WHEELING — Youth was served at Wheeling Central last season.

Hall of Fame Coach Mike Young had never guided a team so steeped in inexperience during his illustrious five-decade career as he did last year with the Maroon Knights.

The 2023 Central grid squad featured a roster of 46 players. Of that number, 32 were either freshmen or sophomores. Young’s charges still managed to go 5-5 against a Knightmare of a schedule.

Fast forward to this season.

Central is a year older and much more experienced. With that said, the Knights are still a relatively youthful team, as reflected in the fact only five seniors dot the Knights’ roster.

“I was proud of how we competed last year. We were extremely young but we kept battling,” Young said. “We kept improving as the year went on and were able to get to 5-5.

“Now we are a year older and much stronger. The boys have worked hard in the offseason,” he added. “Our numbers are solid. We are excited to see what the new season brings.”

Coach Mike Young on the upcoming season

Central has 45 gridders primed to tackle the new season.

The Maroon Knights’ offense will be fueled by an explosive and veteran backfield.

Seth Cover (6-0, 175) returns at starting quarterback. He is poised to build on a solid junior campaign.

Cover, who possesses a strong and accurate arm, has a superb backup in Nico Kusic (6-3, 185). The athletic sophomore saw valuable varsity snaps last year.

Young is also high on sophomore Brady Ernest (5-11, 185). Freshman Zach Hanson (5-10, 150) is also in the QB room.

“Quarterback is a definite position of strength for us,” Young said. “Seth is coming off a solid year and we also have a lot of confidence in Nico.”

While quarterback is a position of strength, there may not be a pair of better running backs in the OVAC than the one suiting up in Maroon.

Senior Braden McWreath (6-2, 190) and junior Isaac Martin (6-1, 215) both return as starters and complement each other ideally.

McWreath distinguished himself as one of the state’s premier sprinters last spring in Charleston. He possesses the ability to break a long run every time he totes the leather.

Martin, meanwhile, is a powerful and punishing rusher. He is also a reigning state wrestling champion.

“Braden and Isaac are a dynamic 1-2 punch,” Young said. “And we also have quality depth behind them.

That depth is provided by talented junior lettermen Joey Hall (5-8, 155) and Kade Koroneos (5-10, 170).

Additional running backs are sophomores Dustin Sanner (6-1, 190) and Wyatt Brady (5-10, 175), along with freshmen Rob Sforza (5-6, 175), Phillip Zapp (5-8, 155), Luca Benson (5-5, 155) and Nate McMullin (5-4, 150).

Tight end is another position of strength for Central as three Knights are capable of yeoman’s duty. They are senior Von Crall (6-2, 195), junior Troy Mortakis (6-3, 200) and junior Maddox Stillion (6-1, 190) All three can be used was an H-Back when the Maroon offense dictates.

Sophomore Will Wear (5-10, 140) is also in the tight end mix.

The wide receiving corp is headlined by junior Max Olejasz (6-6, 180). The Knight hoop standout provides Cover with an elongated and athletic target. Olejasz will be joined in the regular receiving rotation by Hall and juniors Caleb Golden (6-1, 175) and Paul Stecker (5-6, 120).

Additional wideout help comes in the form of sophomores Levi Rine (5-6, 120), hoop ace Luke Sancomb (5-5, 105), Joey Jerrome (6-0, 185) and Eli Czapp (5-5, 130) as well as frosh Graham Stecker (5-6, 120), Sam Hemmerling (5-9, 160), Keaton Birdsong (5-8, 135) and Alex Miller (5-2, 120).

A year of maturation will definitely yield bulkier and stronger dividends in the Maroon trenches.

Central boasts two outstanding offensive tackles. Luke Wear (6-6, 280) returns as a starter. The powerful junior has a high ceiling. He is joined at the other tackle by rugged senior Hunter Kerr (6-0, 235).

Two promising sophomores will spell Wear and Kerr when needed. They are Dominic Asbury (5-10, 250) and Trent Lander (6-2, 250).

The starting guards will be senior Zeke Burkle (5-10, 200) and junior Carver Bolin (5-7, 200).

Rising sophomore Olen Ames (5-11, 205) will anchor the O-line at center.

Additional line depth will be produced by juniors Sheldon Raab (5-10, 210), Brennan Maloney (5-9, 220), Owen Rohrig (5-9, 160), sophomore Seth Wodusky (6-1,190), and freshmen Rocco Jerrome (5-9, 185) and Will Morris (6-1, 165).

“I like what we have up front this year,” Young offered. “It is a much more seasoned group with some good depth. They have worked hard in the weight room.”

Defensively, Central will employ a 4-4 look.

Krall, Mortakis and Martin will all split duty at the ends. They should be a menacing trio.

The Knights will rotate several performers at tackle, including Asbury, Bolon, Lander, Jerrome, Burkle, Ames and Luke Wear.

Krall may see time at outside linebacker. If so, the other spot will be manned by Koroneos. Olejasz is also ticketed for OLB duty.

Brady and Sanner are the frontrunners for the starting two inside linebacking posts. Ernest and Burkle are also pushing for playing time.

Hall will start at one cornerback. He will likely be joined by Golden.

Kusic and Sancomb will patrol the deep zones at safety.

McWreath and Will Wear supply quality depth in the secondary.

Sophomore Clayton Petry (5-8, 155) will take over the kicking duties for the Knights. Freshman Jackson Bell (5-10, 155) is an additional kicking option.

Central will launch its challenging Class AA schedule Aug. 30, traveling to Linside, W.V. to face a quality James Monroe squad. The Knights welcome back three OVAC teams to their schedule in Fort Frye, Steubenville Catholic Central and Toronto.

Young took over the head Maroon Knight grid reins in 2005. In the ensuing two decades, he has authored an amazing resume of success. He has guided the Knights to eight WVSSAC championships to go with countless OVAC crowns.

He is surrounded by an outstanding and veteran staff. Young’s aides are: offensive coordinator Jason Rine, defensive coordinator Shannon Kuchinski, Mario DiBias, Phil Pest, Jim Wolfe, John Tankovits, Dylan Baker and Curtis McGhee.