11 in 11 Part 10: Daniel McFadden

Senior TE/DE and punter Daniel McFadden is one of the reasons that Ensworth was able to pull one out against Smyrna Friday night as he pulled in a 9 yard touchdown pass from Cody Tollison in overtime. The previous week Daniel missed the McCallie game due to injury but obviously seems to be feeling better. Keeping players like Daniel healthy is a must for the Tigers to have a shot at winning it all.

Q: Daniel, you had a big touchdown catch against Smyrna in overtime. How did you get that wide open?

A: Well, we had run the same play previously, but handed the ball off to Orleans. Then we ran the same type of play, but it was play action. Coach Bowers told the tight ends to really sell our block out on that play, and as I faked my block and went into the endzone, there was no one around.

Q: You play both defensive end and tight end; is it an advantage for you to play both so that you get a better understanding of what you're going up against?

A: Yes it does. Because I play both positions, I know how the offense or defense is thinking when I'm on the opposite side of the ball. It gives me a big advantage.

Q: Have you received much interest from colleges?

A: Yes I have from various schools, but the ones most interested are Brown University, Vanderbilt, Tennessee Tech, and Kentucky.

Q: What will Ensworth have to do to get their first win over Brentwood Academy?

A: Being healthy is the main thing. Other than that, we will have to come out and do what we are taught to do every snap: take no plays off, play as hard and as low as we can and as we know we can. And just play Ensworth Football.

Now on twitter!

Follow us @EHSRUMBLE for in game updates, scores and new posts!

Smyrna Highlights

Rivals

Tigers Get Away With Murder EHS 36 Smyrna 34 OT

After the thriller that had just taken place between two exhausted teams, I sat down on the team bus with junior lineman Miles Karro, and he said, "Brad, can you interview me about the game?????" Sure, Miles, but first let me tell you what I know.

After trailing by 14 points in the fourth quarter Orleans Darkwa who had been out of the game for the entire 3rd quarter after rushing for 196 yards and 2 TD's in the first half scored on a 27 yard option play but failed to convert the 2 point conversion.

After Smyrna missed a 30 yard field goal attempt the Tigers put together a 70 yard drive to tie the game with 18 seconds left with a 10 yard run by Cody Tollison. Orleans then ran over the Bulldog's offensive line for the 2 point play.

In overtime Cody Tollison connected on a 9 yard pass to Daniel McFadden and once more the Tigers converted the 2 point play with another run by Darkwa.

Orleans finished the game with 300 yards on 31 carries and 3 TD's.

However, the Bulldogs answered on their first play in overtime when Steve Wilson connected with Dakota Brown on a 10 yard pass play. But the Bulldogs needed 2, and Wilson's pass fell short of the intended target giving the Tigers the 36-34 OT win.

Prior to all that madness, Smyrna wide receiver Andrew Jenkins scored twice from 60 and 75 yards out on from passes by Steve Wilson to give the Bulldogs the 14 point edge.

Also note than Ensworth turned the ball over 4 times on 3 fumbles and 1 INT giving Smyrna great field position all 4 times.

The Tigers will take on Brentwood Academy next week for homecoming, make sure you're going to be there for that one!

Ensworth @ Smyrna Preview

The Tigers (3-0) will travel to Smyrna to take on the Bulldogs (2-2) Friday night.

This game is a battle between one of the State's top defenses and one of the top offenses. If you are unfamiliar with Bulldog football, they play a very physical game, much like Oakland. Smyrna so far is holding their opponents under 20 points a game and they are coming off a 20-0 win over Siegel.

If you want in game updates, follow me on twitter @ bradhardcastle (linked in the side bar).

11 in 11 Part 9: Malcom Grigsby

Malcom Grigsby has started at linebacker and fullback so far this season. Grigsby is one of the hardest hitters on defense and a reliable rusher on offense. He sat out hurt for the McCallie game, but it looks like he will back on the team in the near future. Malcom's presence will be very important for the Tigers if they want to go farther in the playoffs this season.

Q: Malcom, you were out for the McCallie game, when do you think you'll be back?

