DeKalb County 2021 Football Preview: DeKalb Barbs

DeKalb at a glance

Conference: DuPage Valley

Spring 2021 record: 1-2

2019 record: 6-4, 3-2

Coach: Derek Schneeman, first season

Meet the players

Keep an eye on: Toriano Tate, sr., WR/RB/OLB. His teammates refer to him as a game-changer, and the senior will try to live up to those expectations. Tate is a threat both running the football or catching passes, and he’ll add to the repertoire by playing on defense this year as well.

Also: Christian Lorenzo, sr., DL/TE; Gavin Engh, sr., C/DE; Marion Taylor, sr., S; Ethan Tierney, sr., CB/K; Aiden Sisson, jr. ILB; Talon Tate, soph., S/RB; Xavier Dandridge, soph., WR; Isaac Genske, sr., LB

DeKalb in photos

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DeKalb offensive linemen work on blocking technique Monday, Aug. 9, 2021, at the teams first official practice Monday afternoon at DeKalb High School. (Mark Busch - mbusch@shawmedia.com/Mark Busch - mbusch@shawmedia.co)

The Big Idea: Finding a starting quarterback

For at least the last seven years, the Barbs have been stable at quarterback. Three years of Derek Kyler, one year of Noah Valin, three years of Trenton Kyler. But in addition to the new coach, the Barbs need to figure out who is going to be under center of what they hope is a very powerful offense.

Juniors Josh Klemm and Adrian McVicar are battling in camp, and Schneeman said that will continue into Week 1. Klemm’s got the experience but McVicar has an exceptional arm. Here’s what the coaches and players say about the battle:

“Both are playing really well. I expect the competition to continue - I’ve had it in the past at Fieldcrest, where the competition has continued into Week 1. That’s not out of the question either. Josh and Adrian both bring their own strengths to the table, have their own areas of growth too, but both do a really great job. Both have taken command of our offense. I think whoever ends up winning the job to have a heck of a year for us, and I expect whoever is our backup is going to be on the field somewhere else because they’re too good of an athlete to keep off the field.”

—  Schneeman

“With Josh, it’s his athleticism. He’s a really good athlete. He has a good arm and he’s accurate. He’s been playing the position basically his entire life. He’s got a lot of experience and has taken command from Day 1. He gets guys lined up on the field. It’s a cliche but he’s another coach on the field. ... With Adrian, he’s a tremendous athlete and a gifted arm. He can throw a heck of a deep ball. We just switched him last year, so it’s been a learning curve in getting him up to speed. It’s been a struggle at times but since we’ve started camp he’s really taken the job, grabbed the bull by the horns and grown a lot. .... We’ll see come August 27 what we’re going to do.

—  Schneeman

“It’s most definitely a struggle, but I’m just going out there trying my best every day just trying to earn my spot play-by-play. ... Adrian is a really great quarterback and I’m just trying to earn my spot against him. We can still work together to better ourselves in the future.”

—  Klemm

“I’m just taking that day-by-day. Josh is a great quarterback. I’m just taking it day-by-day, competing, doing what I do.”

—  McVicar

What else they’re saying

* Center Gavin Engh on adjusting to Schneeman, who took over for Keith Snyder after serving as offensive coordinator last year:

“It’s been wonderful. He’s made it easy. It’s been smooth right into it. We’re looking good.”

* Linebacker Isaac Genske on how the defense is shaping up:

“We have a lot of strength on defense. Outside we’re really fast. Inside we’re really strong. Our hustle is always on as much as it can be. We’re really strong as far as I can see.”

* Schneeman on how the Barbs are approaching Year 3 in the DVC

“I think they know now what’s to be expected. The 8A competition you see in the DVC, the margin for error is so slim. Sometimes you can tell them and tell them and tell them in practice the littlest things make a world of difference, but you don’t always see it. So having a taste of experience in that conference, playing against that level of competition I think has made a world of difference in our guys.”

* Schneeman on the team’s offensive goals:

“The biggest thing on offense is we can’t be boom or bust. We have to continually put points on the board. We had stretches last year where we’d go on droughts, spells where it seemed like we couldn’t get things going. And that’s on me. So this year we’ve got to minimize those there and outs as much as possible.”

The schedule

All games at 7 p.m. unless noted; an asterisk indicates conference game

The lowdown

The Barbs will feature multiple two-way players this year as Schneeman tries to get his best athletes on the field as much as possible. Toriano Tate will also play at linebacker, Talon Tate will add time in the backfield to playing his regular spot at safety, and Christian Lorenzo will play tight end in addition to on the defensive line.

Ethan Tierney, a senior who’s been the kicker since his freshman year, will also play some cornerback. Schneeman said he asked for time on the field, and has impressed in the secondary. Schneeman also said Marion Taylor has looked good at corner, building off a strong track season. And Xavier Dandridge, who filled in due to injury as a freshman last year, will see more time at receiver.

For information

[ DeKalb begins new era under Derek Schneeman with summer practices ]

[ DeKalb wide receiver Toriano Tate may be adding defensive snaps this season ]

[ New coach, new position, new role for DeKalb senior lineman Christian Lorenzo ]