Photo by Travis Pratt Frederick's Mac Stephen, right, goes up against John Bukasa in a recent practice.

For starters, Division I prospect Forrest Mason transferred back to Frederick after playing his junior season at St. John’s.

And the Cadets also get back center Mac Stephen and quarterback Deon Walker — two standouts who missed action last year because of injuries.

All three players are part of a senior class full of experienced returnees, who hope to help the team bounce back from last year’s injury-marred 3-7 season.

“We have a great group of seniors,” Frederick coach Vince Ahearn said. “It’s a fairly large group for us, it’s (in the) low 20s.”

Mason is one of them. The defensive end-tight end played at Frederick two years ago before transferring to St. John’s, where he piled up tackles competing alongside big-time Division I recruit J.R. Ferguson.

“He’s back with us, and that helps,” Ahearn said of Mason. “It’s not basketball where you get one guy and it changes the whole team, but Forrest is an impact player who’s going to give us options.”

With Mason and returnees like hard-nosed linebacker Michael Brown, defense should be a strongpoint.

“We feel pretty comfortable with our linebackers, and we’ve got some rotations working with our D-line, and I think we’re solid in the secondary,” Ahearn said. “We’re going to lean heavily on defense this year, most likely.”

The Cadets will continue to run a Stack-33 defense, which utilizes their speed.

“Historically, we don’t have the size that some of the schools we play have, notably Linganore , Tuscarora, TJ,” Ahearn said. “So, we rely more on our speed.”

Not that the Cadets don’t have any capable players in the trenches. One of them is Stephen, an intelligent player who’s returning from a miniscus tear.

“He played about three games last year, so he’s looking forward to getting back,” Ahearn said.

Stephen had far too much company on Frederick ’s injury list last season. In the season-opener, the Cadets lost quarterback Deon Walker to a hip pointer injury.

Walker saw limited action at quarterback after returning and often was a wide receiver. He’ll be back at quarterback this season.

Ahearn said Stephen and Walker are both drawing interest from colleges, including Division I-AA teams. The injuries hindered Frederick ’s progress on both sides of the ball, forcing them to scramble and re-install schemes all season.

Thanks to all the hurt players and a lack of depth, younger players were pressed into duty, giving the Cadets plenty of experienced returnees this season. For instance, wide receiver Jalen Gee saw extensive action as a freshman last year. The experience accelerated his development and makes him a key returnee instead of an untested newcomer.

“A sophomore, and the guy’s already getting Division I looks,” Ahearn said.

Aside from Brown, Stephen Walker and Gee, other key returnees are defensive back Greg Ehabe and lineman John Bukasa.

Frederick could have five sophomores in its starting lineup. And like last year, Frederick isn’t blessed with depth. “We are thin and we’re probably looking at some two-way players this year, which is a little uncommon for us,” Ahearn said.

Frederick has a new offensive coordinator in Rob Plante and will continue to run a spread-gun.

“I think people will see some subtle changes in what we do,” Ahearn said. “But as far as our philosophy and our overall scheme, it’s not really any different.”

What is different is Frederick ’s league. For most of this decade, Frederick competed in a league full of 3A and 2A schools like Middletown and Walkersville . Now, it’s in the realigned MVAL Piedmont with 3A and 4A powers like TJ, Linganore , Urbana and Tuscarora.

“All of the kids are aware of the league, and the strength of our league. But I don’t think any of them are backing down,” Ahearn said. “These guys, I think they can’t wait for the challenge, and they know they’re going to be challenged week after week after week.”