Knightdale head coach Anthony Timmons previews the spring season
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Knightdale's head football coach Anthony Timmons joined HighSchoolOT to preview the upcoming spring season. Knightdale has been excited about this upcoming senior class for a long time now. Knightdale is a 4A school that competes in the NAC 6 Conference.
Show Transcript
Hello, everyone. Welcome back to high school to dot com. I'm Joel Bryant here with Coach Anthony tenants from night till high school last season. I think they were 75. They made the playoffs. They played a very good Jack. Brit TV only lost by a point in the playoffs. Why? I remember they had a great start to the season, I think. Five No. Four? No. The guy ran to some good scenes of their conference. Um, looking back on last year, we've had a son inside reflect on it. Obviously, Um, what are some of your favorite moments from last season? Also, some things that you guys really gonna look to improve coming to this season, right? Right. Well, you know, I'm just happy that we're back, Joel. You know, it's been a It's been a long time coming. I'm excited for the seniors. I'm excited for the coaches and everybody to be back, you know, reflected on last season, You know, we started off hot. We started off on a good roll, and then we hit a gauntlet. You know, Grimsley, Wake Forest, Roseville heritage. You know, that was a gauntlet. And and we had a lot of injuries during that time. You know, Cool. He got hurt. Um, the running back wasn't back, you know? So that kind of threw us off a little bit. And we seem to kind of get it back late in conference, um, which, you know, losing by one point. The playoffs. We kind of, you know, got our mojo back. And like you said, you know Jack Brisson really good team, you know, We played them in the mud and, you know, they were very athletic. We were athletic. I think the ball came down toe. I thought we stopped him on the fourth down. I feel like the official, you know, gave them a little extra inch. But, you know, um, it's about making plays when you can and stopping people when you can. And, you know, and I'm looking forward to this season because we got a good quarterback. You know, the singer's last year where the singers that came in with me four years ago on People's Khalil Nikola Mohammed. Um, Trey Vion Cooley. You know all those guys, they're going to be missed, but we've got a good senior class this year, and we also got a good junior class too. Yeah, I think I'm particularly. I look atyou known. Es People's is now at Duke Street. Coolly would have been playing last fall. But, you know, after the late he decided to go to see what Louisville early, which you can't fault him for. Uh, those two guys in particular I want I wanna understand what they meant on both sides of the ball was they were on different sides of the ball there. Oh, yes. Uh, I mean, Trey Vion cooler. You know, his His place speaks for itself, you know, a very dynamic running back with signs and speed. And, you know, he has great agility. Um, and he also made his teammates better on people Did the same thing on defense. You know, um, people's was very disruptive at that three technique. Sometimes we played him in the nose on, um, he really he really helped our d d line. That was young. Seem older. Um, and that's really played big dividends going into this spring season. So I do get the impression I think I am from last year's well, that most your team is back displacing those key losses um, let's start at quarterback. I think that's most interesting position to me. Um, you have a couple of guys back who have played for you, Dax Hardy and then a guy who's a freshman last year. Michael Sumpter. Um, are we looking at that position? Is one of those guys get the edge or what's that gonna be like? I'm gonna tell you, Joe, there's been a really good quarterback competition. Um, we've got a three way competition going right now. Quarterback. Um, you know. So we're waiting to see our first scrimmage next week. How Things pan out. You know, we plan to give the first two guys reps because Mike is still in basketball, so he won't. He won't be available for the scrimmage. Um, so, you know, But it's a great It's a great competition at that, you know, at the quarterback spot. Certainly a good, uh, problem that have is when you have a good players competing for one position, who are you gonna scrimmage next week before we get to the rest of them? Um, Leesville. Leesville comes here? Yes, sir. That'll be a good scrimmage for you guys. Absolutely. Absolutely. So you mentioned your other going back earlier. I'm assuming that is Brandon Ricks. Um, tell me about that position. A swell? Um, actually, it's gonna be Lewis Richardson, you know? You know, Louis, um, Lewis had that dynamic freshman year, and then he's had, um, two years of a C l injuries. And then he was able to come back the last three games of the season and actually played well, Force. So we've got Lewis Richardson there. We've got Brandon Leonard. We've got Bryce council. Um, there's a freshman that could be in the mix. There's a junior, So we're about 56 deep in running back. Um, compared to last year where we were really thin, you know, we were able to build some depth. And, you know, we don't have to put this much pressure on rigs who can now focus on the slot on the slide position. Okay, so that kind of brings me back to the quarterback, actually. So for for the three players are competing. Um, do you an idea of what? The two that don't get the job you end up doing? Um, potentially either playing some tight end because Michael's Michael's gruesome or, um you know, only being a sophomore. Mike is about 65 to 60 right now. E mean that Zbig quarterback s. So if he doesn't win the spot, he'll need to go to tight end and or defensive end. Um, because a lot of people don't notice about Michael. But Mike is a great defensive lineman because he's very athletic, and he shows that on the basketball, Uh, Dax is a Swiss Army