable on a Newton defense filled with new faces. 

LB- Dalton Whitley -- Sr Eastside. With Whitley and Brundage, the Eagles may have top linebacking corps in the county.

LB- Demetrius Thrower – Sr. Alcovy - Thrower is a hard hitter with an ever-running motor.

DB- Jamari Brown – Sr. Eastside - Brown proved himself as a lock-down corner who came up with clutch plays on defense time and time again. 

DB- Bryson Wilcox – Sr. Alcovy - A clear leader, and perhaps the heart and soul of an Alcovy defensive secondary

DB- Dejuan Brown – Sr. Newton - A versatile, ball-hawking DB who pops out on tape, Brown is looking to shine during his senior year as one of the leaders on Newton’s defense. 

DB- Khalil Wilcox – Sr. Newton  - Though he spends his football offseasons training for baseball, Wilcox has been productive his whole football career at Newton, and had college scouts ogling his athletic ability during the spring session.