Rising senior Jay Saunders will lead the Colquitt County offense.

MOULTRIE — It is clear that the 2016 Colquitt County football team will not be as talented as the 2014 and 2015 teams were.

Gone are Chase Parrish, Kiel Pollard, Ty Lee and Baby Lou Martinez. Off to play college football are Bull Barge, Quintin Hampton, Dee Walker, T.J. Smith and Jay Blakely.

And others.

There will be players to come through for the Packers this fall, some expected to produce and others that even the coaches could not predict would be difference-makers.

But with the loss a number of top-drawer players, a brutal schedule and the uncertainty surrounding the building of a new fieldhouse and practice facility, Packers coach Rush Propst said his mostly unproven team will have to rely on something other than pure talent if it is going to continue to remain among the state’s elite programs.

“We’ll need to have something else to give us an advantage,” Propst said. “And we’re hoping our culture of winning will sustain us.”

After going 4-6 in 2008, Propst’s first season in Moultrie, the Packers have amassed a record of 82-19.

Included in that figure is a 26-5 postseason record.

And the Packers last lost came in 2013 state semifinal at Norcross by a 14-9 score.

“We want to take advantage of the momentum we have created,” Propst said. “These kids don’t know anything but winning. They are going to come out and battle every night.”

Still, players have gone to Kentucky, South Carolina and Arkansas the last few years, there are no players on the 2016 roster that are likely to sign with SEC schools next February.

“No, we’re not as talented as we’ve been,” Propst said. “We’re not loaded with college prospects like we have been. But that doesn’t mean we can’t win.

“A three-peat is a goal, but I haven’t been hammering on it. This team still has to find what its identity is.”

Like most successful leaders, Propst likes his routines, likes to have things in place.

After turning the program around in 2009, he has been able to have what he has needed to build his enviable program.

But as the team heads into a summer program that begins on Monday, he is still unsure what form the football facility at the new high school will ultimately take, he is concerned about what affect a lame-duck superintendent is having on the program and he still has a vacancy on the varsity staff, three on the ninth-grade staff and he has no eighth-grade head coach.

He sounds as if he believes that program can remain a contender.

“The template is set,” he says. “It’s proved we know how to win. We’ve been able to attract a good group of coaches and winning has become a habit.”

Whether the Packers can “three-peat” is a man-sized question.

Colquitt has a daunting schedule that includes state semifinalist Mill Creek, state runner-up Roswell and Florida power American Heritage, Tucker, Brookwood and Valdosta among the non-region opponents.

And Grayson immediately became the favorite to win the state championship when it was able to replace departed head coach Mickey Conn with Jeff Herron and then had four of the state’s top players agree to transfer and wear the Rams green-and-gold.

The 10 days of a spring practice  was marred by the knee injury suffered by Sheronsky Sloan, but Propst was otherwise pleased.

“I thought we got a lot done,” he said. “The kids went in with a purpose.”

Sloan had surgery last week and will be out three to four months. Propst said he hoped to have the senior receiver back by late August or early September.

But even with Sloan’s injury, the receiving corps appears unusually deep, with seniors Tory Ponder and Ty Powell expected to start. Juniors Cam Singletary and Ty Shealy and sophomores Marvion McDonald, K.T. Wilson and Akeem McKiever add depth.

Juniors Nigel Hillie and Demarlon Lewis and sophomore Ty Leggett are expected to be the top ball carriers.

“I think we’ll be deeper at running back this year,” Propst said.

Jay Saunders had a strong spring and is Chase Parrish’s heir apparent at quarterback.

“Jay’s fine,” Propst said. “His arm strength might be a little better than Chase’s. He’s just got to learn to take care of the ball better.”

Transfer Steven Krajewski will back up Saunders.

The Packers are searching for depth on the offensive line.

Will Rykard, Quan Stokes and Ian Brinson look like starters.

Griffin Rigsby, Seth Stephens, Kaleb Spradley, Nic Jarvis and Caden Nesbitt are battling for roles.

Propst said the staff is considering moving senior Semaj Willis over from the defense line to offense, where he could start.

Coy Kirkland will start at tight end, but Propst said the staff is looking for another player to complement him.

The defensive line is deep and Propst called senior Donald Key and sophomore Brian Merritt “very talented.”

Louis Nelson will be among those adding depth.

Senior D’Narion Wyche junior J.J. Peterson will be strong on the edge.

Peterson has recently picked up several SEC offers.

Inside, senior Allen Key and sophomore Marcus Anderson are battling at the Mike position. Senior Willie DeBruce is handling the Will spot.

Propst likes the cornerback tandem of returning senior starter Jamarius Walker and junior Kaleb Dawson.

Senior Tirise Barge is the likely starter at one safety position. Sophomore Camari Louis also has played well at safety.

“I think we are a secondary guy and another inside linebacker away from being really good on defense,” Propst said.

The jury is still out on who will handle the place-kicking and punting chores, Propst said.

On Monday, the Packers will embark on grueling June that will include long hours in the weight room, continued conditioning and 7-on-7 competitions.

The 7-on-7 competitions are on June 10 in Athens, June 17 in Atlanta in the Corky Kell Classic and on June 18 in Columbia, S.C.