knife. You know, Dax is a kid, and this is a testament to his dad and his mom, who are both athletes. And his dad coached me and youthfully Dax is gonna place, um, quarterback, running back, receiver and safety. Um, and that's honestly, if you were to ask him right now, Dax would rather play defense because he loves to hit. He's a physical type kid. And honestly, Joe, you know, when we started conference, matter of fact, playing Rose alone, that's what he played. Safety. And he actually made all conference as a safety. So, you know. So we got some. We got some positions that they could go play and the other quarterback if he doesn't, if he doesn't want the job, he could go to receive our safety himself. Okay. Okay. That's good to hear that. They're versatile enough. You know, if they don't get the job. All funny of options to do some stuff. Um, let me eso another player. Evan McRae is one that stands out for coming back. He was a receiver. Tell me about him than the rest of that receiver group that we haven't mentioned. Absolutely. You know, you know, we've got to too great senior receivers and Brandon Rigs and ever McRae, um, ever, McRae is gonna be a kid that, you know, it's gonna be a focal point for us in the passing game. Um, he's another kid is in basketball right now, so we probably won't have them to Maybe we two because of basketball. Maybe we won. It just all depends on how things pan out, but, you know, he's kind of picked up a couple offers here late, I believe. Wing. It was the latest offer. Uh, so we're excited about him? We're excited about Brandon rigs a kid to keep your own. Is Jerome Washington, Um very tall, long kid with great on runs, great routes. Who's a junior? We've got him um, Then we have Matthew Slade, who's a junior. So we're pretty deep at the receiver position. Um, we're also gonna run a lot of tight end sets or the H bag. So we got a couple guys I could play that h back like Michael. Um, Thailand. Davis, which is? Karen Davis is younger brother. Um, then we'll have a freshman that could play that tight end running back spot there, too. What's the freshman saying? Cameron Royal camera angle. Take me through the trenches. I know you do have players back despite losing India's and some others maybe take me through the trenches on both offensive defense. Okay. Uh, right now on the offensive line, we have Luke Peters, who is coming back, started for us last year. He'll be a center. We got Suazo. Who's the 68? About 3. 70 kid on. He's really improved. Um, toe where? Cove? It kind of hurt some people. He used this time to get in shape, get better, get more athletic. So we got Suazo coming back. Then we have Douglas Stenson coming back. So, um, that's two juniors and a singer there, and then we'll probably have a senior character bank. Stepping in has a tackle and they will have a junior that was on varsity last year as a tackle. And then we've got, like, 3 to 4 backups there. And then when you go to the D line, that's that's really the experience of our defense because you've got a shot. Shoulders back. Who was all conference? Who's a junior? Um, Cash on Harvey, who was a sophomore, you know, Big boy, big athletic kid brother. Played a TCU Giants. Yeah, and then we've got Justice Williams, who's a junior. We've got Brandon Wilson, who's a junior, and, you know, uh, boom, Zach Boom could either play some D and R are, you know, play us, um, linebacker. So we're pretty deep on the D line there. How about the 2nd and 3rd levels of the defense? Got you, got you linebackers all we've got Jalen Applewhite coming back. Who had who really came home when we played corner holders last year. He split some time with Tyson Brown and some other guys, um, at our outside linebacker. We've got a sophomore, which is Roger Jackson's brother. His name is Zion Combs. He could potentially play out there. Um, we've also got some other guys. Like I said, Dax could be that safety overhang guy. Um, and then that corner, we'll have to market Schooley. You know, we got another Cooley in house, you know, to markets Cooley Soft board will be corner, and then he's also gonna play some offense very dynamic. And then we've got Tyson. He'll Tyson homes, we've gotta We've got a new kid, Cameron, Um, that's really gonna help us on the on the defense in the secondary. So we've got a lot of we've got a lot of depth. Awesome. So another thing. The specialist part of it, um I know Dax Index, you can punch. That's right. That's what that's what I was thinking. You take me through the you know, the kicker. Punter, returner. What's that part of all gonna look like for you guys? Uh, Joe, you just said it. Dax is gonna be our kicker and punter. Yeah, um, that goes back to being a Swiss Army knife. E mean, that kicking. He could also long snap, too. So you started himself and then kick it. Yeah, well, I'm gonna tell you if he does that Joe, Then you will have something really special, but, um, the returns is gonna be interesting. Um, we've got everybody from Brandon rigs to markets. Cooley. Um, Brian Leonard could do it. Rice Council could do it. We've got a lot of athletes that could be kicked returns, punt returners. Um, we really haven't had much time for the return is to get work in because of the weather. Um, but, you know, there's a lot of kids that can play that position. Um, And then there's also some juniors in Ragen Jackson and Xavier Woodard. Um, there are those water blood type guys, Um, that I want to have their shot at keep returning punt return. So, um, it's a good situation. We're going to find the best guys to put in that situation. Okay, Cool. Um, your conference in next six is probably most well known for the football. Obviously, Wake Forest and Rozelle's come on. Heritage is always solid. Uh, Wakefield has a big history. Corn holders. I think they're getting better. Better, uh, take me through. Take me through those teams and where you're starting out of them in the spring, you know, you just hit the nail on the head. Joy. You're talking about a garment, um, of