Chelsea

HORNETS

The Chelsea Hornets were three losses by three points or less away from being a nine-win team last season. Instead, the Hornets finished 4-7 overall with a a first-round playoff exit at the hands of eventual Class 6A State Champion Oxford.

Now, the Hornets head into the 2020 season knowing what is possible, but also in a position of replacing a lot of last year’s talent during a summer in which they have little time in pads.

This year’s team features 22 seniors and nine returning starters, but six of those returnees are on the defensive side of the ball, making the offense extremely inexperienced this year.

Having to replace a starting quarterback, all starters on the offensive line and all starters at linebacker with spring practice canceled is cause for concern. But the coaching staff is expecting to see players step up once the pads are on.

MEET THE TEAM

QUARTERBACK

For the third year in a row, Goodwin will be looking for a new quarterback with the departure of Caleb Moore. Nic Neaves, a 6-foot, 155-pound senior was the backup last year and is going to get a strong look as the starter this season, while junior Cooper Griffin and sophomore Hayden Garrison will also battle at the position. All three of those athletes have been in Goodwin’s system for at least a year with Neaves and Cooper in it for two years. That’s key with Goodwin’s offensive philosophy, which is as good as the quarterback. Griffin is the younger brother of Turner Griffin, who was the starter on Goodwin’s first team with the Hornets two years ago, while Garrison has the best size of the three at 6-foot-3, 170 pounds.

RUNNING BACK

A three-year starter, Collier Blair isn’t just back as one of the top running backs in the county this year, but he also returns as one of the strongest leaders. Now a senior, his special career will come to an end this season, and he returns a bulk of Chelsea’s offensive production. Last season, Blair posted 1,048 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 200 carries, while also adding 187 receiving yards and three touchdowns through the air. Depth is a concern at the position, especially with what will be an

CLASSIFICATION

AHSAA Class 6A, Region 5

2019 RECORD

5-6 (3-3)

HEAD COACH Dustin Goodwin

RECORD

7-14 (Third year)

ASSISTANT COACHES

Zeb Ellison, Kyle Caldwell, Gerald Neaves, Lee Hibbs, Ted Darby, Kerry Gleaton, Dylan Seabolt, Stephen Clark, Lee Hibbs Jr.

LAST REGION TITLE

2006

LAST PLAYOFF GAME

2019

Adam Reaves

Collier Blair

inexperienced offensive line, but the coaching staff is searching for the right fit to help take pressure off Blair and keep him healthy.

RECEIVERS

A bright spot for whoever wins the quarterback position will be the return of three receivers with experience this year. Gabe Ruffin and Holton Smith are both returning starters, while Adam Reaves returns a lot of experience. Ruffin will bring the more physical size to the table at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, while Smith and Reaves are both around 5-foot-8, 155 pounds and bring speed. Thomas Simpson will also compete for time at the position and brings a little more size to the table. A junior this season, Simpson stands at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Last year, offensive line was one of the strongest units for Chelsea. This year, however, the Hornets will have some major holes to fill up front, replacing all of the position’s starters. Heading into fall practice, Cody Cooper, a 6-foot-1, 260-pound senior, was the

2020 SCHEDULE

Aug. 21: @ Oak Mountain Aug. 28: Helena Sept. 4: Briarwood* Sept. 11: @ Homewood* Sept. 18: Bye Sept. 25: @ Pelham Oct. 2: Woodlawn* Oct. 8: Huffman* (Thursday) Oct. 16: @ Shades Valley* Oct. 23: @ Mountain Brook* Oct. 30: Calera

*Region game

only lineman the coaching staff was 100-percent confident in starting. Behind him, they hadn’t seen any of the other players in pads yet to get a good feel for who would fill in at the position. Losing guys like Charlie Parkinson, Ty Adema and Baker Hix will be a major blow on the line.

DEFENSIVE LINE

While the offensive line will have be missing its key players, the defensive line will return two juniors that started as sophomores in Marquis Turner and Garyson Maddox. Turner brings a size of 5-foot-11, 190 pounds to the position,

Collier Blair, RB

Totaling 1,048 yards last season and heading into his fourth year as a starter, Blair will be the engine behind the entire team.

Gabe Ruffin, WR

Ruffin will be one of three returning receivers this year and will be the most physical at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds.

Cody Cooper, OL

As the only offensive linemen that had any experience going into fall practice, Cooper will have to be a leader during his senior season.

