NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
Bartlett football is enjoying a more traditional offseason this summer.
Second-year coach Chris Smith is in his first full offseason after departing Haywood to take the job in May 2023, just months before games began.
“We feel a lot better about this year since they’ve had a full year in our weightlifting program and of course we’ve gotten to build better relationships with kids,” Smith said in an interview last week.
Thanks to some talented stars like Mississippi State commits like running back Geron Johnson and linebacker Austin Howard and buy-in from the team, the Panthers finished last season with an 8-4 record, falling to Germantown in the second round of the TSSAA football Class 6A playoffs.
“I thought considering our circumstances, we did really well,” Smith said of last season. “These guys have been great since day one and they’ve just continued to work.”
Two of those guys are Johnson and Howard who starred last season, and are looking to take a leap in 2024 with more time under their coach. Both seniors, Smith said the veterans are two of many who helped make the coaching transition “the easiest transition (he’s) ever had.”
Johnson, who was a member of The Commercial Appeal’s All-Metro first team, rushed for 1,882 yards and 24 touchdowns a season ago. His combination of elite speed and versatility made him the focal point of Smith’s fast-paced, veer-and-shoot offense.
“He helps you control the box,” Smith explained. “People try to load the box to stop him from running the football, so that opens up the pass game. We have to be creative in how we maneuver him to get him the football (but) his versatility adds to our creativity.”
Johnson made plenty of pass-catching plays out of the backfield during Monday’s first padded practice, including a one-handed touchdown grab, proving he’s more than just the speed that he’s…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/mississippi-state-football-commits-geron-100608475.html
Author : The Commercial Appeal
Publish date : 2024-07-30 10:06:08
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
