Preseason X Factors: Lausanne Football

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lausanne had a strong football season last year, but could not push through consistently to win some of the shootouts against the top teams on their schedule, eventually finishing with an 8-4 record.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lynx featured some standout seniors last season, but past those veteran leaders, the team was still a young one. With everyone gaining a year of experience, this could be a program that could surprise people this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If Lausanne wants to start winning more of those one-possession games against high-profile opponents, these five players will be key leaders for the program this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2028 QB [player_tooltip player_id='1037302' first='Thomas' last='Heffner']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With standout quarterback TJ Jenkins graduating from the program, there was a big hole at the position entering the offseason, but that spot was quickly filled as standout quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1037302' first='Thomas' last='Heffner'] returned to Lausanne to finish his high school career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heffner is an exciting dual-threat quarterback that can truly carve defenses up with both his arm and legs. While he can win with his rushing ability, he looks to throw first and has the arm talent to hit explosive plays for the offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His talent is beginning to attract recruiting interest from strong college programs this offseason including Arizona State, Liberty, Memphis and Tulane.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 WR/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1556594' first='Lawrence' last='Britt']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1556594' first='Lawrence' last='Britt'] is a blue-chip athlete that can make plays happen from a variety of positions and alignments, projecting best at the receiver position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He accounted for over 1,000 all-purpose yards last season as the team looked to get him touches in creative ways. While he will still get rushes, the Missouri commit should see much more of a full-time role at the receiver position this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Britt and [player_tooltip player_id='2220116' first='Kam' last='Davis'] will provide a level of explosive playmaking ability in the passing game for Heffner that will be tough to match inside the state of Tennessee.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 LB/RB [player_tooltip player_id='506678' first='Keon' last='Cooper']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lausanne will maintain a rotation at running back again this season, but rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='506678' first='Keon' last='Cooper'] will be the leader of the room this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 5-foot-10 and 230 pounds, he is difficult to bring down as he keeps churning his legs and picks up tough yards between the tackles. He averaged over six yards per carry last season, a number that suggests that transition to full-time starter should go well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He will also be the leader of the defense from his middle linebacker position, leading a talented, but young defense. He was a tackle machine during his junior season and will be an anchor on both sides of the ball during his senior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 OL/DL [player_tooltip player_id='1292758' first='Landon' last='Gunn']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When it comes to the line of scrimmage, rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1292758' first='Landon' last='Gunn'] will be the leader of the group after a strong season last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He led the team in sacks last season from the interior of the defensive line in addition to being among the team leaders in tackles and tackles for loss. He will anchor the defensive line, forming a nice 1-2 punch up the middle with Cooper cleaning up plays behind him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He should make an impact on the line of scrimmage on both sides of the football as Lausanne keeps building depth up front.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 CB [player_tooltip player_id='1617242' first='Kaleb' last='White']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lausanne returns their top cornerback from last season as [player_tooltip player_id='1617242' first='Kaleb' last='White'] will lead the secondary in his senior season with a larger responsibility.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He covered the opponent's top receivers each week last season and will have the same task with this year. At six-foot, he has both the length and athleticism to shadow a variety of receiver types, which will be helpful as the team faces a strong slate of offenses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If he can limit the top receiving option in the toughest games on the schedule, that will go a long way to leaving those games with a victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->