11 minute read
Calera
EAGLES
Coming off back-to-back one-win seasons, it has been a tough stretch for the Calera Eagles. They’ve looked like a team that moved up to the 6A classification two years ago and made a coaching change in June last year.
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Now, the Eagles are starting to build, and while they may have some youthful growing pains this year, they’ll still be better and are on the path to being extremely dangerous in the next year or two with potential for this season to be a breakout year.
Last year’s team ended with 52 players on it due to 13 season-ending injuries, and while the team will only have seven seniors, five of which will play defense, they’ll have closer to 90 players on the roster this year with 35-40 freshmen and 25-30 sophomores.
Going into the second year under head coach Trey Simpson, the expectations don’t change because of that youth, while they are starting to progress to the numbers of a 6A program.
MEET THE TEAM
QUARTERBACK
Right off the bat, one of the most important positions on the field can determine whether this year will put the Eagles a year ahead of where their age actually is. Tyler Nelson will return as the starting quarterback as a sophomore, and coaches say he has the potential to blow up this year. Last year, he started his first game against state power Opelika and didn’t blink. Now at 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, he’s learned the position, and while he’s extremely athletic and talented with his feet, he’s worked tirelessly on his accuracy passing the football and isn’t afraid to step into a hit to deliver the ball.
RUNNING BACK
At running back, there is a lot of potential as well. Chris Cotton was set to play a lot last year, but broke his arm in week three of the season. This year, standing at 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, he’ll be the leader and has put on more size to handle the duties of being an every-down back as a senior. Daniel Carmona will bring a different dimension to the position as a talented playmaker who can do more on the perimeter. Just a sophomore, he’ll allow the Eagles to do more outside zone, which they haven’t
Tyler
Nelson
CLASSIFICATION
AHSAA Class 6A, Region 3
2019 RECORD
1-9 (0-5)
HEAD COACH Trey Simpson
RECORD
1-9 (Second year)
ASSISTANT COACHES
James Knowles, Mike Montgomery, Robert Albritton, Chris Wilson, Ryan Dobbs, Paul Hovey, Ty Nelson, Austin Barnhill, AJ Ward, Adam Lawson
LAST REGION TITLE
2008
LAST PLAYOFF GAME
2017
Kobe
Prentice
been able to do in the past.
RECEIVERS
At receiver, there won’t be a ton of depth for the Eagles this year, which may be the biggest concern for Nelson to have a breakout year, but Kobe Prentice will be a key. He stands at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds and is a threat every time he touches the ball. Junior Jaydien Rutledge will add some height out wide and is putting on more size, while Javante Nelson is a 6-foot-3 wideout who can run and gets after it.
OFFENSIVE LINE
The offensive line should help Nelson feel more comfortable with 15 players currently working at the position. There will be two sophomores and two juniors leading the way at the position. Matthew Tucker and Trey Bright are the juniors who will handle tackle positions. Tucker is a 6-foot-4, 280-pound right tackle, while Bright is a 6-foot, 300-pound left tackle. Mason Colmer and Brody Odom will
2020 SCHEDULE
Aug. 21: @ Demopolis Aug. 28: Jackson-Olin Sept. 4: Pelham* Sept. 11: @ Chilton County* Sept. 18: Bye Sept. 25: Pell City Oct. 2: Stanhope Elmore* Oct. 9: Helena* Oct. 16: @ Wetumpka* Oct. 23: @ Benjamin Russell* Oct. 30: @ Chelsea
*Region game
handle guard positions after each started three games as freshmen last season. Tanner Greene and Landon Martin will battle for the fifth spot.
DEFENSIVE LINE
While the defense as a whole will be deeper and improved, the defensive line will see the biggest drop off from a bodies standpoint, but it’s a group that should be able to create some havoc led by team leader Will Sims. Sims is a 5-foot-8, 245-pound four-year starter
Tyler Nelson, QB
Nelson eventually took over the starting job as a freshman last year and returns with a ton of upside this year. The coaches expect him to have a breakout year this season.
