By STEVE WILAJ

sports@vindy.com

SEBRING

Entering his fifth season, Sebring head coach Scott Springer realizes it may be a “long haul” in turning around the program. But Springer says the process will be worth the wait.

“It’s changing down here,” said Springer, who is 11-29, including 3-7 last season. “So far I’ve liked what I’ve seen in our attitude.

“I think they know what my expectations are now. If they want to play, they have to commit and they’re doing that.”

Offense

The Trojans lost their top offensive weapons from 2013: quarterback Jerry Billingsley and running back Dylan Mick. Ty Breedlove-Wilson, a junior, and sophomore Robby Rouse will play quarterback while sophomore Nate Martin and senior Diamante McMullen will be the tailbacks. A returning backfield starter is senior fullback Cody Dennis.

Springer said Sebring is “five to six wide receivers deep” and that sophomore center Dalton Smith is expected to anchor a senior-laden offensive line.

“The [new quarterbacks and running backs] have been watching since they were younger and it’s their turn to do something,” Dennis said. “Overall, we’re not just going to do one thing this year. We want to dominate the entire field.”

Defense

The Trojans will be led by senior middle linebacker Nick Ryan. The linebackers could be the core as Alex Wheeler, Martin and Jarrod Hunter also return.

Most of the defensive line also returns.

“Being the leader, I push them and I feel like we’re going to be pretty good this year,” Ryan said. “I think the mindset on defense is really just thinking about the whole unit and how we can all work to become better.”

Special Teams

While junior Josh Zmuda returns as a kicker from last season, he’ll have some help in senior Kayla Hubbs. Springer expects Zmuda and Hubbs to share the extra point and kickoff duties.

Punts and kick returns will be handled by Martin and McMullen.

Outlook

Springer wants to see his team finish games, and with perhaps the deepest and most talented group he has had with the Trojans, he thinks that can happen.

“We were, at times, pretty solid for three quarters, but we ran out of gas or just got beat down in the fourth quarter,” he said.

If the Trojans, who open the season at home against Windham before heading to Southington in Week 2, can figure out how to do so, Springer believes Sebring can surprise some people.

“We have to play 48 minutes, take no plays off and finish what we start,” he said. “If we do that, we should be OK.”