Hornet Preview

Ordinarily, Bryant Hornets head football coach Paul Calley likes an offensive mix of 60 percent running and 40 percent passing. But the 2014 season figures to be a little different.

With six quality running backs and a big, experienced offensive line, what would you do? “I think this year, based on our situation at receiver too, it’ll probably be more 70-30, maybe 80-20,” Calley acknowledged. That should be fun for the guys on the o-line. They’ll be able to pass some licks in the running game.

“For the most part, the guys that I coach would like to come off and play smash-mouth football,” said Calley, himself a former center in high school and college who coaches the Hornets’ offensive line. “We’re built for that this year.”

It was just a couple of years ago that Bryant could hardly muster a ground game. The leading rusher accumulated just 235 yards for the season and, when the offense got into the red zone (inside the opponents’ 20), it was a challenge to score touchdowns.

“It’s difficult to score in a spread offense when you get close to the goal-line,” Calley admitted. “You feel much more confident in your ability to score when you can control the line of scrimmage running the football. If you have to rely just on the passing game, it makes it much more difficult.”

It affects the defense too. An all-pass offense, unless it’s very efficient, lengthens the games with the clock stopping on every incomplete pass. And if there’s a three-and-out, the defense gets very little time to rest.

The running back corps is led by senior Brushawn Hunter, a speed guy who led the team in rushing and also played wide receiver, leading the team in receptions last year. Senior Kylon Boyle, a slasher, steadily improved last season and got more and more snaps. Savonte Turner returns for his junior year. He may be the most elusive of the group.

Joining them is a trio of sophomores who have impressed with their combination of speed and strength, Cameron Coleman, DeAmonte Terry and Phillip Isom-Green.

Calley said that, in order to get more of those guys on the field, the young ones may be used to help shore up a thin receiving corps. Hunter, of course, will continue to split time between wide-out and running back. Junior Evan Lee returns. The coach also mentioned the possibility of using veteran cornerbacks Drew Tipton and Mar’Kevious Nelson at receiver. “Guys that we know are dependable and smart and can make plays,” he mentioned.

The offensive line is anchored by returning starters Cameron Davis at left tackle and Caleb McElyea at left guard. Both are seniors. Zach McConnell takes over at center with Caleb Chaffin at right guard and Bryson Waddle at right tackle. Devon Waite will play a lot as well. Tight ends are Jimbo Seale and Zach Jackson.

“We will be bigger and as we learn our scheme better, we can be more physical,” Calley commented. “We still have some zone-type runs that we’re going to use but we’re also going to incorporate the buck sweep and some power-read, zone-read. And we’re going to have the ability to run a blast or an iso-play.” Helping in that regard are fullbacks Demaja Price, who played a lot last year, and Drew Alpe.

“We’ll use two quarterbacks,” Calley related. “Gunner Burks (a junior) is more the runner. We’ll use him when we’re going to run read plays. Brandan Warner (a senior), is probably stronger in the passing game.”

Senior Madison Schroeder also had a good spring. Tipton and Nelson return for their senior seasons to anchor the secondary on defense. “At safety is where we really have to develop some people,” said Calley. “We’ve got our best athletes back there. Right now, they’re not great safeties. Hopefully, with repetition, they’ll get better.”

The candidates are senior Brendan Young who was hurt in the spring, senior Steven Murdock who was in track most of the spring and junior Jordan Gentry, who has been unavailable while playing baseball. Junior Jaelyn Jones opened the spring at quarterback but moved to safety by the end and figures in the mix.

Collin Chapdelaine is back at linebacker and the coaching staff is hopeful that talented junior Devon Howard can make a strong return after missing most of 2013 with a knee injury. “At outside linebacker, Ben Bruick showed his physical ability during the spring. Hopefully, he’ll continue to improve. Devon Alpe played really well in the spring. We need to develop some depth there.”

The defensive line is anchored by Cameron Murray at tackle. A starter as a sophomore, he was an impact player last year. “I think he’s going to be dominant at the three technique,” stated Calley. “Our ends Hunter Fugitt and Ryan Hall were hard to block during the spring. They’re so quick off the edge, I feel like they can give us a good pass rush. They’re pretty heady football players.”

Drew Allen will man the other tackle spot and the coaches are looking to develop depth. “Those guys can’t play every down, so you’ve got to have somebody available,” Calley said.