Looking up and down the list of returning talent on the Lawrence High football team, your eyes dart to two names almost immediately.

Jeff Colter and Ian Handshy.

Ian Handshy rushed for 522 yards as a junior last season, but he might be a better college prospect at linebacker.

Both are proven talents on both sides of the field — Handshy a linebacker, Colter a cornerback on defense, both running backs on offense.

Their presence and leadership may be enough to scrap the notion that 2004 might be a rebuilding year for the Lions, even though they lost eight starters.

“Those two are tremendous leaders,” LHS coach Dirk Wedd said of his high-profile seniors. “They understand what it is to be a Lawrence High kid, and they know their responsibilities. We expect big things out of them.”

Colter returns after leading the run-happy Lions in rushing a year ago, compiling 807 yards on just 104 carries (7.8 yards per carry) and 11 touchdowns. He added three more scores on 100 yards receiving, as well.

At cornerback, Colter shut down some of the Sunflower League’s most talented wide receivers as a junior. He snagged six interceptions, returned them a total of 121 yards and scored two more touchdowns in the process.

This will be Colter’s third year as a starter for the Lions, and more of the same out of him would please every LHS booster.

“When you play that much football at this level,” Wedd said, “you’re pretty good.”

Handshy, meanwhile, is drawing NCAA Division One interest for his athleticism as a linebacker. At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, Handshy has shown remarkable speed and strength, and an uncoachable passion for knocking opponents to the ground.

Jeff Colter (14) led the Lions with 807 rushing yards last season and played solid defense as a cornerback. Aaron Kie (76) is Lawrence's lone returning starter on the offensive line.

As a running back last year, Handshy’s was the second-leading rusher behind Colter, garnering 522 yards on just 62 carries (8.4 yards per carry) and eight touchdowns.

It’s safe to say the Lawrence High tradition of running the football won’t be put on hold this year.

“We want to keep doing what we’ve been doing for years,” Colter said. “Keep pounding it.”

Look past those two, though, and the picture isn’t so clear.

The quarterback job is still up for grabs, though the early leader looks to be junior Brian Heere, with senior Zach Colwell and junior Kyle Mendenhall close behind.

Heere, who was one of Lawrence’s top baseball players as a sophomore, has proven his ability to perform at a high level, something Wedd likes.

“You want kids that want to handle the ball, and understand what it is to hit the big shot or get the big hit or complete the big pass,” Wedd said. “You’re always looking for that.”

The lines look to be the big question mark — and could make the difference. Senior Aaron Kie returns after starting at offensive tackle as a junior, but inexperience abounds after that, and the Lions know they need to make big strides in the trenches — and quickly.

Front row, from left: Brendan Halpin, Nolan Kellerman, Travis Alexander, Brett Davis, David Easthouse, Chris Cates, Jeff Colter, Cory Gaston.; second row, from left: Justin Fox, Sharla Dunn, Lance Mullen, Mitchell White, Kameron Demby, William Paea, Chandler Williams, Raymon Azure, Anthony Krug, Mark Albers, Matt Stiles, Jim O'Connell, Janele Huelat, Ian Golden; third row, from left: Tim Obiefule, Jordan McKinney, Brett Sims, Aaron Siebenthall, Scott Stidham, Chuck Holley, head coach Dirk Wedd, Darrin Wegner, Jack Hood, John Reed, Tim Giblin, Grant Tarr, Blake Sutherlin; fourth row, from left: Brandon Lassiter, Knox Luani, Tom Willoughby, Mark Chapman, Brian Heere, Allan Blair, Jacob Lorenzo, Aaron Kie, David Conway, Cole Walker, Jimmy Krantz, Blake Davis.; back row, from left: Justin Long, Jabril Richardson, Liam Kirby, Nathan Hickey, Stephen Paea Kyle Mendenhall, Jeff Hornberger, Kelsey Galliart, Darrick Henry, Scott Penny, Ian Handshy.

“Our line has been working hard since the summer started,” Colter said. “They’re working hard because they know they have to fill the shoes of great linemen in the past.”

Junior Scott Penny started at defensive end as a sophomore, but he’s making the move to inside linebacker alongside Handshy. That makes the D-line wide open for any Lion willing to step up.

“We have to find a lot of athletes to come out here and play with us,” Handshy said. “If we do, we’re going to have a great season.”