Chandler Pruitt, DB

The leader of the defense, Pruitt has plenty of starting experience and will be a senior with a broad range thanks to his 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame.

Chad Carbonie, DB

Carbonie will join Pruitt and three others as returnees in the secondary this year, and is coming off an impressive junior season.

Chandler Pruitt

KEY DEPARTURES

Michael Gibbs

Last year’s leading receiver, Chelsea will miss the 618 receiving yards and 135 rushing yards Gibbs brought to the team.

Colby Clements

Clements was the team’s leading tackler last season despite playing through injuries and is one of three starting linebackers gone.

Caleb Moore

While it took some time, Moore became a strong starting quarterback for the Hornets. Now, they’ll be starting their third new quarterback in as many years.

Jordan Smith

Smith totaled seven tackles for loss and three sacks last year and was always around the ball. He is another linebacker that will be missed.

Ladarius Gary Gary was an athletic playmaker that could make plays on both sides of the ball, and was really good in space playing defense.

CONQUERING QB1 For the third consecutive year and in each of Goodwin’s first three years, the Hornets are forced to replace their starting quarterback going into the 2020 season. It has taken a while each of the last two years for a quarterback to get comfortable. Now, Chelsea is in a similar situation this year with three players battling, led by Nic Neaves. The three battling for the position have been in Goodwin’s system for two years now, which should help, but they’ll have to show they understand it at game speed early behind an inexperienced offensive line for this year’s team to be successful.

WIN THE CLOSE ONES Chelsea was a combined six points in three games away from finishing the regular season 9-1 last year with a region championship. The Hornets lost three games by three points or less, including a two-point loss and a one-point loss. Last year, that forced the Hornets into the fourth seed in the region. This year, the schedule may be a bit tougher and those losses could be the difference in making the playoffs altogether.

CONTINUE THE TREND More than anything going into the 2020 season, Chelsea needs to continue the trend under Goodwin. They went from two wins in year one to winning five games in year two with three losses by three points or less and a forfeited loss to Briarwood due to an ineligible player. The talent hasn’t been overwhelming across the board the last two years, but the team has still made drastic improvements due to the ability to buy in and work together. Once again, they’ll be inexperienced this year with the exception of three positional units, but continuing the trend upward should be the main focus of the players and staff.

BLAIR’S FINAL RIDE When he came onto the scene as a freshman, the coaching staff was excited about what Collier Blair brought to the table as a versatile back. His smaller size didn’t bother anyone, and he’s proved the last three years that he is pound-for-pound one of the most physical players on the field. Now, he enters his senior season off a 1,000-plus yard junior year, and he’ll look to close out his special career by being a leader for an inexperienced team.

2020 Chelsea Roster

NO. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 35 36 37 39 40 41 NAME Collier Blair Hasani Burn Rickey Whited Marquis Turner Gabe Ruffin Donovan Bivens Chris McNeill JyDarian McKinney Adam Reaves Evan Jones Hayden Garison Nic Neaves Alex Trout Cooper Griffin Thomas Simpson Holton Smith Jackson Bailey Gabe Senn Evan Durham Cade Turner Kevin LaGrande Jake Adams Griffin Parrish Darnelle Manuel Cody Fortenberry Ernest Moore Chandler Pruitt Austin Freer Jake Deavers Austin Rigdon Chad Carbonie Josh Williams Jesse Newton Carson Freeman Brock Forehand Kalob Johnstone Nathan Smith POSITION

RB WR/DB WR/DB DL/LB WR FB RB/DB WR/DB WR/QB WR/DB QB/DB QB/S K QB/S WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB LB/TE RB/LB WR/DB WR/DB DB/RB WR/DB WR/DB TE/DE RB/DB FS/TE WR/DB RB/LB WR/DB RB RB/DB WR/DB FS/WR DB/WR RB/LB WR/DB

YEAR

12 12 12 11 12 12 10 10 12 11 10 12 12 11 11 12 11 11 11 11 11 12 11 12 10 11 12 10 10 10 12 11 10 12 12 10 10

