Not trying to argue, honestly want to hear your reasoning. Wouldn't you think Robbinsville is returning more than Murphy and would be favored in the conference? Anderson and Hooper will have big years.
Murphy loses their QB and McTaggert/Allen/Roberts in backfield. I know they'll play the JV QB as a tenth grader (how long will it take him to develop?) but how will they replace those three in the backfield? All three of those backs are linebackers. How do they replace them on defense?
The QB was the starting safety. Is there anyone who can play safety? I realize the lines will still be strong, but they lost Shope and Bodine. I didn't see anyone on the Murphy JV that I think will be ready to replace them as sophomores.
No offense but I think Murphy people know what's coming back more than a fan of another team, the drop off next year won't be nearly as steep as some outsiders may think. Murphy has some big shoes to fill at certain positions but I don't see a lot of big question marks going into next year at too many places besides free safety (depending on whether Isra plays), outside linebacker and maybe tight end. They'll be a few spots where Murphy is young: QB, WR, CB but they won't lack for talent in those places.
Yes, Murphy loses Nelson at QB and that's a loss but Robbinsville also loses Orr at QB. Murphy has their answer at QB on the roster in Rumfelt, he's going to be young and he'll experience the typical growing pains a young QB does but whoever Robbinsville starts at QB will have the same learning curve.
Murphy does lose McTaggart and Allen in the backfield, both super talented players and their losses will be felt. But the kids replacing them are talented in their own right. Murray will take over at RB, Rathburn at FB and probably Dorsey at WB, they'll be more than fine at those spots. And those backs are going to be running behind what Murphy's o-line coach has said will be the best o-line he's had at Murphy.
As far as replacing McTaggart and Roberts on defense, that's a big concern but Murphy does return two starters at linebacker in Ray Rathburn and Parker Posey. Robbinsville on the other hand is losing Orr, Ornelas and Lovin at linebacker, so I could ask how's Robbinsville going to replace those three? Those are huge losses for your defense as well.
Murphy loses Nelson at free safety and to me this is a bigger blow than his loss at QB, Nelson was a very very good safety. They do have a potential talented answer there in Isra Smith (who was Murphy's starting FS and RB on their undefeated 2017 JV team) if he comes out to play again next season, which I feel confident that he will. Isra is Murphy's most talented skill player in the sophomore class. Another kid that will probably start in the secondary if he comes back out is Mikey Crowder, who was the fastest kid on the team before he quit. He like Isra was a starter in the secondary on Murphy's undefeated 2017 JV team. Robbinsville loses Jase Phillips at safety as well, that's a big loss for the Black Knights too. I know some Robbinsville people who considered Phillips your best all around player.
Shope and Bodine are big losses on the d-line but Murphy will definitely not be counting on JV players to fill those spots. Rashad Davis will take Hunter Shope's spot on both sides of the line and he's going to be a beast, kid would've started anywhere else in the conference this year. The other likely replacement on the d-line is Slade's younger brother Bailey McTaggart, who will be a senior next year and got plenty of reps this year. Murphy's d-line will be fine, maybe not quite as good next year but it won't be too far off, especially with Rayburn and Stalcup returning.