A: I think I should be back this Friday against Smyrna. If not, I will definitely be back for Brentwood Academy.

Q:Like many guys on this team, you are a two-way player. Do you like playing on both sides of the ball or do you strongly prefer one?

A:I prefer to play defense but playing offense has become more fun, so going both sides has been a good opportunity.

Q:What do you think the defense can improve on this season?

A:Making more big plays and really shutting teams down from scoring. If we can do that, we will be a dominant defense.


Q:At linebacker you play alongside Myers Beaird and Nantambu Fentress. How big a part of the defense are they?


A:They are a very big part of the defense. They are both versatile and hard working and they make my job a lot easier to know they will make big plays.
Q:At full back do you like fighting for the "tough yards"?

A:Of course. Its always fun to fight inside against those big lineman and linebackers for that extra yardage.

Q:What will Ensworth have to do to beat Smyrna?

A:Be solid on defense and keep our assignments and make running and passing lanes for Cody and Orleans to have a good game.

Tigers Beat Tornadoes 28-13

With two undefeateds going head to head, one would think that a close game would be expected, but the buzz coming into this game did not reflect that. However, this game was not decided until the 4th quarter.

From the appearance of the Tigers’ first drive, it would appear that they would have this one in hand by halftime. The drive was kept alive on 3rd down when Cody Tollison found Corey Sacks on a desperation pass that just happened to find its target 34 yards downfield. Orleans Darkwa, who finished the game with 254 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, took one in from 4 yards out to put the Tigers ahead 7-0. On the Tornadoes’ first drive, they went 3 and out. It looked like all was going well for the Tigers until Orleans Darkwa suffered a shoulder injury and had to come out for 2 series in the 1st quarter.

After the Tigers’ second touchdown, which came from Rodney Anderson when he scored from 10 yards out towards the end of the 1st quarter, the Tornadoes gained wind. Trent Lusk and T.J. Kemp marched the ball down the field and scored on a 15 yard screen pass to John Burkus to cut the Tigers’ lead in half in the second quarter.

Late in the 2nd quarter, the Tigers forced a McCallie punt after a 3 and out from their own 12 yard line, giving Ensworth good field position at the McCallie 44. The Tigers drove the ball all the way to the 8 yard line to set up a 25-yard field goal from Clayton McGlasson. The Tigers didn’t end up capitalizing on the drive, however, since the field goal was pushed wide right. The Tigers only led 14-7 at the half.

Fortunately for the Tigers, the scoring picked up in the 3rd quarter when Nantambu Fentress gave them a short field following an outstanding diving interception. Ensworth drove the ball 36 yards to set up a 4 yard touchdown pass from Cody Tollison to Corey Sacks. Before his touchdown, Sacks had dropped 2 would-be touchdown grabs, but he redeemed himself when he put the Tigers up 21-7 in the 3rd quarter.

McCallie answered back at the beginning of the 4th quarter on their next drive when they got the ball at the Ensworth 39 yard line after Darkwa’s fumble. Trent Lusk hooked up with Keenan Hale for a 10 yard score wide open across the middle. Hudson Brock missed the extra point attempt wide right, which kept the score at 21-13.

Orleans Darkwa led the next Ensworth drive, which culminated in a 27 yard touchdown run on 4th down, widening the gap to 28-13.

With 4:54 left to go, the Tornadoes drove the ball down to the Ensworth 16 yard line before turning the ball over on downs, which ultimately sealed the victory for the Tigers. The final score was 28-13.

Orleans Darkwa broke the school record for career touchdowns with his second of the night, which put him at 49 for his career, 1 ahead of Tavarres Jefferson. The Tigers will take on the Smyrna Bulldogs at Smyrna next Friday.

Ensworth @ McCallie Preview

Sorry guys; I've been sick all week with make-up work to do. We will finish the 11 in 11 series next week.

Last year this was a close one, but this time the Tigers want this one to be over before halftime.

Last year when the Tigers traveled to McCallie the game went to two overtimes and the score did not become final until the tying extra point was missed by the Tornadoes.

