Excelsior Springs will have a new coach leading the way this year in Jake Danneman.

The former defensive coordinator at Kearney makes the short move over to a conference rival in the Suburban Conference Blue Division after helping the Bulldogs win a state title last year.

Now, Danneman inherits a program that is coming off a 1-9 record in 2023 — including losing the first eight to open the season.

He’s a defensive-minded coach — 18 of his 23 years have been as a defensive coordinator — who has also had stops at Liberty North and Oak Park in recent years.

Last year, the Tigers gave up 38 points per game — a stat that will need to be cut if they want to compete in the Suburban Conference. In the two years back in the league after leaving the Missouri River Valley Conference, Excelsior Springs is giving up an average of 35 points per game and scoring 19 points per game.

The Tigers head into this year with seven starters back on both sides of the ball.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing our kids compete. Everything is new on both sides of the ball and special teams,” Danneman said. “I’m looking to see our kids grow from week to week. I think this team has a very high ceiling and the sooner we get there the more we are going to be a problem for other teams.”

The offensive unit will return four skill players as well as quarterback Marquez McCants (6-1, 165) who played in only two games last year before an injury ended his season prematurely.

In the backfield is junior Gage Carr (5-8, 155) and senior Dawson Claypole (6-0, 175), who was a second-team all-conference pick last year. At wide receiver, the Tigers return senior Jayden James (6-2, 160) and senior Carson Gholson (5-10, 165), who is also a soccer player in the fall. 

Senior Branton Cashatt (5-9, 210) will be a hybrid tight end/fullback in the offense. Excelsior Springs lost a pair of all-conference tight ends to gradation in Rhys Guthrie and Jacob Bright. 

The offensive line will return only two starters: senior Justin Wright (6-2, 280) and senior Hayden Christiansen (6-2, 260). Wright was one of only two Tigers to earn first-team all-conference honors last year and is the only one returning this fall. 

Both of those returners are offensive guards.

Three seniors will fill out the line. Senior Cooper Bishop (6-1, 285) is the likely center to enter the season, while Anthony Circo (5-11, 240) and Riley Llewellyn (6-4, 265) will be projected tackles.

The strength of the defense will be Wright, who was a third-team all-state pick last year by the coaches association. He had 19 tackles, 6 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 1 recovered fumble from his defensive tackle spot.

Four of the seven starters back will be at linebacker: Claypole, Cashatt, senior Dominick Rogers (5-11, 195) and junior Cameron Wansing (6-0, 175). Rogers will be an edge who will line up at defensive end or linebacker. 

In the secondary, senior Jason James (6-2, 170) and Gholson return at cornerback. Gholson earned all-conference accolades for his play there last season. 

There are four projected seniors to fill the other spots on the defense: defensive ends Kamryn Painter (6-1, 200) and Hunter Scoma (6-11, 220), free safety Kota Triplett (6-1, 175) and strong safety Wyett Shipman (5-9, 155).

“The main expectation is to be competitive in every game with a shot to win at the end,” Danneman said. 

The schedule is tough for the Tigers but they will likely get bonus district points right away with four games against teams that were in Class 5 last year: Belton, Minnetonka, North Kansas City and Raytown.

Highway 92 rivals Smithville and Kearney are also on the slate, as well as a late showdown at St. Joseph Central.

The lone win last year was against Kansas City Ruskin, who isn’t on the schedule this year — replaced by NKC. 

The Tigers will have five home games and will look to pick up a win at home for the first time since Oct. 28, 2022. 

However, some of these seniors were around when the program went 7-3 in 2021 and lost in the district finals to eventual state champion Smithville. 

“ Over this summer we have spent an abundance of time getting faster,” said Danneman, who also has experience coaching track and field “In the Suburban Blue, speed always wins. We have seen a dramatic increase in our overall team speed and the ability to capitalize on it.”