2016 Hornet Preview

Bryant Hornets football fans, here’s a pep talk for you from new head coach Buck James:

“I’m a firm believer in this: If a guy will train, get stronger, be disciplined and play to the best of his ability, he can contribute to our team and our program,” he stated. “It’s not always going to be the best athlete or the most talented. It’s going to be the guy that doesn’t want to lose; the guy who has great heart, great savvy and understands the concept of the offense or the defense. I think great heart always competes well with great ability.

“I want kids to understand that they have a chance to play even though they might not be the best guy at their position, that there is room for guys that commit and dedicate themselves each and every day, that are accountable, responsible and dedicated to what we’re trying to do.”

“I think that has a lot of merit,” he continued. “Those are things we’ve got to build the foundation of our program on. We’ve got to be strong. We’ve got to carry our pads fast and we’ve got to be sold out to trying to be the best Bryant Hornet we can be. That’s what we’re trying to instill in these kids.

“I think we have a chance to be very exciting,” James concluded. “I think we can throw the ball around the park a little bit; that we’re going to be explosive. We’re going to play with high energy. I think it’s going to be refreshing to come and watch us play. The kids are definitely going to put in the work and the time. They’re going to be tough and they’re going to play fast.”

James and the almost entirely new group of coaches have spent this spring and summer evaluating more than 140 players. “We’re doing the best we can to get every kid the same amount of reps,” he said. “We have guys that, every day, show us something that they’re doing better than they did the week before. I know people think I’ve got to be crazy but we still don’t have a starting lineup.” In fact, he didn’t expect things to solidify things until the first week of August.

James acknowledged that returning starters should be in the mix including running backs DeAmonte Terry and Cameron Coleman, wide receiver Landon Smith on offense and, defensively, ends Hayden Knowles and Madre Dixon, linebacker Marvin Moody and defensive backs Phillip Isom-Green, Cameron Vail, Mike Jones and Devon Davis. Kicker Hayden Ray returns for his senior season after tying the school record with 13 field goals last year.

Vail is also in the running at quarterback. Senior Beaux Bonvillain is the returning back-up. Sophomore Ren Hefley moved in from Pulaski Academy and junior Reid Mobley has emerged. Reese Coats, a starter at Pocahontas last year, may fit in at wide receiver.

“At receivers, it’s wide open,” James said. “I think we’re a solid two deep with guys we can throw with. Smith is the most experienced but I think Luke Curtis and Brandon Murray have looked good. Austin Kelly and Seth Tucker have looked good.

“I think we can put a lot of pressure on the other team’s defense, especially with our two running backs who could be two of the better ones in the state. We can put one at receiver and one at running back or we can go with a two-back set. Kale Kimbrough, Kris King, Jeremiah Long — they have some talent too.”

The offensive line includes Chase Fox and Preston Kyzer at center. Kolby Riffe, LaRae Williams and James McClendon are at guard with Joseph Wylia and Zach Kemp at tackle pending the emergence of some younger guys.

“They’re not going to be as big as what people are used to at Bryant but, with us having the ability to throw and run, we will be keeping defenses on their heels a little bit.”

Joining Knowles and Dixon at defensive end is Avery Everett who will also work inside with Brice Thomas, D.J. Buckner and Johnny Wallace.

“We have two deep on our defensive line,” James said. “We’ve got some young guys that have really stepped up as well, that we’re excited about.”

Moody, who James said could develop into one of the best linebackers in the state, works at one outside spot and the coaches have taken Nathan Mayes off the line to play middle linebacker. James also mentioned Brooks Ellis, Antonio Todd and Tim Smith.

The coach lauded the work of Caylin Allen to go with Isom-Green, Jones and Vail at safety. Along with Davis, he mentioned Colin Welch and James Polite at corner.

“Defensively, we’ve got to be two deep,” James related. “We’ve got to have a lot of guys play. It’s not uncommon for an offense like what we run to have 40 or 50 snaps the whole game and the defense is out there 60 or 70. And they’re chasing, so you’ve got to have more guys on the defensive side of the football.”