McCallie (4-0) has yet to play a top tier opponent but is there any better opportunity to show the state what they're really made of by beating Ensworth (2-0)?

Ensworth had an open week this past week since Tuscola (NC) canceled their game with the Tigers due to economic reasons. The Tigers have been preparing for this game for about two weeks now.

The keys to this game will be for Ensworth to run and for McCallie to stop it.

Orleans Darkwa may be the best running back in the state after coming off a 341 yard and 5 TD game against MBA.

McCallie isn't so bad themselves, putting up an average of 237.5 yards a game. However, dual threat quarterback Keenon Rush, who gave Ensworth fits last year, is out for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL. Stepping up will be senior T.J. Kemp, who will be attending UNC on a lacrosse scholarship. Kemp is averaging 83.2 yards a game on the ground.

Quaterbacking for McCallie will be Trent Lusk, who is averaging less than 100 yards passing but has thrown two touchdowns.

My Take

Ensworth takes it on the ground and will run over the Big Blue 54-21.

11 in 11 Part 8: Myers Beaird

Senior linebacker Myers Beaird will be one of the key players on defense this season. He led the team in tackles last year and he seems to be on pace for that to happen again this season. He had a game-sealing pick 6 against Father Ryan last year to put the Tigers up for good. Can he make he make those same plays this year to help give Ensworth a shot at the state title?

Myers, what are some goals you and the defense have set for this year?

Our goals as a defense are to be the most physical and dominating defense in the state.

Have you received interest from any colleges yet?

I've gotten letters and been in contact with some Ivy League schools and some smaller schools up North.

Have you considered playing safety in college because of your size?

I can see that being a possibility, but I am up for playing whatever they want me to. I need to make it to the next level before I worry about what position I will play.

Do you like being a two-way player?

I love being a two-way player. It's great to be on the field the whole game and help the offense and defense get the job done. You just have to make sure you're well conditioned.

Would you consider our linebacking core as the hardest hitting in the state?

Our defense as a whole and especially our linebackers take pride in punishing the opposing team. Coach Ski and our other defensive coaches have done a great job instilling that mindset in us.

Which of our remaining games do you think will be the toughest to come out on top?

It's impossible to say. Division II is the toughest division of football in the state because every team has talent and great coaches; any of the teams we play can beat us if we don't do our job. We also play Smyrna who is a powerhouse in Division I 6A. We are just taking the season one game at a time. Right now it's McCallie.

No Way!

For the first time ever the Ensworth football team is ranked in the top 25 in the program's third year of DII-AA by Maxpreps.com. But, are we that good? No. The Freeman rankings are pretty much the BCS rankings of high school football; it's all numbers. In a separate poll, Maxpreps Xcellent 25, which is like the AP poll of high school football because it adds the human element of the ranking process, Ensworth is nowhere to be found in the Xcellent 25, and that does not surprise me one bit.

As a football team I say we are one of the elite in the state, but in the country? If you look at the Xcellent 25 ranked number 1, St. Thomas Aquinas High School, they have 18 D1 prospects on their team. That would be like having everyone with say Orleans Darkwa's or Sam Cooper's potential all the way down the depth chart until it reaches Miles Karro... just kidding Miles! In all seriousness you're probably at about 35th, but that's OK. There will be seniors leaving next year, that's how football works. Anyhow, they're good.

Ranked 2nd is Byrnes High School in Duncan, SC. If that name sounds familiar you probably saw them play MBA in the Clinic Bowl at Vanderbilt Stadium before the inception of EHS. If you think we whipped MBA, you have to go back and watch this one. MBA was down nearly 50 points in the 3rd quarter.

Ranked 16th is Don Bosco Prep. The New Jersey prep school is pretty much the Oak Hill Academy of football. Enough said.

Personally I don't think Ensworth stands a chance against any of these schools.

Also, another school that is nowhere to be found in the X25 is Memphis University School (MUS). Again, if you think ending MBA's 15 game home winning streak was impressive, MUS just beat South Panola (MS) at home; it was South Panola's first home loss since 2001. In the Freeman rankings MUS is ranked as the 9th best team in the country.

