Despite loss of lettermen, Hurricanes expected to roll

By David Hinojosa STAFF WRITER

Edward A. Ornelas / San Antonio Express-News

Sam Houston’s Jawon Anderson catches a pass for a touchdown over Southside in 2015. Anderson will be back to lead the Hurricane’s offensive charge.

Sam Houston Hurricanes

Coach: Melton Schultz

2015 record: 10-1 overall, 8-0 district

Returning starters: 2 offense, 2 defense

Top returners: WR Jawon Anderson, DE Garland Coleman, LB Josh Harris

Top newcomer: LB Maverick Gurisko

The skinny: The Hurricanes may have lost most of the contributors to a team that went undefeated during the regular season, but most of the district’s coaches still tab them as the team to beat.

Sam Houston might have its third head coach in as many years and return just four starters from last season, but the consensus among District 28-5A coaches is the Hurricanes will be the team to beat.

Melton Schultz takes over the helm a season after Patrick Brown guided the Hurricanes to a 10-1 season in 2015. Schultz, a longtime assistant at Sam Houston, was named head coach after Brown left to coach at Los Fresnos.

Sam Houston is 18-4 over the last two seasons. It remains to be seen if the Hurricanes can come close to replicating that success. While it may be difficult, district coaches believe the Hurricanes possess enough athleticism across the board that makes the difficult to match up against.

Leading the way for the Hurricanes will be senior receiver Jawon Anderson. The speedy senior has breakaway speed and is capable of breaking free to score any time he has the football. He had 31 receptions for 787 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2015.

Junior Garland Coleman emerged as a big-time pass rusher last season. Linebacker Josh Harris is also a key returnee.