TONTOGANY — In coach Josh Lindke’s second year at the helm, Otsego has a 60-man roster, but more importantly the Knights return everyone from their skilled positions.

“We don’t have a ton of depth,” Lindke said. “Our top end is down pretty good, but our depth is lacking. So, we have a lot of numbers, we just need to bring our depth along a little bit.”

Overall, Otsego returns eight players on offense including seven on defense, and even more importantly, they return every starter from their skilled position plus three of five offensive linemen.

“Blake Steele, a senior, started at running back, but then we started to work in Jordyn Lee-Barnett, a sophomore last year, so the last five games he was taking most of the reps to end the year.

“Jordyn Lee-Barnett will be our No. 1 back and Devin Farley is back at quarterback,” Lindke said. “Owen Atkinson and Jack Simpson, Tyler Michael, Kenton Wallace, and Jake Limes are back at receiver.”

Last year, Farley completed 150 of 230 passes (65%) for 1,741 yards and 14 touchdowns with just three interceptions. He had a quarterback rating of 145.5. He also had 79 carries for 439 yards and seven TDs.

Lindke said Farley, at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, has improved his game.

“He’s made a huge leap again going into his senior year,” Lindke said. “As long as he stays healthy, he is going to be pretty electric, and he has a chance to be pretty good.”

Meanwhile, Lee-Barnett, now a 5-8, 170-pound junior, got 27 carries for 201 yards and a TD and Tyler Micheal, now a 6-0, 160-pound senior, had 27 carries for 95 yards and three TDs.

Farley and his receivers have already created that built-in trust from last year. Route-running will likely not be an issue.

“We go about eight deep in receivers that return from last year,” Lindke said. “We feel pretty good offensively with what we return. We’re excited.

“We’re miles ahead of where we were last year, putting in a new system, because our kids are now in year two and familiar with how we want to do things offensively.

“At the receiver position and the quarterback, we return 90% of the production from last year. We feel really excited about the offense.”

Simpson, a 6-3, 200-pound senior, caught 44 passes for 728 yards and seven TDs and Wallace, a 5-6, 130-pound senior speedster, caught 31 passes for 385 yards and two TDs.

Atkinson, a 6-0, 175-pound senior, caught 15 passes for 181 yards and one TD, Limes, a 5-7, 160-pound junior, had 21 receptions for 127 yards, and Michael had 10 catches for 44 yards and two scores.

The three returning offensive linemen are 6-1, 220-pound senior Ty O’Brien, 6-2, 240-pound senior Jaxon Jeremy, and junior Jack Rowland, who Lindke says goes about 6-0 and 250 to 260 pounds.

The defense is an area that Lindke has concerns about as far as depth and experience.

“Defense has to kind of come along,” Lindke said. “We still have to replace three linebackers, a guy up front, and a starting corner. That’s a work in progress.”

Returning are O’Brien (31 tackles last year) at nose guard, Jeremy (21 tackles, one sack) at defensive end, Michael (44 tackles, two interceptions, one fumble recovery, one defensive TD) and Simpson (32 tackles) at defensive back.

Also returning to the defensive backfield are two guys who combined for seven interceptions last year — Farley (46 tackles, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries) in the defensive backfield, and one of the cornerbacks in Atkinson (48 tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, two defensive TDs).

Lindke got a good preview of what was to come when his team scrimmaged Defiance and won, 7-0, even though starters only played the first half. He’s looking forward to the season opener at Bowling Green.

“It should be a good one all the way across the board,” Lindke said. “A lot is going on that night — the (national) tractor pull going on (at the Wood County Fairgrounds) and our game, so it will be fun over there.”

OTSEGO

Aug. 18 @ Bowling Green

Aug. 25 TINORA

Sept. 1 @ Liberty Center

Sept. 8 ROSSFORD

Sept. 15 @ Fostoria

Sept. 22 GENOA

Sept. 29 @ Oak Harbor

Oct. 6 EASTWOOD

Oct. 13 @ Lake

Oct. 20 MAUMEE

OTSEGO SCHEDULE

Aug. 18 @ Bowling Green

Aug. 25 TINORA

Sept. 1 @ Liberty Center

Sept. 8 ROSSFORD

Sept. 15 @ Fostoria

Sept. 22 GENOA

Sept. 29 @ Oak Harbor

Oct. 6 EASTWOOD

Oct. 13 @ Lake

Oct. 20 MAUMEE