It's a new era for Carroll. Gone are mainstays such as Dodge at quarterback, running back Tre' Newton and receiver Blake Cantu.

They're gone to North Texas, Texas and Oregon, respectively. In their place are new names such as Kyle Padron, Tommy Avers and Ryan Walker.

Padron is the heir apparent at quarterback, while Avers tops the depth chart at running back. Both played last season when Dodge and Newton went down with injuries.

Walker is among a host of up-and-coming receivers, including Josh Rake, Ryan Blair and Chris Garvin, who will be trying to make names for themselves. Like Padron and Avers, they will also have to live up to the names of the past.

"Everybody's going to be judged," Padron said. "I'm going to be judged by Riley, Tommy's going to be judged by Tre'. We're a totally different team, and everybody has to adjust to it."

Padron completed 33 passes in seven games last season. At 6-4 and 215 pounds, he's a different type quarterback than the elusive Dodge.

"He's a big, strong guy in the pocket, but he's versatile enough to run the football with his strength and power," coach Hal Wasson said. "He's a very mentally tough kid. He knows it's his time now."

Southlake Carroll spring game: May 29, 7 p.m. at Dragon Stadium

McKinney Boyd was one of the best stories of the 2007 playoffs. The program reached the 4A Division I third round in its second year as a varsity program after going 0-10 in 2006.

Then Boyd was moved up to 5A in the February realignment and placed in a district with the big schools in Allen and Plano.

"I had a couple of people that called and offered to do our funeral for us," coach Don Drake said. "We've chosen to take the other attitude about it."

Boyd has one big reason to be optimistic: Quarterback Daryn Alves, Sportsday's 2007 All-Area newcomer of the year, will be a junior this fall. Alves led the area in rushing with 2,643 yards in 13 games.

Alves is slippery enough to evade 5A tacklers – he scored 32 rushing touchdowns last year. The question is whether his passing has improved enough to keep 5A defenses from keying on the run.

Drake said it's just a matter of Alves maturing into the position.

"I have no doubt he'll do a great job throwing the ball for us," Drake said. "Throwing the football is not just about the actual throwing. It's knowing when to throw and where to throw it. That just takes experience. There's no question about the physical aspect of it."

McKinney Boyd spring game: May 29, 7 p.m. at Boyd's auxiliary field

Rockwall-Heath could make some noise in its third varsity season. Heath won three of its last four games, including a 70-38 upset of playoff-bound Richardson Pearce, last season to finish 7-3.

Running back Kendial Lawrence averaged 9 yards per carry and appears to be a star in the making.

"I tell you, he's the real deal," said new coach Mickey Moss. "He's got a couple of gears on the football field. His change of direction, his instincts. There's going to be a lot of people knocking on his door before it's done."

Heath also returns quarterback Drew Hollingshead, son of former coach Tam Hollingshead. Moss said the younger Hollingshead (6-3, 185) is maturing into an excellent passer.

Moss came to Heath from South Garland, where he was 45-24 in six seasons, including last year's 10-2 team. He brought over his son, Austin, a Division I recruit at linebacker, to bolster the defense.

Austin Moss said he will miss his friends at South Garland but is excited about the opportunities at Heath.

"It's a different atmosphere here, but I like it," the younger Moss said. "We have the potential to be really good."

Rockwall-Heath spring game: May 29, 7 p.m. at Wilkerson- Sanders Stadium

Highland Park has shown a knack for finding good quarterbacks. This year's anointed successor is Luke Woodley, a strong-armed junior-to-be.

Woodley has been on the coaches' radar for a while. He quarterbacked Highland Park's junior varsity to a 10-0 record last season. A year ago, he quarterbacked one of the teams in the spring game as a freshman. Winston Gamso, who wound up starting on the varsity, quarterbacked the other side.

Highland Park coach Randy Allen likes the 6-2, 185-pound Woodley's arm strength and accuracy.

"I think he's developing as a runner, but his strength is certainly throwing a football," Allen said.

Woodley won't have much experience around him, but that's nothing new for Highland Park. The only returning starter on offense, center Chris Calandro, will miss spring practice because of shoulder surgery.

On the defensive side, defensive backs Matt Bonano and Jeff Howeth return, although Howeth will be moved to linebacker.

Highland Park spring game: May 22, 7 p.m. at Highlander Stadium

Ennis, one of the area's pioneers of the pass-happy spread offense, had to stick to the ground in 2007 when Deonte McDade took over at quarterback in mid-season.

McDade rushed for 1,721 yards and 22 touchdowns but passed for just two TDs in 11 games.

Coach Sam Harrell said McDade will be back at quarterback this fall but will split time with D.J. Betik, who's more of a drop-back passer in the Ennis tradition.

McDade will still play a lot – on both sides of the ball. He was originally a starter at cornerback, where depth is more of an issue this year.

Harrell said defenses eventually caught on to McDade's running.

"Last year, it got to the point where people would put so many in the box," Harrell said. "He'd get by one, and there'd be two or three others waiting for him."

Betik's passing will help get the ball to playmakers such as receiver Kyle Guinyard and multi-purpose back Jason Vavra.

Harrell said having two quarterbacks is a little different but it has its advantages.

"It's not two quarterbacks who do the same thing, and wondering which one is better," Harrell said. "There's no doubt Deonte is the better runner and D.J. the better passer. You just have to mesh those skills."

Ennis spring game: May 15, 6 p.m. at Lions Stadium

• Only Class 4A and 5A teams are permitted to conduct spring practices.

• Teams may conduct 18 practices within a 30-day period. The UIL does not set beginning or ending dates.

• Teams that forgo spring practices can start fall workouts a week earlier.

• Spring practice is the only time football equipment can be issued during the off-season.

• Other than spring practice, teams are not permitted to practice in the off-season except during one normal school period, or a maximum of 60 minutes, per day.

1: Swimmer/linebacker (Tim Moore) at Woodrow Wilson.

3: Jesuit players whose dads played in the NFL: C.J. Haley (father: Charles), Erick and Nick Tausch (father: Terry).

3: Positions played by Wylie's Noah Cheshier: RB, TE and inside receiver.

12: Dallas ISD schools holding spring practice, out of a possible 20.

37: Years of spring practices for coach Eddy Peach, all at Arlington Lamar.

370: Estimated number of players in Southlake Carroll's program, grades 9-12, including 55 seniors.

82: College recruiters who visited Arlington Bowie during last year's spring practice (they expect even more with QB Christian Matthews and FS Dexter Linton being top recruits).

1,500: Approximate number of "stadium steaks" (hot dogs) to be given away after Arlington Martin's spring game May 22.