Despite a coaching change in the offseason at Kaneland, there’s definitely a sense of familiarity on the practice field.
And there should be.
Senior quarterback Troyer Carlson, for one, is back for a fourth season of leading the offense for the Knights, who are No. 9 in the Beacon-News/Courier-News preseason rankings.
While Pat Ryan has departed for a new teaching position at Bartlett, the message is much the same, with defensive coordinator Mike Thorgesen moving up to head coach but still directing the defense.
And Ryan Gierke, Thorgesen’s high school teammate at Kaneland when both played for Thorgesen’s dad, Joe, continues as the team’s offensive coordinator.
That all sounds good to the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Carlson.
“I feel like the jump I could make this year is going to be a lot bigger than even last year,” Carlson said. “Everything, even in practice, is so much slower. And they’ve given me kind of free reign with the offense.”
Carlson was promoted to varsity for the second game of his freshman season, which was played in the spring and shortened to six games due to the pandemic.
“After that first season, I don’t know if Troyer was liking me too much because I was tough on him,” Gierke said. “He has since told me, ‘I got a heckuva lot better.'”
Carlson threw for 2,790 yards with 36 touchdowns and seven interceptions as a sophomore and for 2,719 yards and 23 TDs with seven interceptions last season, leading the Knights to the playoffs with records of 5-5 and 7-4, respectively.
He’s completed 62% of his passes.
The numbers should again be good with senior receivers Aric Johnson and Dominick DeBlasio back to lead a talented crew.
Both have been consistent. More of a big-play threat, Johnson has 81 receptions for 1,579 yards the last two seasons. DeBlasio has 91 catches for 1,152 yards in the same span.
“They kid me about it, but I think my speed is underrated,” said DeBlasio, whose twin brother Tony starts in the secondary. “I’ve never been hawked — caught from behind.”
Johnson, who also plays on defense and handles returns, played varsity as a freshman but mostly at running back before settling in at receiver.
“All three of us have gotten better as a group,” Johnson said. “Troyer has taken the next step every year.”
Familiarity helps.
“To have that connection — I know what he’s thinking and he knows what I’m thinking — makes things so much easier, so much quicker,” said Carlson, who has the freedom to change plays.
The three of them use hand signals at the line of scrimmage but sometimes figure things out with just a look.
“If the call doesn’t look good, he’s supposed to get out of it,” Gierke said. “As smart as we coaches are, mistakes sometimes need to be fixed.”
The Knights have 11 starters returning, six who often play both ways.
“I think this is the best team I’ve ever played on here,” Carlson said. “We have so much experience. Our talent, skill-wise, is very good and we’re getting bigger up front. I think we’re going to do something really special.”
It will start with Carlson, a hard worker who wants to play at the next level. He currently has only one NCAA Division II offer but has been getting more interest.
Thorgesen believes in him.
“A 6-2 kid with a rocket of an arm,” Thorgesen said. “I think he can make it somewhere. I really do. He can make the throws and whatever ‘it’ is, he’s got it. I think he can play Division I or II.”
Carlson is confident he can prove himself.
“I know how good I am, how good I can be,” he said. “I’m bigger, stronger, faster and smarter. In the film room, in the weight room and on the field, I’ve taken a lot of steps to be the best I can be.”
Quick Facts
Team: Kaneland.
2022 record: 7-4.
Offensive leaders: Nick Alstott, senior, offensive line; Troyer Carlson, senior, quarterback; Aric Johnson, senior, wide receiver; Brett Larson, senior, offensive line.
Defensive leaders: Sebastian Chavez, senior, linebacker; Tony DeBlasio, senior, defensive back; Robert Warfel, junior, defensive line; Damian Wilson, senior, linebacker.
X-factor: Josh Mauthe, senior, running back/defensive line.