It will be interesting to see if MUS and EHS can meet up in Cookeville for the game of the year. Many are already saying on the Coacht.com message boards to go ahead and cancel the rest of the season so that the teams are still healthy for the title game. We'll see what happens in December.

Link to rankings

11 in 11 Part 7: Antonio Richardson

Antonio Richardson stands at approximately 6-6 300lbs, yet he seems to have an even larger impact on this Tiger team. Last year Antonio transferred from Mt. Pleasant, TN to become a Tiger; however, he still had eligibility issues and was unavailable for the entire 2008 season. So far, Antonio has been a force. He helped neutralize University of Kentucky commit DL Tim McAdoo to lead Ensworth over Oakland 22-20 in overtime. This week he opened up massive lanes (well... more like highways) for Orleans Darkwa to run through as he picked up 341 rushing yards and scored 5 touchdowns against the Big Red. He is looked upon as the state's number one prospect for the class of 2011. Can Antonio lead the way for the Tigers to their first ever Division II football state title?

Antonio, congratulations on the MBA win. What does that mean to you and the rest of the team?

The win means a lot to us as a team because of the fact that they are our rival, and they do not respect us. I believe that we made a statement to them. The win means a lot to me even though I did not have my best game, because MBA made some very crazy statements about me, so the fact that we beat them felt good.

How hard was it to sit out all of last year with eligibility issues? Were there any positives to taking a year off?

Last year it was hard for me to sit out. I love the game of football, and I want to take it as far as I can, so it was very hard watching my teammates play. On the positive side, it made me a better teammate. I had to be the hype man for the team last year and some what of a water boy, but I enjoyed helping my teammates get better in practice and helping any way that I could. It also gave me time to get stronger, faster, and be devoted to my academics, which are always first.

If you had the choice to go college on a football scholarship anywhere you wanted, where would you go and why?

Right now I have like 20 plus colleges who have sent me letters letting me know that they are giving me looks. I have some that I like, but right now I prefer not to say which ones I like. But I really like the SEC. That is where I want to play, mostly because almost everybody in the SEC is giving me looks, and there are like 4 that I really like.

Which do you like playing more, offense or defense? Which would you rather play in college?

I love playing defense way more than offense. I would rather play defense in college.

As a defensive lineman, are you more comfortable stuffing the run or getting in the backfield?

I am comfortable stuffing the run and getting in the backfield. I can do either one. It's just a thing of being in good condition. Playing both sides of the ball with not much rest can be tiring at times.

On offense, are you a better run or pass blocker?

On offense, I'm good at both, but I don't think I'm as good on offense as I am on defense. It might just be the fact that I love defense more.

What game are you most looking forward to during the remainder of this season?

Now that we have gotten past Oakland and MBA, the game I believe I am looking forward to is Brentwood Academy. It will be a physical game.

Around The Web 9/7/09

No Doubt Who's #1

Ensworth Ends MBA's Home Win Streak

My Summary on Rivals

Tigers Maul Big Red 50-21

It was about time this game did not live up to the hype; it was Ensworth's from the first series.

On MBA's opening drive they were forced to punt on 4th down, and from that point, it just got worse for the Big Red.

The Tigers drove the ball down the field with ease. Orleans Darkwa scored from 10 yards out and Jacob Carter ran in the 2 pt conversion because of a bad snap on the PAT attempt.

MBA was stopped once more and Darkwa took one to the house from 54 yards out. This became the theme for the night. Orleans finished the game with 5 touchdowns and 341 rushing yards on 29 carries.

Before the half the Tigers took advantage of Quinn Hamilton's first interception of the year. With just over 40 seconds left, Cody Tollison found a wide open Daniel McFadden who ran it all the way to the MBA 4 yard line. With just seconds remaining, Tollison threw a jump ball in the end zone, and Carter came down with a remarkable catch even though pass interference was called on MBA. Ensworth missed the 2 point conversion. The score at halftime was 28-7.

Colbert's Season

MBA lost a lot more than just a rivalry game Friday night: they lost their quarterback, Luke Colbert.