NO. 43 44 45 47 48 51 52 53 54 55 56 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 71 73 77 78 80 81 82 83 84 85 87 88 90 91 NAME Hamp Waller Jackson Laughlin Mason Mosko Sam Niven Ty Forehand Will Fant Kaleb Thomason Harrison Dummier Brady Clements Walker Williams Fermin Martinez Jaeden Bennett James Turnes Roman Ateaga Xander Echols Connor Beane Carson Khalidi Peyton Griffith Ethan Herndon Cesar Madrid Aiden Williamson Garyson Maddox Cody Cooper Emmanuel Waller Ethan Vickers Eli Berg Clay Green Colin Moore Josh Christian Blake Page Bryant Harris Ben Nichols Jacob “Bear” Maxwell Robi Nauert Connor Ridderhoff Nathan Cisneros POSITION

DB/WR LB/TE LB/WR P WR/DB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL LS OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL DL/TE OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL WR/DB WR/DB DE/TE WR/DB DE/TE WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB LS WR/DB

YEAR

12 10 11 12 11 11 11 11 10 10 11 10 10 10 12 10 10 12 10 10 10 11 12 10 11 12 10 11 10 11 11 10 11 10 11 10

while Maddox holds a frame of 6-foot-2, 200 pounds. Those two should help this position be more of a bright spot after it was a concern a season ago. The coaching staff is also excited about the ability of some young players, but hasn’t seen them in pads yet this season and is still trying to determine who will handle nose guard. LINEBACKERS

Possibly the most worrisome spot on the team, Chelsea will be replacing all of its linebackers heading into the season. Last year, Colby Clements, Cole Berryman and Jordan Smith combined for more than 100 tackles, including 16 tackles for loss and five sacks. With the departure of all three, there are big shoes to fill. Senior Donovan Bivens is the only player back with significant experience, while several inexperienced young players will be looked

upon to step up and join him. SECONDARY

For what the front seven lacks in experience, the secondary makes up for. All of the unit’s starters are back and will be seniors, including safeties Chandler

Pruitt and Carson Freeman. Pruitt isn’t just one of the most important leaders on the team, but brings a frame of 6-foot-2, 190 pounds to the defense and is considered a “diamond in the rough” by the coaches. At cornerback, three others return experience in Hasani Lyons, Chad Carbonie and Jake Adams. All three of those players are

returning starters who play well in coverage. Those five players are trustworthy athletes the coaching staff can count on.

SPECIAL TEAMS

While starting kicker Cooper Neal is gone, taking with him 37 of 38 made PATs and a long field goal of 49 yards, the Hornets do return starting punter Sam Niven, who is one of the best in the state, and long snapper Xander Echols, who is committed to UAB. The coaches are working out different kickers to handle extra point attempts and kickoffs, and feel good about finding the right athlete to handle the return game.

EDITOR’S 2020 PREDICTION (5-5)

There is no hiding Chelsea’s inexperience going into the season with no spring practice. The Hornets may take the biggest hit of any local team when it comes to COVID-19, because they hadn’t gotten to see battles at key positions with pads on until fall practice started on July 27. I have faith that the defense can come along, mainly because of the talent in the secondary, but the offense is replacing so much at the two most important positions—quarterback and offensive line. If the offensive line can come along to give Blair the proper running holes and allow the quarterback to have time to make decisions with a solid receiving corps, then this team will be better than 5-5. But the schedule is difficult, and several new faces are going to have to prove themselves for Chelsea to be successful.

Go Hornets! Representative Corley Ellis Alabama House District 41

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Ready to lead

Collier Blair and Chandler Pruitt set for big role

Written by ALEC ETHEREDGE | Photos by KEITH MCCOY AND CARI DEAN

SITTING IN THE CAFETERIA IN FOURTH

GRADE, Collier Blair walked up to Chandler Pruitt and decided the two would become friends. Now, nine years later, the Chelsea seniors are set to play their final football season together for the Hornets, and each is expected to lead their respective side of the ball.

“It’s gone by in a hurry,” Blair said. “Chandler and I both have been best friends forever. Now, we get to play one last season together after playing with each other really since the fourth grade. He’s the leader on the defense and I’m the leader on the offense.”

After playing on different teams in the third grade, the two met in the lunchroom a year later and happened upon the same rec league team that same year.

From that point forward, the two rising seniors at Chelsea were on the same team every year aside from their freshman season.

“In fifth grade, I played quarterback and he was running back, so we both ran the offense,” Pruitt said. “It was fun to have him running next to me, and I got to hand him and toss him the ball. It was really cool and helped our friendship grow.”

That lasted through middle school football, but when the duo reached Chelsea High School, they were split up.