Kobe Prentice, ATH
Prentice will be one of the team’s best athletes, playing at both running back and receiver this year.
Chris Cotton, RB
Cotton was set to play running back last year but broke his arm in week three. Now, he’s healthy and a leader with the size to handle the position.
Jeremiah Jones, DB
One of the leaders in the secondary, Jones returns as a starter this season and is an athletic playmaker in coverage and space.
Derrick Edwards, DB
Edwards, like Jones, will return as a starter in a secondary that should be the best part of this year’s defense.
Will Sims, DL
Sims is the leader of the team and will anchor the defensive line this season as a four-year starter.
KEY DEPARTURES
Jayson Jones
Despite being double teamed all of last season, Jones totaled more than 30 tackles on the defensive line with more than eight tackles for loss and five sacks. He’s now at the University of Oregon.
Quindarius Crews
We never saw the full potential of Crews, but he was the best athlete on last year’s team.
Ashton Shoddie
Shoddie took on the running back position with ease last year, totaling 727 yards with seven touchdowns on 151 carries.
Dylan Killingsworth
Not only the team’s leading receiver but also a key piece in the secondary, Killingsworth will be missed from a skill and leadership standpoint.
Ryan Caver
Caver spent much of last year injured, but was set to be the best defender on the team.
TIME TO BLOSSOM With more than half of this year’s team being freshmen or sophomores, the coaching staff is hoping several players can blossom at a young age. One of those expected to have a breakout year is sophomore Tyler Nelson at quarterback, while there are several other athletes putting in the work who hold the athleticism to be difference makers. They all have bright futures, but they’re going to be asked to blossom early.
THE RIGHT FIT The biggest problem for Calera the last two years has been depth and players being forced to play both sides of the ball. It not only causes the team to wear down with exhaustion in the second half of tight games, but it led to 13 season-ending injuries last year. The coaching staff is focused on getting the young players to play on one side of the ball, and if that right fit is found, it will help tremendously in the long run.
DEFENSIVE TRANSITION Calera gave up 40 or more points in five of its 10 games last season and has given up 30 or more in 13 of its last 20 games. This year, the Eagles have to do better and there is potential for that to happen. While they may not be as star-studded with individual talent, they have more team comradery at each unit on that side of the ball. With five of the seven seniors on the team playing defense, there should be enough leadership at each position to help the Eagles at least show improvement and help build depth.
NO MORE HIDING Each of the last two years, the offense for Calera has sputtered. Two years ago, there was enough talent for that not to happen. Last year, the talent just wasn’t there other than a couple of talented athletes. Now, the talent is all young for the most part, but the potential is as high as it has been in a while. Last season, the Eagles scored a combined 17 points in their last four games with 14 of those coming in one game, while they failed to score more than 27 in any game. The last two years, the Eagles have averaged 14.5 and 13.7 points per game. This year, the offense has to make an appearance and it has to happen early to help with confidence.
