Kokomo’s football team rushed for 2,963 yards (247 per game) and 40 touchdowns in posting a 9-3 record last season.
Nearly all of that production has to be replaced following heavy graduation losses.
The new-look backfield has senior Keemarion Pollard (6-foot-1, 175 pounds) at quarterback, juniors Brixton Morris (6-2, 190) and Baris Moore (6-1, 185) at wingbacks and sophomore Miles Cunningham (6-0, 205) at fullback. Sophomore Hagen Smith (6-0, 190) is another option at QB.
Pollard rushed for 283 yards and four touchdowns last season, Morris is moving to offense from defense and Moore is new to the Kats. He previously played at Taylor in 2022.
Kokomo coach Austin Colby is excited about the group’s potential.
“For the first time in a long time, we have four guys back there who can run the ball. At most, we’ve really only ever had three,” Colby said. “They complement each other, they’re all good athletes and they’re good football players. I’m looking for a big year from all four positions, and to have three of the four back [in 2025] is great.”
Kokomo does have good experience along its offensive line. Right end Andrew Barker (6-5, 235) and right tackle Chance Duncan (6-2, 250) are three-year starters and left guard Karsen Huffman (6-2, 205) and left end J.J. Gillespie (6-1, 205) are two-year starters. All four are seniors.
Barker, who is an Indiana recruit, caught 23 passes for 324 yards and four touchdowns last season.
The offensive line also has senior Edgar Jones (6-1, 235) at center, junior Ryan Gilliam (6-3, 270) at left tackle and sophomore Semaj May (5-7, 215) at right guard.
“We do have three new starters in there, but having the older guys helps a lot. That group was up and running faster than any other group this year,” Colby said.
Defensively, the trio of Barker, Duncan and junior Marcus Noy (5-11, 225) will anchor the three-man front. Noy is shifting to defense after manning an offensive line spot last season.
“They were the right side of our offensive line last year. They’re good friends and have good chemistry,” Colby said.
D-line depth comes from senior Matthew Foutch (6-2, 230) and sophomore Bryce Brassard (5-10, 200).
Senior Khairi Floyd (5-11, 200) returns to middle linebacker after leading the Kats in tackles last season with 55. He also had 8.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
Senior Logan Dockemeyer (5-11, 190) is the other inside linebacker. He worked on offense last season. Senior Elijah Moore (6-1, 200) is one outside linebacker and senior Jayden Foreman (6-0, 190) and sophomore Stacy Rund (5-9, 185) are vying for the other outside position.
In the secondary, Pollard and senior Buddy Love (5-9, 160) are returning starters at the safety positions. Pollard ranked No. 4 on the team in tackles in 2023 with 44. With Pollard also at QB, junior Marcus Houston (5-8, 150) and sophomore Ben Carey (5-10, 175) can fill in for him on defense as needed.
The cornerback options are juniors Jeremiah Young (5-9, 150), Brandon Humphries (5-8, 150) and Malachi Harper (5-6, 140).
“[The defense] had an unbelievable summer,” Colby said. “We have a lot of experience back up front, not necessarily in the positions that they played last year, but a lot of varsity game-time experience in the box. That should lead to us playing well against the other team’s run. Our philosophy is to shut down the other team’s run and make them throw the ball to beat us.”
The special teams look to be a strength. Barker is the punter, junior Adrian Reyes (6-2, 190) is the kicker and Gillespie is the snapper. Barker and Reyes excelled in their roles last season — Barker averaged 39.1 yards per punt and Reyes converted 35 of 41 PAT attempts and all four of his field-goal attempts.
“Adrian had a good offseason. He went to some Kohl’s Kicking Camps and made a name for himself. He’s going to be a good, big leg for us,” Colby said.
Kokomo faces a daunting schedule. The Kats open with non-conference games against Class 5A powers New Palestine and Whiteland. Following five weeks of North Central Conference games, the Kats will close with non-conference games against former NCC rivals McCutcheon and Harrison. Harrison is now a Class 6A school.
Colby expects a competitive NCC race. The conference is down to six teams, down from 10 two years ago. Kokomo is joined in the league by Anderson, Lafayette Jeff, Marion, Muncie Central and Richmond.
“In the NCC, I think this is the least amount of coaching turnover it’s had in a long time. The only new coach is at Richmond. All the other coaches are back and that leads to better football and better programs,” Colby said.
“It’s definitely one of our tougher schedules top to bottom so we’re going to have ready to go every single week.”
After two years in Class 4A, which included a 2022 Final Four appearance, Kokomo is back in Class 5A. The Kats are joined in Sectional 12 by familiar foes Lafayette Jeff and McCutcheon and unfamiliar foe South Bend Riley.
One advantage to the return to 5A for the Kats is they’ll have a bye week the first week of the tournament. The sectionals in the top two classes are four teams, which means just two rounds instead of the usual three.
