2 Wednesday, August 21, 2019
By Allen Earl allen.earl@claiborneprogress.net
Claiborne Progress
PREVIEW
CHS Bulldogs 2019 football preview
Claiborne football is in position to make a positive turn this season if they can remain healthy. Several players are returning for their third year as starters on the Bulldogs team. The quarterback position is strong with junior Eli Stone. Coach Nathan Medlin spoke about his QB, “Eli will be expected to carry a little more weight. We think he is ready to lead the offense by both running and passing the ball. The defense we play will dictate the type of offense we run. Sometimes it will be best to run and other times it will be best to throw the ball, and we will expect Eli to be the leader and take charge.” Stone will be backed up by Stormy Livesay and at times Daniel Eversole. Both are dynamic when running with the ball and can surprise when passing is needed. When it comes to the running backs and wide receivers Hadyn Hollin is a two-time all-region wide out and may see time in the right end position. Joining him will be Jimmy Del Ervin, Ethan Poore, Eversole and
Issac Lester. The offensive line looks to have some good athletes and may be become a very good line. Grant Johnson, Will Fugate, Tristan Cowan along with Max Tuttle and Joey Brown are the ones that will be steady performers and get the bulk of the time. Defensively, there are several looking to win spots including Dillan Turner, James Satkowski, James Reeves, Fabien Moore and Trey Smith. The linebackers will include Stone, although Medlin will try to use him sparingly, Johnson, Ervin, Max Tuttle and Josef Buis. The secondary will feature Hollin, Poore, Eversole, Lester and Michael Littrell, who has been surprisingly good in scrimmages. Medlin needs his defense to stay healthy. Stone, Livesay and Ervin will combine efforts to kick for the Bulldogs and likely punt as well. As far as kick and punt returners, look for Buis to have several chances to make a difference. Livesay, Poore and Ervin could get time on special teams as well. When asked about the strength of the
team will be Medlin said, “No doubt it is our experience coming back, but as a whole I feel each player will play for his teammates. They play hard for each other and coaches do not have to coach effort.” When asked about a weakness he added, “Depth. Once again we will struggle with depth, and if we can stay healthy we will be very competitive.” Success is defined by fans in wins and losses and Medlin knows this but still he looks at the bigger picture, “Success can be
defined with wins and losses, but that’s not entirely what I define it as. We will have a successful season if our players give us their all, play as a team and for each other. It’s our job as coaches to do the absolute best with what we are given. We have a goal to compete in our region and make the playoffs for the third consecutive season. We have to thank the fans and community for the support and at the end of the season I hope the community will see we produced great young men.”
The 2019 Claiborne roster 2 Jimmy Del Ervin Jr. WR/DB 3 Storm Livesay Jr. RB/LB 4 Eli Stone Jr. QB/DB 5 Jeremy Payne Soph TE/LB 6 Greg Goins Sr. RB/DB 11 Michael Littrell Sr. WR/DB 14 Hunter Walker Fr WR/DB 15 Haydn Hollin Sr. WR/DB 16 Josef Buis Fr RB/LB 18 Isaac Lester Soph. WR/DB 19 Corey Edmondson Jr. QB/DB 20 Ethan Poore Sr. WR/DB 21 Daniel Eversole Soph. WR/DB 25 Joseph Coleman Soph. WR/DB 28 Ashton Putney Fr. TE/DB 32 John Howell Soph WR/DB 50 Justin Robinson Fr. OL/DL 52 Grant Johnson Jr. OL/LB 54 Max Tuttle Sr. OL/DL 56 Tristan Cowan Jr. OL/DL 57 Ethan Short Fr. OL/DL 62 Dylan Turner Jr. OL/DL 65 Trey Smith Fr. OL/DL
68 Joey Brown Soph. OL/DL 71 Will Fugate Jr. OL/DL 73 Clay Posey Jr. OL/DL 77 James Satkowski Soph. OL/DL 78 Fabian Moore Fr. OL/DL 80 Christian Tribell Soph. WR/DB Coaches: Nathan Medlin Assistant: Jake Walker
2019 Claiborne Football Schedule Aug. 23 Pigeon Forge Aug. 30 @ Union County Sept. 6 West Greene Sept. 13 Unaka Sept. 20 @ Unicoi County Sept. 27 OPEN Oct. 4 @ Johnson County Oct. 11 @ Cosby Oct. 18 Chuckey-Doak Oct. 25 @ Cumberland Gap Nov. 1 North Greene
PREVIEW
Claiborne Progress
2019 Claiborne High School Bulldogs football team
We Are Very Proud of Our Team!
Go Claiborne High School!
Good Luck!