Colbert scored MBA's only touchdown of the first half, but he took a hit to the head when he was crossing the goal line.

MBA and Ensworth students both ask to keep Luke and his family in your prayers.

Colbert was replaced by backup quarterback Van East. MBA might try senior wide receiver Holden Mobley at quarterback next week against Independence.

2nd Half

Ensworth scored on their opening drive after a 13 yard touchdown run by Orleans. Soon after, MBA running back Tyler Franks scored from 66 yards out.
Rodney Anderson responded with a touchdown run off of an option pitch from Cody Tollison.

From then on, the Tigers put in the 2nd team and the celebration began in the EHS student section.

The Tigers have an off week since the Tuscola game was canceled, but they will face McCallie on the road the following week.

11 in 11 Part 6: Jacob Carter

Senior wide receiver and defensive back Jacob Carter is one of the most vital members of this year's team. Jacob is also a kick and punt returner as well as a kicker and a punter. Last week against Oakland, Jacob had a 25 yard punt return that ultimately set up the game tying touchdown. Can he do it again against MBA?

Jacob, you had a game changing punt return against Oakland that gave us great field position. How did you manage to get past most of their cover unit?

My blockers; that's about all I can say. I didn't really have to do much to find a hole. Everyone blocked great.

You had a nice interception in that game as well, do you like being a two-way player?

Thanks, yeah I enjoy it a lot. It's fun to be on the field the whole game. I think being a two-way player helps me understand the game better and to become more "football smart".

Before the Oakland game you received an honor; can you explain exactly what you received and what it means to you?

Yes, I was nominated for a $5,000 scholarship from the Captain D's Thursday Night Lights for Ensworth High School. At the end of the season they pick a nominated player from the Thursday night games, and he receives the scholarship. It means a lot to me to be nominated for Ensworth, but there are plenty of players on the team that could have received this honor instead of me.

Kicking was a weakness for this team last year, what have we been doing to improve the kicking game?

Drew Parker (holder) and I have been coming out to practice early just getting some reps so we can become more consistent with our kicking game. There is always room for improvement.

Are you excited to have a quarterback like Cody Tollison throwing your way?

Yeah, it's very exciting to have him back there at quarterback. He's got some big shoes to fill, but I know he will be able fill them, if not make them bigger. And I know he has a lot of faith in the receiving corps to come up with the ball when he puts it in the air.

How close do you think the MBA game is going to be? Do you think you can have success against their secondary and special teams?

Well I hope it isn't close at all. MBA is a great team every year and they are going to play their best game against us because of all the hype. So it will be a competitive and fun game to play. I think we have a good chance at success against their secondary because they will have to respect our run game. I'm not sure if we can do much about Fletcher and their kicking game, but hopefully we will be able to return some punts against them. We'll see what happens.

Have you received interest from any colleges?

Yeah, a little, nothing that big though.

What does this team have to do to get to state?

We have to come out every week and play our game. If we do that, we'll be all right.

Around The Web 9/5/09

MBA Streak Will be Tested

11 in 11 Part 5: Corey Sacks

Senior Corey Sacks has played cornerback all four years that he has been an Ensworth Tiger, and now he is going to play wide receiver on the other side of the ball as well. Corey is very fast and has a knack for the ball when it's in the air. He is also back as a returner on kickoffs as well. Last year Corey had to sit out the first few games with a knee injury, but now he's all better and ready to go. The play of Corey Sacks will be very crucial for the Tigers since their schedule is one of the toughest in the state. On that schedule is MBA, one of the state's best passing offenses. Will Corey help slow down MBA's passing attack?

Corey, you have played cornerback every year so far at EHS. With Michael Dunn and Richard Bowers gone, you are going to be one of the main guys at wide receiver this year; do you like the position?

I like wide receiver because it gives me the opportunity to score. It's always exciting when you have a good quarterback throwing to you.

I understand you have been to some camps over the summer, have you received interest from any school yet?

I've been to TCU, Tennessee, and Louisville. I've had some interest from MTSU.

