The Bryan Vikings will be smaller and faster.

That could translate to being leaner and hungrier, which is an edge the Vikings may need to regain a spot in the Class 5A playoffs.

Gone is much of the bravado and talk about what it will take to win the District 12-5A championship. Replacing that is talk about what it will take to win the next game.

That might not be a bad thing.

"I think there is an inner confidence among our kids that we can go out and get some things done," Bryan coach Bob Bellard said. "I think they will play really well and play for one another."

Kesnick Taylor will return at quarterback after sharing time at the position a year ago. With Bryan planning to incorporate more of a triple option attack, Taylor's experience should help.

"We feel good about [quarterback]," said Bellard. "You start with Kesnick Taylor and then go to Aaron Eike. His progress from the time he stepped on campus until now is phenomenal. He was just a very tall kid who, when he came in, was not quite strong enough to carry his body."

Eike's strength has been remedied by work in the weight room, but Taylor will start.

The receiving corps is fast and talented.

"You have to start with Krey Bratsen, who has started for two years," said Bellard. "He is a tremendous athlete and we have to find ways to get the football into Krey's hands."

Bratsen caught 13 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns last season. Less heralded is Joseph Bryant, but his potential is limitless.

"He might be one of those kids that everybody in the country will want in a year," Bellard said. "There were times in the spring that he just took over and really had exceptional days. The whole thing with Joseph is just being consistent. If he'll catch one or two deep ones and stick it in the end zone, he may just go crazy and have a wild year."

Bryant, a junior, is 6-foot-5. Senior Jeremy Zdunkewicz is 5-10 and 155 pounds, but with good hands and the ability to break deep. He plays both wing and split end well.

"He's a great route-runner and a good competitor, very quick," said Bellard. "If we can get the football delivered to them, they are going to be pretty reliable catching it and they'll do something with it after they catch it."

Tight end Mike Martinez (6-2, 225) is a power blocker who catches the ball well.

"He's a big man who can dent the line of scrimmage, but he's athletic enough to get out on routes and block people in the secondary," said Bellard.

The Vikes' head coach has also been impressed with some young players at running back.

"It's hard not to be impressed with those guys and you know they are going to get better," Bellard said.

Michael Roy (5-11, 180), who played JV ball last season, is the only senior, but Nathan Jones will likely get the start. He played both fullback and tailback after his call-up to the varsity during his sophomore year.

"He's a slashing-type runner and a very good blocker," Bellard said. "He's a good, solid overall football player who catches the ball really well."

Sophomore Kevin Jefferson may also see action in the backfield, and could contribute defensively. He may also get playing time as a kick returner.

The only returning starter on the offensive line is Colton Barnes (6-2, 280).

"We're a lot smaller, but we're also a lot smarter," said senior offensive lineman Ryan Elkins (6-0, 250). "We talked about last year a little bit, but now we're just looking to this year. We're just trying to make the playoffs. There are four spots and we want to be one of those [teams]."

Many of the linemen stepping up have worked together as freshmen, sophomore and JV players.

"Daniel Wright (5-10, 245) will be a junior and our starting center," said Bellard. "Daniel's not a big kid but he's one of those guys that does everything right all of the time."

Wright will be flanked by Elkins and Barnes at guard with Alex Mendez (6-0, 280) and Logan Toomer (6-2, 260) at the tackle spots.

"Mendez may be one of the hardest-working kids we've got." Bellard said. "His progress has been substantial, and Toomer is big, strong and active and he'll get better as the season goes."

"We've got to win in the trenches," Elkins said.

That would help on the defensive side, too.

"We're just not as tall," said Bellard. "We're just not as rangy."

"We've got a lot of squatty bodies," interjected defensive coordinator Dwight Pattrick.

Kendall Gilbert (5-11, 260) was the most active defensive tackle in the spring, while Justin Cunningham (5-11, 230) was the most consistent player. Richard Brawley, at 285 pounds, might be the guy who plugs the hole at noseguard. Stephon Richard, a 190-pounder who ran the 100 meters during track season, will provide a change of pace. Mike Hernandez and Victor Turner will likely both play in a line rotation.

While players have shifted in the secondary, it could be another strong unit. Johnny Goosby shifts from outside linebacker to safety. Jacob Sutherland, who played safety and linebacker, is now at cornerback.

"Johnny offers a presence in the secondary as a run-stopper, but at the same time, he has done a good job on coverage," said Bellard, who added that Brian Cune has the inside track for the other safety spot. Hard-hitting Bryson Edwards may also get playing time.

"We have a lot more speed than we did last year," Sutherland said. "Our secondary is going to be pretty good and defensively, we'll probably be pretty good."

Sutherland likes the change.

"It's different from safety, but it's pretty easy," Sutherland said. "At cornerback, we will be going against some of the best receivers in the district. There's a little pressure, but I can handle it."

A battle is brewing between sophomore Johnny Childs, junior Dexter Comeaux and senior Josh Payton at the other corner spot.

Against the running attacks in 12-5A, Bellard says a physical cornerback will be important.

"You've got to have a corner who can mix it up a little bit, and not just a cover guy."

Scott Conant and Bryan Jackson will play inside linebacker. Jackson was in the defensive line last year.

"I played linebacker my freshman and sophomore year," said Jackson (5-11, 235). "My junior year, they moved me to D-lineman because of my strength. It's not hard, like they changed me to linebacker for my senior year. It's like getting back to where I used to be."

The outside linebacker position is a four-man competition for two spots -- seniors Harris Kelly and John Saenz, junior Jimmy Goen and sophomore Hunter Maphet.

On special teams, Bratsen averaged 39.1 yards per punt and was a solid return man on kickoffs last year, picking up an average of 23.5 on eight returns with one touchdown. Soccer player Kyle Wren takes over place-kicking duties, but Bratsen can also kick.

"I think we are faster defensively than what we've been," said Bellard. "We've been big, but across the board, we may have more speed."

The Bryan Vikings may have a new look, but Byron Jackson still thinks they will be ready.

"Our expectation is to line up and play, play harder than we've ever played before," said Jackson. "When the lights come on and the ball is in the middle of the field, and we are out there playing, we are going to give it everything we've got. We are going to leave it on the field."