2020 Calera Roster
NO. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 NAME Kobe Prentice Derrick Edwards Kevin Holman DeCarlo Pryor Jeremiah Jones Chris Cotton Fred Hurth Jacob Sommers Jaydien Rutledge TJ Hernandez Jevonte Melton Art Amos Skyler Strawn Tyler Nelson Braylen Farrington Noah Williams Tyde Harrison Wesley Head Preston Stokes Brodie Smith Michael Banks Daniel Carmona Justin Green Isaiah Green D’Ivan Carmona Nick Holland Xzayvion Childress Orlandis Norwood De”Shun Seay Brayden Harden Cameron Medders Braxton Harden Amari Brundidge Grayton Carlee Dekendrick Bennett Troy Burks Chase Elliot Trip Gallahan CJ Tolbert Tim Williams Justin Evans CJ Richardson Kam’ Ryan Moutrie Ian McGrady POSITION
WR DB LB DB DB RB DL DB WR QB WR DB DB QB WR TE QB DB QB TE S RB WR WR LB DB WR TE LB DB LB DB RB LB LB DB WR DL WR WR WR LB LB LB
YEAR
11 12 10 11 12 11 12 11 10 10 11 12 10 10 10 12 9 11 10 11 10 10 11 12 10 9 10 10 9 11 12 12 9 10 10 9 10 10 9 10 11 10 9 10
NO. 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 64 65
66
67 70 71 72 73 75 76 77 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 94 NAME Ayden Slaten Antwone Byrd Kobe King Alex Millender Joshua Jones Will Sims Curis Oliver-Avery Tre Bright Brodie Odom Jaylon Pearson JaMichael Vines Kefir Emery Rod Smith Braxton Taylor Taylor Alford Kharlis Cooper Walker Harris Landon Martin Devin White Tanner Green Cameron Rutherford Julius Marsh Jaquon Barron Matthew Tucker Mason Colmer Josh McDade TJ Allen Stewart Goldman Parker Jackson Jake McDonnell Nathon Smitherman Amari Collins Mason Green Dallas Grayson Jordan Williams Antonio Jones Christian Dexter Tyler Dixon Derrick Young Caleb Hunter Jordan Helm William Raneri Anthony Rastelli Davelice Jefferson POSITION
DB DL DL WR DB DL DL OL OL DL DL OL OL DL OL OL OL OL OL OL DL OL DL OL OL OL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL WR DB TE WR WR WR TE RB DL DB K K DL DL
YEAR
9 9 11 10 9 12 9 11 10 11 10 9 12 11 9 9 10 11 10 11 10 10 9 11 10 11 10 9 9 9 10 9 10 10 9 9 9 9 9 9 12 10 12 11
who will solely play defense this season. Braxton Taylor, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound junior, will lock down a defensive end position, while senior Rodriguez Smith adds a frame of 6-foot-4, 210 pounds to the line. In addition to that, junior Jalen Pearson is starting to prove himself, while Trip Gallahan, Jamichael Vines and Fred Hurth will all get time as well.
LINEBACKERS
Backing up the line in the front seven will be one of the most exciting units on the team at linebacker. Kevin Holman is a sophomore who started two games last year and played well. Sophomore C.J.
Richardson and senior Cameron Medders will also play key roles at the position.
SECONDARY
The secondary is going to likely be the strongest position on defense for the Eagles this year with seven players the coaching staff feels comfortable in playing. Seniors Jeremiah Jones and Derrick Edwards are two of the team’s most experienced players as threeyear starters and they’ll handle two
defensive back positions. In addition to that, Art Amos will be a leader at safety with returning experience for his senior season, while sophomores Michael Banks and Zymeer Jemison will be key as well.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Jordan Helm will return to handle kicking duties this year and should handle all three phases in his second year as a starter.
EDITOR’S 2020 PREDICTION (4-6)
Don’t let the prediction fool you, Calera is on the rise and could surprise a lot of people this year, but the Eagles are just extremely young. Coming off back-to-back one-win seasons, picking up three wins will be a remarkable feat with the level of youth on the team. With approximately 70 of 90 players being underclassmen, they’re going to have to grow up fast with a difficult schedule, but the athleticism and talent is there for this team to be close to a .500 team depending on how good other teams are. If players like Tyler Nelson at quarterback can flourish as sophomores, this team won’t just be a surprise, they’ll become a legitimate threat the next three seasons.
2019 RESULTS
@ Pelham Pell City Wetumpka Stanhope Elmore @ Bibb County Selma @ Opelika @ Benjamin Russell @ Chelsea Helena W L L L L L L L L L 27-20 21-27 7-35 15-42 21-40 27-46 0-41 14-54 0-28 3-21
5-YEAR WIN TREND
1
2019 1
2018 7
2017 8
7
2016 2015
Fun Family Dentistry
5075 Hwy 31 Unit B Calera, Al 35040 205-668-7766
Go Eagles!
