The Bryant Hornets wrapped up their second week of spring football on Thursday, working in the indoor facility and on the grass practice field while the Bryant Lady Hornets soccer team prepared for the Class 7A State championship game on the stadium turf.
Head coach Paul Calley, supported by crutches after tearing the ACL in his right knee during a P.E. volleyball game, liked his team’s work on Wednesday after a sluggish Monday workout.
“I thought the focus was there; the intensity was there,” he reported. “We had a little Oklahoma drill in between our team periods. That got everybody livened up a little bit. We had some good licks passed and good blocks thrown.
“We’re still answering questions and we still have some questions,” he related. “We’ve got some guys, I’m worried about their eligibility right now, grade-wise. We’ve got some guys, I’m worried about their toughness. We’ve got some guys, I’m worried about their dedication, and we’ve got some guys I’m not worried about at all. When I get everybody to the category of not worried about at all, then we will have achieved our goal for the spring. That’s what we shoot for. We don’t always get there.”
As a former offensive linemen himself, Calley has always had an affinity for the ground game on offense and he’s feeling pretty good about that aspect of the team at this point because of his charges up front as well as a bevy of good running backs.
“Offensively, I think we have a chance to be really good,” he said. “Up front, we’ve got experienced guys, we’ve got size and we have some depth.”
Regarding the running game, he said, “That’s what’s going to make us or break us. We’re going to need to make some big plays in the passing game. Eventually, we’re going to have to throw but if we can move the ball on the ground, which I think we’re going to be able to do, we’ll be tough to stop.”
The coach noted the return of starters Cameron Davis and Caleb McElyea working on the left side. Zach McConnell is at center.
“He’s not very big but he’s smart and he’s going to get everybody in the right situation,” Calley said of McConnell.
“At right guard, right now, is Caleb Chaffin,” he continued. “He’s really come on. He’s been a guy who’s been multi-sport and he never really reached his potential. But he’s been in football for a year now and he’s getting there.
“At right tackle, (Brycen) Waddle is 6-6, 280. He’s a specimen. He’s getting where he can play. Then there’s Devon Waite, who injured his knee last year or he would’ve ended up playing a lot. He’s also at right tackle and he can play guard on either side. So I’ve got some guys I can move around.”
Regarding the running backs, Calley said, “I feel like we’re as deep and as talented as we’ve ever been.”
Those returning include Brushawn Hunter, Kylon Boyle and Savonte Turner.
“Brushawn led us in rushing and Kylon really came on at the end of last year and played great,” Calley said. “He’s grown and I think his vision’s gotten better. Savonte is quick as a cat.”
There’s also a strong influx of sophomores with Phillip Isom-Green, Cameron Coleman and DeAmonte Terry.
“I don’t want any of those guys sitting on the bench,” Calley insisted. “They’ve got to play somewhere. They’re going to play special teams and we may end up having to move one or two to defense. Those are guys you can’t let see the field just 10 times a game. They need to be out there.
“At fullback, with Demaja (Price) coming back — he’s been hurt — and Drew (Alpe), we’re solid,” he continued. “When we get (Zach) Jackson back at tight end, he’s solid and we have Jimbo (Seale) playing there. He’s solid.
“Quarterback-wise, we’ve got some experience coming back and we’ve got some depth,” the coach added. “At receiver, we’re a little weak right now but most of them are playing baseball still. We’ve got some young guys I think are going to step up. I think they’re going to pass some upper classmen before it’s said and done.”
Turning to defense, Calley said, “Our front four are pretty solid. Our linebacker corps has played better than I expected. They’ve been more physical, our outside linebackers especially, (Ben) Bruick and (Devon) Alpe.
“We didn’t have a lot of weaknesses other than our outside linebackers and they’ve really played well this spring,” he noted. “We need to develop some depth there. Our ‘Mike’ is going to depend on Devon Howard being healthy. We’ve also got Hayden Knowles. I’ve been really impressed with. He’s going to be a sophomore but he plays like a junior. He can play with his hand down or he can play linebacker.
“The secondary I feel good about,” the coach concluded. “We haven’t seen a lot of balls in the air because we’ve been so run-oriented in the spring but we tried to do a little bit of that today.”
The Hornets will return to practice Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week to conclude their spring work.
BRYANT HORNETS
2014 varsity football schedule
Aug. 26 — at Pulaski Academy (benefit scrimmage), 6 p.m.
Sept. 5 — Benton (Salt Bowl, War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock), 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 12 — Little Rock McClellan, 7 p.m.
Sept. 19 — at Little Rock Central, 7 p.m.
Sept. 26 — Russellville*, 7 p.m.
Oct. 3 — at Little Rock Catholic%, 7 p.m.
Oct. 10 — Alma*, 7 p.m.
Oct. 17 — Greenwood*, 7 p.m.
Oct. 24 — at Van Buren%, 7 p.m.
Oct. 31 — at Siloam Springs*, 7 p.m.
Nov. 7 — Conway%, 7 p.m.
*7A/6A-Central Conference games
%7A/6A-Central Conference games that count towards seeding for post-season
