By Rubin E. Grant
When Mountain Brook coach Chris Yeager says the Spartans have a lot of “shoes to fill” this season, it’s not just coachspeak.
The Spartans graduated 36 seniors who led the team to a 9-3 record and a second-round playoff berth in 2018.
“We’ve got a big, big challenge facing us,” Yeager said. “We lost a lot of good players. It’s a lot to replace.
“The spring didn’t go as well as we wanted, but we’re making strides. We still have to decide who the playmakers are and what they can do.”
Backfield
One position Yeager won’t have to worry about going into this football season is quarterback. Junior Strother Gibbs returns after starting as a sophomore.
“Any time you have a returning starter at quarterback, it allows you to expand your offense,” Yeager said. “Last year, we tried to keep it simple and not put too much on him, but as the year went on, we were able to put more on him. Now we can attack more because of his experience.”
Freshman Benjamin Parrot is expected to serve as Gibbs’ primary backup.
Senior Sam Higgins returns at running back. “He was very productive last year,” Yeager said. “He doesn’t have blazing speed, but he has incredible vision and intelligence. His football IQ is off the charts.”
Junior Michael Brogan will spell Higgins at running back.
Receivers
Senior Crawford Golden, a 6-foot-4, 225 pounder, is back for his second year as the starting tight end. He is being recruited by several mid-major colleges, including Charleston Southern and Austin Peay.
“He has a lot of upside,” Yeager said. “He has a long, lean body and he’s very athletic. He has good hands and he’s a powerful blocker.”
The Spartans’ starting receivers – junior Paulson Wright and seniors Ben Savage and Jay Rucker – are all new. Seniors Logan Brewer and Rhyne Hogue, who both start in the secondary, will add depth.
Offensive Line
The Spartans have two starters back on the line, senior left tackle Andrew Fleming and senior left guard Beau Hubbard. But the team is mostly inexperienced up front.
Junior Charles Law Schilleci figures to play right tackle, while seniors Charles Regan and Alden Chaney and junior Jack Smith will rotate at guard. Junior Will Grant will start at center with Regan serving as his backup.
“We’re really small but fairly athletic on the line,” Yeager said. “We’ll use a variety of schemes to help them be more effective.
“We don’t have a whole lot of depth. We have about seven players we’re going to rotate.”
Defensive Line
The Spartans also are thin on the defensive line. Junior nose guard Braxton Wetzler started on the offensive line last year before being moved to the defensive line in the spring. Senior defensive end Ford Kelly played sparingly last year, and senior William O’Leary was a linebacker who was converted to defensive end.
Senior Cade Holmes will provide depth and Yeager hopes some other players will step up.
Linebackers
Senior middle linebacker Clark Griffin is the lone returning starter on defense. He had 133 tackles last year.
Senior Will Baynes will play weak-side linebacker, junior Calvin Wilbanks will serve as rover and junior Matt Holloway will play outside linebacker.
“I feel good about our linebackers,” Yeager said. “Matt is the most talented. He has a chance to be really good.”
Secondary
Hogue and junior Blake Pugh will start at cornerback, while Brewer and senior Will Yarbro will start at safety. Finding quality reserves is something Yeager hopes will happen during the season.
Kickers
Senior Atkins Roberts will handle all the kicking chores.
“He may be the strength of everything we’re doing,” Yeager said.
Freshman Reed Harradine will serve as the reserve kicker.
Mountain Brook opens the season against Northridge and Center Point before stepping into rugged Class 7A, Region 3 action against Tuscaloosa County in week 3.