1403 TAZEWELL ROAD • P.O. BOX 179 • TAZEWELL, TN 37879 PHONE: (423) 626-3543
Wednesday, August 21, 2019 3
Allen Earl | Claiborne Progress
Claiborne Progress
PREVIEW
4 Wednesday, August 21, 2019
2019 Cumberland Gap Panthers football preview By Allen Earl allen.earl@claiborneprogress.net
Senior quarterback Caden Brunsma will be the key to the Cumberland Gap Panthers football team during the 2019 season. The third-year starter will be challenged by the coaching staff to become more of a dual-threat quarterback than ever. The Panthers will expand the offense more to allow him the opportunity to lead the team. Holdin McDaniel and Lance Owens will be charged with backing him up and will be ready to step in and play the position. When asked about his running backs coach DeLynn Cline had this to say, “Logan Miracle has my confidence because he just keeps getting better and better. I think he’s going to have a breakout season. We also have Kenny Vaughn who offers us a different style and a nice change of pace as a junior.” The wide receivers are talented and will be productive in this offense. McDaniel, Nate Fuson and Ethan Daniels will be split
out wide or in the slot with Eli Wilson and Jacob Beaty serving as tight ends. On the offensive line there are two returning starters, Trey Turner and Parker Adams. Dalton Cornett, Blake Elliott, Matthew Goins and Jared Peters will also battle for more time on the field. “This line could be one of the strengths of the team or a weakness depending on how they work together,” said Cline. The defensive line will return three out of four starters. Cornett, Elliott and Turner will anchor the line with Cody Mabes tabbed to fill in the huge holes left when Tyler Raines graduated. At the linebacker position there are two big holes to fill left by graduations of Darren Robertson and Brady Pearman. Beaty will be the quarterback of the defense and has the experience to teach and be a guide for Tyler Mayes, Lance Owens, Bryson Ellis, Eli Wilson and Logan Miracle. Cline spoke of his secondary that should be a strength of the team, “We have three returning starters in Nate Fuson, McDaniel and Ethan Daniels. We hope that
a
Vaughn can step up and provide a solid corner position for us, and Logan Daniels is showing a lot of potential at the spot as well.” Kickoffs and field goals will be provided by Drew Ramsey and there is a spot for someone to step up and take at the punter position. Returning the ball will be Fuson and McDaniel. When asked about what a successful season would be like Cline said, “I think
getting better each time out will be what defines a successful season for us. Improving every week is something we need to do since we have likely the hardest schedule since I returned as coach. We are going to play great teams, and I want us to compete and improve.” In a statement to the fans, Cline added, “We want to invite everyone out. This team will be fun to watch and we promise a fun and exciting style of football.”
2019 Cumberland Gap Roster
2019 Cumberland Gap Football Schedule
Jacob Beatty Nate fuson Cade Rogers Ranger Hensley Eli Wilson Kenny Vaughan Colby Isbel Lance Owens West Bunch Caden Brunsma Logan Miracle Logan Napier Ethen Daniels Edward McGraw AJ Powell Holdin McDaniel Isaiah Daniels Ethan Thomas Logan Daniels Drew Ramsey Gibbs Cochran John Bingham Kyle Figueroa Jacob Brown
Cameron Burchett Sam Hinkle Tyler Mayes Jared Peters Parker Adams Trey Turner Samuel Seals Cody Mabes Avery Hatfield Noah Turner Jordan Akers Sam McCorkel Matthew Goins Blake Elliott Noah Ramsey Cameron Light CJ Partin Dalton Cornett Jace Bailey Jacob Ellison Aiden Jackson Ethan Slusher Logan Patterson
Aug. 23 @ Grainger Aug. 30 Thomas Walker Sept. 6 @ Meigs County Sept. 13 OPEN Sept. 20 Oneida Sept. 27 @ Scott County Oct. 4 Wartburg Oct. 11 Lee High Oct. 18 @ Hancock County Oct. 25 Claiborne High School Nov. 1 @ Rockwood
Claiborne Progress
PREVIEW
Wednesday, August 21, 2019 5
Photo by Kim Barnett
2019 Cumberland Gap Panthers
We Are Very Proud of Our Team!
Go Cumberland Gap High School!
Good Luck!
1403 TAZEWELL ROAD • P.O. BOX 179 • TAZEWELL, TN 37879 PHONE: (423) 626-3543
6 Wednesday, August 21, 2019
PREVIEW
Claiborne Progress
Preseason Farm Bureau Football Jamboree
Photos by Allen Earl | Claiborne Progress Claiborne High School hosted the Third Annual Farm Bureau Football Jamboree Aug. 16. There were three schools participating in the jamboree including Lee County varsity and junior varsity, Cumberland Gap junior varsity along with Claiborne varsity and junior varsity. The junior varsity games were on the schedule first with the individual skills contest next and the jamboree ended with a Lee County and Claiborne varsity scrimmage. During the individual contests Claiborne’s Eli Stone won for longest pass, Drew Ramsey for CGHS won longest field goal, Storm Livesay won 40-yard skilled player dash (CHS), Tyler Mayes won the lineman dash (CGHS) and Xavier Regan won the longest punt (Lee). Claiborne JV, Cumberland Gap JV and Claiborne Varsity came away with wins.