How good do you think our receiving corps and our secondary is this year compared to last year's?

We have a very good receiving corps this year with Jacob and me catching the passes from Cody. He has good enough faith in us to where if he throws it, he knows one of us is going to come up with the ball. Our secondary this year is very fast, and we will make a lot of plays this year. We are all upperclassmen and leaders on the field.

What was going through your mind when you scored the touchdown against Oakland to send the game to overtime?

When I caught the screen pass from Cody I was determined to score a touchdown; my adrenaline was pumping so it made me run a little faster. It was late in the 4th quarter and it was time to make a play. The whole team executed perfectly, and I had great blocking.

What will EHS have to do to beat MBA? What will be the deciding factor?

To win against MBA this Friday, it will come to which team is better conditioned and more physical in the 4th quarter.

Do you feel that this team can go farther than last year's?

This team has a great chance of winning the state championship, but so does every other team we play. We have to play every game like its our last if we have any shot of making to the championship.
________________________________________

Ensworth VS. MBA Preview

It's almost here, the game that everybody has been waiting for since last year's game ended with the score 41-28 EHS. Last year's game was a seesaw battle for momentum after the Tigers got off to a 21-0 start that later dissolved into a 28-27 deficit. Then after, MBA had every bit of momentum, Tavarres Jefferson took it all away with two remarkable touchdown runs that put the Tigers up for good.

Last year's win was the first victory over MBA in Ensworth's second year of competition in Division 2-AA.

Build Up

Last year's matchup was probably one of the most hyped high school football games in Nashville in years. I remember sitting in class days before the game looking out the window and watching the TV truck setting up and bleachers being moved to the end zones. As Friday came closer the talk got louder. One hour before the game all the students from both schools gathered and participated in pre-game rituals that got a bit out of hand: afterwards two MBA students were brought in front of their honor council. During the game the students did not get out of hand since the two sections were roped off to keep the students separated and out of trouble.

DOUBLE O-D

Last year running back Orleans Darkwa had touchdowns from 99 and 80 yards out. The game was probably Darkwa's best ever as an Ensworth Tiger. He will be probably the biggest factor for both teams Friday night.

How to Win

1. Run

2. Run

3. And Run some more! Seriously, though, the running game is crucial to both teams. The ability to get the offensive push from the offensive line will be key in this game. I think Ensworth has the edge on this one with Darkwa getting the touches behind a great offensive line but MBA's senior running back Fitz Lassing ran over Maplewood last week with 145 yards and 2 touchdowns.

4. Momentum- I don't think I need to tell Ensworth or MBA students, fans, or players that this is an emotional game. Neither team can hang their head because both teams are talented enough and so well coached you will get run over physically and on the scoreboard if you are caught out of place or not giving 100%. Just ask Maplewood or Oakland.

5. 4th quarter- This is most likely going to be a full 48 minute game. The team that runs and hits with the same intensity in the 1st quarter as they do in the 4th quarter will have a huge advantage.

Key Players-Ensworth

Both of these teams are loaded with talent. Most people know to keep an eye on Orleans Darkwa, who rushed for almost 2,000 yards last year, but everyone now is watching junior two-way lineman 6'6" 330lb Antonio Richardson. Richardson can take over a game on his own by getting in the backfield every play, and he is considered the best prospect in Tennessee for the class of 2011. Also keep an eye on Clemson commit Sam Cooper, who can be a terror at defensive end but can also catch passes at tight end.

MBA

Luke Colbert has put together two good games so far this year. The game relies much on Colbert's ability to step outside the pocket and find an open William Tanner or Holden Mobely. Fitz Lassing on the offensive end put up big numbers last week against Maplewood as mentioned earlier, but also keep an eye on linebacker prospect Brad Bars who put up great numbers up against Pearl-Cohn.

