Murray County

Head coach: Kurt Napier (first year here and overall)

Returning starters: 4 offensive; 5 defensive

Last year’s record: 1-9 overall, did not qualify for GHSA Class AAA playoffs

Key players: Aaron Flood (5-10, 185) Sr. RB/LB, Chase Jarvis (5-11, 170) Sr. RB/DB, Eli Hope (6-0, 275) Sr. OL/DL, Christopher Hernandez (5-11, 180) Sr. WR, Avery Stewart (5-11, 195) Sr. DL, Judah Woodall (6-2, 190) Jr. QB, Noah Densmore (5-9, 165) Sr. DB

Season outlook: The big news in Chatsworth is the start of a new coaching era with strong ties to the past. Former player Napier, son of late legendary Murray County coach Bill Napier, enters his first season with quite a hill to climb.

The Indians have moved down a classification, but competing in Region 7-AA — which includes returning playoff teams Rockmart, Haralson County, Fannin County and North Murray — will present numerous challenges.

“We landed in a very strong region,” Napier said. “One positive is that it only has seven teams as opposed to nine in the previous region (6-AAA).”

Napier believes the Indians are prepared physically to begin their rebuild with a strong group of linemen, most of whom will have to go both ways. Hope anchors the offensive line at center and is at tackle on defense. Stewart, Caleb Jones (6-2, 240), Elijah Kruse (6-3, 260) and freshman Blaine Tarvin will also be a part of the two-way rotations.

The offense will show multiple

The Murray County football program has a new head coach this season as Kurt Napier takes over at his alma mater. He is a son of the late Bill Napier, who as head coach of the Indians from 1991 to 2006 led them to multiple postseason appearances, and the brother of first-year University of Florida coach Billy Napier.

looks but try to do most of its damage on the ground, where Jarvis is expected to be the lead dog in the backfield, with help from Flood (who is also the top returning tackler at linebacker) and newcomer Kristopher McGinnis, while Woodall brings another strong runner at QB.