FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) – After a less than ideal 1-9 record last season, Franklin Knights quarterback Hunter Marstellar brings a lot to the table, while also having some nice weapons at his disposal. 

“His football acumen is above average,” head coach Matt Turk told exploreVenango.com. “He knows the game. He can improvise and he’s very nimble, so he can run and throw very well.”

Marstellar, standing at 6-foot and weighing 190 pounds, is entering his senior year after seeing playing time in all four years.

Turk describes him as a quarterback-slash-running back, which is becoming more and more common in football at all levels.

“He brings a lot of respect to the table,” Turk said. “This football team respects him. He’s played all four years, had playing time as a freshman, and through his senior year. He brings a lot of respect and grit to this program.”

Sure, it’s great to have that kind of skill set on any player, but to have it at the quarterback position is just an added bonus for Turk and the Knights.

“The quarterback needs to understand and recognize what everyone’s doing,” Turk explained. “So, him having that servant-leadership mentality, trying to help others, but still being good at his position, poises him to have a really big season this year.”

Need not forget that football is a team sport. And a quarterback is only as good as the players he’s surrounded by, which happens to be some very versatile players as well.

The wide receiver corps is led by junior Cole Buckley, who has also seen some time at the quarterback position in his three years with the team.

“Cole Buckley is poised to have a big year as well,” Turk said. “Cole is very versatile. And being a Franklin football team, you have to be versatile and you have to nimble.”

When asked what happened with the Cole Buckley quarterback experiment, Turk explained that it all came down to what player fit best in which position. And Marstellar fits better under center, with his IQ and dual threat, he’s a perfect fit at quarterback for this particular team. Buckley, on the other hand, seems to be a natural when it comes to running routes.

Still, injuries happen. Who knows, Buckley could find himself under center at some point in the season.

“Our injuries were as such that we needed him more at wide receiver than at quarterback. That’s where Hunter stepped in,” Turk said. “But, at any point, Cole Buckley can step in and be our quarterback and do extremely well.”

Regardless of whoever is at quarterback, one thing is for sure–they will have a 6-foot-5, 285-pound target in Drew Wilkinson–who enters his senior season.

“Drew Wilkinson is our premier and really outstanding tight end and defensive end,” Turk said. “He’s got a couple Division I looks, and several Division II schools looking at him.”

Senior Jonah Heckathorne and junior Caden Beatty will share time in the backfield.

On the other side of the ball, Buckley and senior Matthew Wimer headline the secondary while 6-foot-6, 280-pound senior Jordan Domres leads the defensive line.

At linebacker, Gabe Wright is a player to keep an eye on as he enters his junior season.

The Knights will open the season on Friday, August 26, at Titusville.