My Take

This game is going to come down to physicality and overall strength, which should favor Ensworth over MBA. However, I would have said that about the MBA vs Maplewood game last week, and that speaks to MBA's great coaching staff. I think this one will be decided in the 4th quarter, and with Ensworth's downhill crash and bang style of play on both sides of the ball, I have to give it to them. 42-30 EHS.
Read at TNVarsity.com

11 in 11 Part 4: Rodney Anderson

Rodney Anderson is an up and coming prospect in Tennessee. Rodney got a lot of first team reps late in his freshman year as a defensive back, even in the final playoff game against Brentwood Academy. Unfortunately, last season, Rodney missed most of the season with a torn ACL. Now he's back. Against Oakland he had 5 tackles playing safety, but a lot more than tackling lies ahead for Rodney. He can play almost any position with his strength and speed. He can return punts and kicks, and he can line up as a wide receiver or as a tailback on offense. On defense he can play anywhere from corner or safety to linebacker. We will see if Rodney was the missing piece to last year's team.

Rodney, we didn't see you on offense much in the game vs. Oakland... why is that? Do you have to be more careful since you tore your ACL last season, and has it affected your playing ability this season?

I didn't play much offense in the game against Oakland because Coach Bowers and Ms. Megan were trying to be safe, and they didn't think I was ready to be hit in the legs, and yes I do have to be more careful since my injury last season, but I'm comfortable now to where I don't feel the soreness. It has affected my game just a bit. It only affected my cutting and stopping.

Do you prefer playing offense or defense? Do you see yourself as a two-way player?

I prefer to play offense but right now I don't have a choice; I do play as a two-way player, and I'm fine with it.

Next year we will lose Orleans Darkwa and Malcom Grigsby due to graduation, do you think you will be the primary tailback next season?

Losing Orleans and Malcom, I do think that I will become the primary back, but not the only back. There are plenty more tailbacks like Quinn Hamilton and Marcus McAlpin that could also play in this position.

Who will be handling most of the kickoff and punt returns this year?

The people handling the kickoffs and punt returns will be Jacob Carter, Quinn Hamilton, Corey Sacks and Orleans, but I will get back there as punt returner sometimes.

In practice you have been seeing some time at wide receiver; is that a position you like playing?

I do kind of play wide receiver; I mean its not something that I like to play, but this year I see more of the field with it in the game right now.

Have you received interest from any colleges yet?

No, I have not had any colleges that are interested in me except for camps and questionnaires.

Do you think this team has a shot at state?

Yes, I think we do have a good chance at state this year.

11 in 11 Part 3: Sam Cooper

Sam Cooper is one of the most highly regarded players at the tight end and defensive end positions in Tennessee. He is a 6’5" 230lb target for quarterback Cody Tollison and a terror for opponents. Sam committed to Clemson University in late July of this year. Will Sam’s big play result in big results for the Tigers this season?

Sam, congratulations on committing to Clemson this summer, why did you choose Clemson?

Thank you. I am extremely excited to be a Clemson Tiger. I chose Clemson because the coaching staff is phenomenal. They are people that I want to work for, and I feel like it is a perfect fit. Also, they are graduating a lot of tight ends this year and the next, and on the depth chart it is a dream of an opportunity for a TE in this signing class. The facilities are brand new and second to none; the place is very impressive.

How many more balls do you think will be thrown your way this season with a true passing quarterback like Cody Tollison?

It's tough to tell right now. We have an incredible backfield to work with. It all comes down to what the team needs in order to win football games.

How much have you improved on the defensive end?

We as a defensive line/end unit are always working. Coach Hiett is constantly drilling fundamentals; we can and always need to be better. We are putting the effort and determination forth to become a great D line unit.

What position do you think you will play as a Clemson Tiger?

I am recruited as a tight end.

Would you consider yourself as a receiving or blocking tight end?

In our previous run based offense I was mostly a blocking tight end, but I am working to be whatever the team needs me to be.

What do you think of the new knee/leg braces you and the other linemen are wearing this year?

It's a comfort knowing that your knees are protected, especially as a tall player. As a tight end I can tell it is harder to move in them, but after a few weeks we were all used to them.

Do you think EHS has a shot at the state title this year?

Absolutely. We are definitely a team to watch for. Our team as a unit has the chance to be great, and each day we are putting forth the effort to reach that goal.