“I played freshman football that year, but he was up playing on the varsity,” Pruitt said. “It was really weird not being on the same team together.”

But then they were reunited a year later as sophomores when Blair was a key leader at running back and Pruitt was taking over the reigns as a defensive back with a promising future.

Now, heading into their senior seasons together, the two are not only gearing up to handle the emotions of their final year together, but they’re set to try and help Chelsea take the

next step as leaders.

Last year, the Hornets finished 5-6 overall with a forfeited loss against Briarwood that they actually won 17-14 as well as three losses in a row by three points or less that prevented an eight-game winning streak and a region championship.

As seniors, Blair will have to handle new starters all around him on offense, while Pruitt will be grooming several inexperienced defenders as well.

Each knows if the Hornets are going to be successful this season, it will start with their ability to lead and help their side of the ball.

For Blair, he will be tasked with helping a new offensive line and new quarterback get comfortable within the offense.

“The main focus that we have is finding the guys that we can count on,” he said. “Nobody except for maybe a couple of plays has any varsity experience on the offensive line. We only have one senior so we’re focusing on getting those guys ready. Learning the plays and getting the techniques down is key. We never have the biggest line, so we rely on technique. If we can get them tough, strong and know where

they are going, that’s all we can hope for.”

Having started since his freshman season, Blair said this will be the fourth different line he’s played with, losing seniors from the position every year.

With him being a running back, forming a relationship with that unit is key because he can only go as far as they’ll let him.

“I need to be able to give pointers and show them what I’m seeing from the position,” Blair said. “I’ve experienced this and know where mistakes happen. I hope as an older starter, I can help them overcome any fears and doubt.”

Blair feels ready to take on that role because he’s seen seniors lead for the last three years.

“Ever since I was a freshman, I wanted to give that extra effort to match the seniors and have carried that with me each year,” Blair said. “My leadership role is to make them accountable for themselves and their teammates. You have to give everything 100 percent of the time. If I’m doing that as a senior, that will make the younger guys want to work that hard to match it.”

As for Pruitt, he’s focusing on many of the same leadership

skills for the defense.

Playing as a safety in the secondary as a two-year starter, Pruitt has the task of teaching younger players one of the most difficult aspects of the game–coverage.

“Right now, I’m making sure everybody understands the coverages,” he said. “My sophomore year, the coaches and players were trying to do that with me, and I needed somebody to sit down and explain it to me. It’s hard. So I try to explain it better and do it hands on and remember what I struggled with. I try to stand behind the guys so I can point things out for them. It’s a complicated position to play.”

Last year’s defense gave up an average of 22.7 points per game, which ended up being the best the defense has played since the 2010 defense gave up 19.2 points per game.

Now Pruitt will largely be tasked with helping this year’s defense continue that trend and not take a step back.

“It’s going to have to be us playing until the whistle every single play,” he said. “We know we have a chance, we just can’t make mistakes like penalties and letting receivers run by us. If we learn from last year’s mistakes and improve this

year, we’ll be better.” As for his personal game, Pruitt has seen his understanding and decision-making speed up. “Knowing what to do has been burned into my head the last three years,” he said. “I know what coach (Zeb) Ellison wants on that side of the ball. I can see what is happening so much faster now. Sometimes I see it before him because I’m on the field, which helps speed up our play and calling things out before each snap.” Going into their senior seasons, both Blair and Pruitt realize it’s their final time suiting up on the same team, which is sad, but it’s a moment they’ll cherish together one last time.

“My freshman year, I watched my brother play his final game. It was sad,” Pruitt said. “I said I wouldn’t be that sad during my final season. But now that I’ve been in the locker room and seen it come and go so fast. It’s really sad. I’m playing my last season of high school football. The kids I’ve grown up playing with, I may not touch a football with them again and won’t put pads on and have that family bond with them again. All the work we’ve put in since fourth grade up to our senior year, it’s just sad to know it’s coming to an end.”

“It’s definitely gone by in a hurry,” Blair said. “I didn’t expect senior year to get here this fast. It’s a shock. I always felt like I was older because I was playing with older players and wondered when I was going to be a senior. Now it’s here and I wish I was younger. It’s a sad thing that it’s almost over, but now I have to live in the moment and enjoy my time with my buddies.”

300 Jade Park, Suite 301 Chelsea www.chelseabraces.com 205-678-2770