a conference. And, you know, if you come out first in our conference, you're looking to make a very deep run toward the state championship. That's my opinion on, but I think it's one of the top two best conferences for for a across the state. Um, wait for US program. You just said a keyword is a program. Reggie Lucas has got them running at our level. So I know they lost a lot, but I'm sure he's gonna replace it with some tough to you guys. I mean, that's just it's just going to keep going. Um, Roseville. Martin Samba came in last year with his coaching staff. They did a tremendous job. Uh, they got the broad. Um, I think that's his name at quarterback. Great kid. Um, they've got a lot of skill kids, you know, 2200 kids in the school. So, you know, they're gonna find some ballplayers over there, and then you look at heritage, you know, with the NFL type coaching staff, that's going to make a difference. You know, they're going to get the little small keys and the little small nuances that some other teams may not get. Um, that could help get them, You know, to that over the hump and the games and stuff. And, you know, heritage is gonna throw that ball around, you know, they're gonna spend appeal, and they're gonna be efficient. Um, that's one good thing about him. Um, corner holders. I mean godly. You know, right now, um, I believe corners. Gotta hand up on everybody because Johnson County has been working out, what, 2 to 3 months before us. Eso you're talking about, um, Johnson County list their kids in the weight room during locker rooms. So you got bored talk. You got full out weightlifting going, and they're able to practice Wake County. We're not able to get in the weight room, so if you're lifting, you gotta lift outside. Um, you know, if you're doing any board, talk is gonna be zoom sessions are through huddle and stuff like that. So, you know, corner has been working for a long time, and that's gonna pay dividends. And then, um, Coach ward over the Wakefield had a like Martin salmon came in great staff. Um, and you know, they lost some tough games. It was a good battle with us. But Wakefield, you know, they're they're sending, you know, they just got a big time quarterback. If I'm not mistaking transfer in, who tells? Yeah, Yeah, we had a big time quarterback come in. And, um, you know, they've got a O. C. That's that's cultural thumb naked. Riley when he was a TCU. So that's another team I think we're going to see. Um, the old Wakefield when they used to throw the ball around a lot is gonna be, uh it's gonna be a very interesting conference. So, um, I think it's gonna be long, but you could stay healthy, stay away from covitz, stay away from injuries, least amount of turnovers and play good bowl. You have a chance to be successful in the conference. Yeah, honestly, I would take you know, whoever ends up being last this conference, I take them against any of the middle tier teams and the other way county conferences. I think you know, Corinth even be You know, Milberg. Last season, it's just the top. The bottom, it's Ah, it's pretty. It's pretty stacked. Um, for you guys you know, first games, actually, a couple of weeks. We're just saying, after waiting for so long, you're you're going, uh, you're gonna be at home against Titan Nonconference. And you're playing east. Wake on the road. Nonconference. What are you looking for? Those first two non conference games. And how can they prepare you for that for that gauntlet you mentioned? Well, you know, trying. Um you know, I'm good friends with David Weatherby over there. Um, and, you know, try it is a good, solid program, and, you know, you're going to see some wing T offense. Um, out of trading. I've coached against Weatherby whenever he was at barley. Yes, and I was a gram, and he does a tremendous job offensively. And that's something I wanted to get our guys ready for early because, you know, when you rolled in and you see Wake Forest week three and you're not prepared for the wing T. It could be nasty. E think every every coach knows that. That's no secret. So, um, you know, we want to go compete. We wanna have a good game out the gate. So I felt like that would be a good game because it could be it could go either way. They could go either way because Triton's loaded. They are there. Well, or machine. They're gonna do their job, you know? And their kids were tough and discipline. And then, you know, our rival is his wake. I mean, we're right next door to each other. Um, Coach Cotton came in from Virginia. Um, so that's gonna be a good battle. I'm not quite sure what they're gonna run offense, our other than the defense inside the ball. But we'll have film would be able to prepare form, but we just got to continue Joe to focus on us. Um, continue to get better. Um, I know I said it every year, but this team so far is way ahead of where I thought we would be at it at this time on. This group is really a great group of guys that are really they push each other, They challenge each other, They have their own position. Meetings. Um, they're constantly asking questions about what do they What do they do versus this center? This. Look, our offense. Coach, what can we do? Purchase this to get better. So And then we have some young guys that are hungry, so that makes things a lot better. Coach. Appreciate the time. A lot. Thanks for the insight into your team. I know you've been excited about this in your class for a while Now. We're finally going to get to see them outfield. Have not be able to see him in the fall. So I appreciate having you want and kind of explain about explain your team to everyone that watches high school T. Yes, sir Joel and I thank you in high school, T for everything you do. And, um, I would like to give a quick shoutout toe. Wakefield and their coaching staff from the night deal. Coaching staff for myself. We're keeping you guys in our prayers. I know you lost a good coach over there, Coach Smith. Well said Well said Coach. Thanks for coming on. Yes, sir. Thank you.