Notes from Oscar Smith/Smithfield/Norview Scrimmage
Douglas Freeman is headed in the right direction with Coach Mike Henderson
by Brandon Mitchell, recruit804
Team: Douglas Freeman (Henrico, Virginia)
Classification:/Conference: 5A/11
2015-: 9-2 (1st round loss to Lee-Davis 41-14)
Head Coach: Mike Henderson
Mascot: Rebels (Blue and gray)
It’s been four years since Coach Mike Henderson took over at Douglas Freeman. Since arriving at the home of the Rebels, Coach Henderson has compiled a 32-. Last season was one of the best season’s the Rebels have had under Coach Henderson outside of the 2013-2014 season.
Douglas Freeman started off the season on a nine-game winning streak.
If you flip back in Rebel history you may not see a winning streak that reached that particular magnitude. The Rebels were able to take advantage of a very favorable schedule as the combined record of all opponents faced was 51-66.
Douglas Freeman was able to advance to the playoffs for the third consecutive season but watched Lee-Davis knock them out in the first round.
Heading into the 2016-2017 campaign, the Rebels are poised to lose a total of 12 starters across both the offense and defense. Depth wasn’t as much of a concern last year as it is this year as Coach Henderson will be looking for some unlikely faces to step up.
The offense last season had its second best season under Coach Henderson in terms of offensive efficiency. The Rebels averaged a little over season. They were right behind Hermitage in the Colonial District who blanked them in their only meeting of last season.
The Rebels plan to lose six starters across the offensive line; however, they won’t be without leadership. The offense is equipped with eight seniors, six in which are returning starters for Coach Henderson and the Rebels. The skill positions will continue to be the strength for Coach Henderson, but the offensive line may be his most glaring weakness. As the offensive line is loaded with four seniors, only two of them are returning starters.
Trey Laughlin (SR QB 6-1 175) is a dual-threat quarterback and has one of the strongest arms in the Colonial District. He’ll rely on Jakari Williams (SR WR 5-8 175), Jack Pollard (JR/WR 6-0 172), and Andrew Ryan (SR/WR 5-10 178) to help him stretch the field from the wide out position. Corey Cooper (JR RB 5-11 190) and L.J. Crossley (SR RB 5-9 170) will split time at the tailback position. Neither have been full-time starters for the offense before and nowadays you need at least two great running backs to have a versatile system. Adam Jones (SR G 6-0 202) and James Turpin (SR OG 6-2 282) lead a monstrous group of offensive linemen who will be required to put it all together rather quickly.
The defense appeared to be the biggest moneymaker for the Rebels last season. They were able to have the best season they’ve had under Coach Henderson by far. Douglas Freeman allowed only season, held seven teams to seven points or less, and pitched two shutouts. This year’s defense will almost equal the offense in senior presence, but will only bring back four starts. Areas of concern for the Rebels this season will be both the defensive backs and the defensive. The defensive line will lack depth until rotations are put into formation. How the line responds as we get deeper into games may present a problem.
Ernie Campbell (SO DE 6-1 180), Jack Miller (SR DE 6-6 235), Nick Ackies (SR DT 6-3 283), Anthony Dzansi (JR DT 6-1 225) form an extremely talented defensive line. Ackies and Dzansi are returning starters from last season and what once was a project in Miller is near completion. Sam Murphy (SR LB 5-11 205) and Caleb Brown (JR LB 6-1 185) make up the linebacker combination at the moment. Both are returning starters from last season and both are as stronger as ever. Jakari Williams, Chris Henderson (SR DB 5-11 172), Holland Gravelly (or Tanner Dobrucky), and Luke Murphy (SR FS 6-1 170) complete the secondary for the Rebels. Murphy is a returning starter and led the defense in interceptions last season.
Player(s) to watch: Jakari Williams and Chris Henderson are seniors; therefore, it goes unspoken that they are associated with leadership when it comes to the defense. Even though they’re leaders they’re undefined in the secondary. It’ll be up to Luke Murphy to make sure his defensive backs are exactly where they need to be. As explosive as the Rebels defense was last season they have the potential to be that much more explosive. Williams and Henderson can either have a lasting impact or be liabilities Christian Velasquez and Percey Mayers of Hermitage come to town. We’ll find out soon enough when the season starts on August 26.
In all honesty, Coach Henderson and the Rebels should be prepared to field a very strong team come the end of August. With 12 total starters and a multitude of seniors coming back, the Rebels should start the season the same way they started last season. At the same time they’ll have to been careful. J.R. Tucker is improving and we have to expect Atlee to fair better this season than last season. Hermitage is always expected to be there at the end of the season and they’ll be there waiting for the Rebels on November 4. The question is, which Douglas Freeman team will show up?
– Brandon Mitchell
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