The Hot Springs Trojans did not have an easy 2016 football season. The Trojans finished the 2016 season with a 3-7 record and missed out on a playoff appearance. Going into the 2017 the Trojans will have an experienced football team returning and could challenge for a playoff spot.
Hot Springs’ offense will have six starters returning for the 2017 season. The player to watch on the offensive side of the ball for the Trojans is running back Kenneth Byrd. Byrd rushed for almost 900 yards in 2016 and is looking to improve upon those numbers in 2017. The ground game should be punishing for the Trojans again this season and it should aide them in adding to the win total this season. If the Trojans can sustain drives and shorten the game then this will be a group that could even challenge for a playoff spot.
The Hot Springs’ defense will have six starters returning this season. The player that Trojans’ fans are going to want to keep an eye on this season is Nick Walker along the defensive front. Walker is very strong and has the quickness need to disrupt the opposing offensive backfield. The Trojans’ defense will need to find a way to force the opposing offense off the field whether it is by turnover or three and outs. I look for the Trojans’ defense to improve this season with experienced starters returning.
Hot Springs should improve the win total this season. Clinching a playoff spot may be another matter, but the win total should increase. The Trojans need to use the offense to sustain drives and shorten the games. The Trojans will be improved but it is a game by game process and I expect them to improve throughout the course of the season.