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STAR CORRESPONDENT

Hampton football head coach Michael Lunsford has had the luxury over the last three to four years of having a plethora of talent at the skill positions for the Bulldog football team.

However, with the departure of players like Dylan Trivett, Chance Point, Elijah McKinney, Geno Carrico, and J.J. McElyea to graduation, Lunsford and his coaching staff have been spending the spring football workouts trying to take the pieces they have and formulate and educate a new set of players to step into those roles.

The Bulldogs do have some weapons to work with as fleet-footed Dominique Burleson returns to the Bulldog backfield. Burleson was a handful for opposing defenses last season and looks to finish his career at Hampton with a bang.

A pair of juniors that Lunsford will be looking to help carry the offense are Peyton Townsend and Maddux Wilson.

“Peyton is a kid that we will be relying heavily on at different positions, while Maddux has really been a surprise and I am really proud of him,” said Lunsford. “In the past, he was kind of immature and didn’t really work hard, but over the last few months, he has worked really hard and will be moving into the quarterback role.

“He is not shy as he has accepted the role and really likes the position.”

In 7-on-7 play, Lunsford said Maddux has really thrown some good balls, and although they weren’t all caught, the ball was where it needed to be.

If there is going to be a strength for the Bulldogs this season, it will come on the offensive and defensive lines, as Lunsford lost only three players from the line positions but has some depth built there ready to step in.

Some names mentioned by Lunsford were sophomore Dylan Campbell, who played only two games as an eighth grader after an injury but played in five or six varsity games last season; Aidan Lambert; Thunder Fletcher; Jayden Kuhn; Aidan Lambert; and Ayden Leach.

In an effort to develop the skill positions, Lunsford has had his team involved in more 7-on-7 competitions this spring.

“We have done more 7-on-7 this year because we need Maddux to feel comfortable throwing the football,” said Lunsford.