The toughest football players to replace from 2016

With a new season, a new group of football players has to step into starting positions left vacant by last year’s seniors. Once teams get past Week One, it’s not even a big deal anymore. Who’s on the roster is who’s on the roster, and no one that left is coming back.

But there is always a handful of players that are difficult to replace. The 2017 football season has no shortage of star departures. Here’s a list of the guys who will be missed the most this season.                    

Sherrod Greene, Artavious Richardson and others – Rocky Mount High

Pointing out only Greene and Richardson would be enough. The duo won the past two All-Area Defensive Players of the Year, and they anchored a unit that helped Rocky Mount High win a 3-A state title in 2015 and return to the title game last year. Greene, a linebacker, is now on the University of South Carolina football team. Richardson, a defensive end, will play for N.C. A&T.

But the Gryphons’ class of 2016 had many special pieces. Running back B.J. Sanders will play for Charleston Southern. K.K. Edwards provided playmaking ability at wide receiver and started at cornerback. David Keck anchored the offensive line, and Thomas Battle did the same for the defensive line. Linebacker Rod’Quon White became a tackling machine.

Rocky Mount High will have many holes to fill in 2017.