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“There were rumors all up and down the Shore,” Tue said. “We didn’t know we were going to have a program until two weeks before the season.”

A former assistant, Tue said Harold Somerville stepped down as Trojans head coach after three years upon receiving a recent job promotion. Tue submitted an application for the vacancy, got the nod as the new head coach, and now begins a rebuilding project with what may be the Bayside Conference’s youngest — and smallest in terms of numbers — varsity roster.

“We’re basically resetting the program, trying to establish a culture of discipline and accountability from years past,” Tue said.

The handful of talented reinforcements that made their first practice Tuesday has the potential to help that process.

Scottie Ford, a 6-foot, 160-pound senior and wrestling standout, returns at fullback and linebacker. Junior Dwan Harris (6-2, 225), who started at quarterback last year, could again line up behind center and also plays defensive end. Senior track star RJ Peterson (5-11, 155) and junior newcomer Micah Handy (5-6, 128) bolster the receiving corps and secondary. And junior Dylan Hurtt (5-11, 150) is at the slot, while freshman Joe Gonce (5-11, 240) figures to see time on the offensive and defensive lines.

The bulk of that group injects some much-needed experience, but won’t be eligible to play until Week 2 at Arcadia (Virginia).

As for now, Tue takes over a program that will have no junior varsity this season. The offense heads into Friday’s season opener at Bohemia Manor with four freshmen and three sophomores projected to start. The defense is set to start four sophomores and one freshmen. And nine of the offensive starters are slated to also start on defense.

“We have a lot of teaching to do,” Tue said. “We have some players that have never played before since they were way younger. But we’re not going to use age as an excuse for too long.”

Having coached in Kent’s youth program, Tue is familiar with a number of players on his roster. He’s also familiar with the fact as he begins his first heading coaching post at the high school level, he and his staff will have to be patient with such a young team.

Zavion Brown, a 6-foot, 180-pound senior who played tight end last year, starts at quarterback, and is accompanied in the backfield by senior running back Rahzir Wilson (5-9, 150). The wide receiving fleet is young with junior Thomas Moore (6-1, 163), sophomore Xavier Johnson (5-4, 140) and freshman Wayne Brown (5-4, 117).

Providing time for Zavion Brown is the conference’s youngest offensive line, that starts three freshmen — left tackle Finn Beiker (6-2, 255), center Daniel Poore (5-4, 156), and tight end Alijah Floyd (5-7, 180) — two sophomores — right guard Hunter Hawn (5-7, 190) and right tackle Dozie Okakpu (6-3, 270) — and senior left guard Jalen Rochester (5-11, 240).

While Tue has plenty to figure out offensively, his bigger concern may be defensively.

“We have to get a physicality about us,” Tue said. “And it’s hard to simulate in practice because you’re worried about getting kids hurt because the numbers are so low. But me and my staff, we got to figure out a way to get some physicality out of these boys. That was the glaring weakness from the scrimmage; we didn’t look too interested in putting a hat on somebody. That can’t happen.”

Again, youth and a lack of depth figures to limit what Kent can do defensively.

The defensive front has Moore and Hawn at the ends, Rochester and Okakpu starting at the tackles, and sophomore nose guard Jordan Turner-Henry (5-10, 247). Zavion Brown is at middle linebacker with Floyd on one side of him and senior Eli Wilson (6-0, 164) on the other. Wayne Brown and Johnson are at the corners with Wilson playing safety.

Moore will also handle the kicking chores.

Tue was encouraged by what he saw in Kent’s only scrimmage against Rising Sun. The Trojans yielded a touchdown on the opening kickoff and fumbled to set up the Tigers’ other first-half score, but otherwise held their own.

“I was happy with the first half,” Tue said of an eventual 29-8 loss. “They competed.

“We won two games last year,” Tue added. “I want to get to that and then I want to get past it.”