Claiborne Progress
PREVIEW
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Cumberland Gap preseason scrimmage
Photos by Allen Earl | Claiborne Progress Cumberland Gap Panthers football held a scrimmage, Aug. 5 against West Greene. Offensively, the Panthers seemed to struggle some early but improved as the scrimmage progressed. At times, huge holes opened up for the backs to run through while other times there were not. Defensively, the Panthers showed promise. They kept control of the line of scrimmage causing several plays for losses. The secondary played well but at times gave up position on deep pass plays. They bent some but rarely broke.
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Claiborne Progress
PREVIEW
Vols expect better results in 2nd year under Jeremy Pruitt By Steve MeGargee AP Sports Writer
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee’s Jeremy Pruitt believes his team can benefit from the lessons he learned in his debut season as a head coach. Pruitt said he spent so much time last year concentrating on big-picture issues for the long-term health of the program that he didn’t build close enough relationships with the players. He made an effort to correct that problem this offseason. “Just based off time naturally you’re going to have more of a relationship,” Pruitt said. “We know each other. I’m satisfied that our players know the expectations every single day with whatever presents itself in our program. We know our guys. We know where their strengths are, where their weaknesses are and we’ve been able to build on that in the offseason.”
Tennessee is counting on that improved familiarity with Pruitt to help the Volunteers return to relevance. Tennessee went 5-7 in Pruitt’s debut year while posting a second straight last-place finish in the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division. The Vols are still dealing with change. Pruitt brought in new coordinators on both sides of the ball and also brought in new receivers coach Tee Martin, the quarterback of Tennessee’s 1998 national championship team. Pruitt and his staff have combined to either play or coach on 16 national championship teams. “Having Pruitt here a second year here makes me even more hungry because I know what he wants as a coach,” wide receiver Jauan Jennings said. “This whole coaching staff is nothing but winners. We just need that to carry on through the whole
team.” Tennessee’s fourth offensive coordinator in as many seasons is Jim Chaney, who held the same position at Georgia the last three years. Derrick Ansley is Tennessee’s third defensive coordinator in the last three years. Even amid all that upheaval, Tennessee believes it will benefit because players have a better idea what to expect from Pruitt. Outside linebackers coach Chris Rumph uses a real estate analogy to make that point. Rumph said when he bought his house last year, he would turn the lights off and bump into walls because of his unfamiliarity with the place. Now that he’s had a year to adjust, he’s more comfortable at home. “It’s the same thing with those guys,” Rumph said. “They know what to expect. Now we can really coach and teach ball instead of just the little things we had to do last year.” Here are some things to watch with Tennessee this year : MISTAKE-FREE QB Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano gets sacked too often and is only 6-12 as a starter, but his ability to avoid turnovers gives Tennessee reason for confidence. Guarantano has just five interceptions in 385 career pass attempts. Guarantano will be throwing to an experienced receiving corps featuring Jennings, Marquez Callaway and Josh Palmer.
TAYLOR’S PASS RUSH Outside linebacker Darrell Taylor had eight sacks last season, the highest total of any returning SEC player. Seven of those sacks came against Georgia and Kentucky. Tennessee has nobody else who collected more than two sacks a year ago. QUESTIONS ON THE LINE Tennessee has no returning starters on the defensive line and lost its most experienced player at that spot when Emmit Gooden tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during preseason camp. The offensive line has plenty of experience but a poor track record over the last two seasons. CHANEY ’S IMPACT Tennessee’s new offensive coordinator has a reputation for getting the best from his quarterbacks, including stints working with Drew Brees at Purdue and Nathan Peterman at Pittsburgh. Chaney’s presence could help Guarantano produce a big season. “Me and him have a good relationship,” Guarantano said. “He’s always joking around, but when it’s time to get serious, I tell him to coach me as hard as he can.” CHANGES ON DEFENSE After making all the defensive calls last year, Pruitt says he’s ceding those responsibilities to Ansley this season. Ansley was Alabama’s defensive backs coach in 2016-17 when Pruitt was the Crimson Tide’s defensive coordinator.
2019 Tennessee Football Schedule Aug. 31 - Georgia State Sept. 7 - BYU Sept. 14 - Chattanooga Sept. 21 - @ Florida Oct. 5 - Georgia Oct. 12 - Mississippi State Oct. 19 - @ Alabama Oct. 26 - South Carolina Nov. 2 - UAB Nov. 9 - @ Kentucky Nov. 23 - @ Missouri Nov. 30 - Vanderbilt