Bob Jones wraps up spring practice

MADISON- Kevin Rose once again commands the turf field at Bob Jones. He calls to his team to hustle and the players respond, moving crisply through another spring practice and one step closer to the season opener now just about 3 months away.  

Bob Jones wraps up two weeks of spring football practice on May 17. Rose cancelled the spring game scheduled for Friday May 18 against Giles Co. TN so as to have no distractions from the baseball team’s playoff run.  

But even without a game there was plenty of work to be done.  

Coaches got their first look at an offensive line that will have three new starters. Coaches are also looking for running backs and receivers who want the ball to replace seniors who led the team in rushing and receiving.  

“We had changes we had to make on the offensive line but they have looked very good,” Rose said.  

The two returning starters on the offensive line are Art Allen and Colby Morrell. Michael Lucente and Forest Kuenzli are working at center.  

One big addition is rising senior Jared Harris who did not play football last year to concentrate on automotive engineering and the race team. Harris has been running first team on the right side with rising sophomore Drew Lawson making the move up from the freshman team.    

“We are tickled to Jarred back. He’s a good offensive lineman. He would have started for us last year,” Rose said.  

Elsewhere on the offense Rose is high on one position move.  

“Dylan Ray going from Y to X (receiver) could catch 60 balls next year. Donovan Brown is a new guy who looks like he has some potential. Cam Pugh has had a great spring. He has worked really hard this off-season. Jake Guyton gives us a speed back. Armon Garth has had a good spring. I’m really pleased with what we have got done. We’ve had a bunch of guys step up.”  

Bob Jones practiced the first week without their quarterbacks who were still playing baseball. The second week Caden Rose and Slate Alford joined the team and took snaps as Rose began to see who will be on the 7 on 7 teams this summer.  

Defensively, Jaydon Hill is back at left corner and Jacobye Green at linebacker. Hill is one of the most highly recruited players in the nation with offers from Tennessee and West Virginia just to name a few. He has been rated a four start prospect among the top corners in the nation.   

Bob Jones did not put on full pads during spring practice.  

“That was by design,” Rose said. “When we knew we were not going to play a game we didn’t go full pads with contact and tackle to the ground. We used it as a teaching and development opportunity for young kids and that is what we have done.  I’m pleased with where we are going into the summer.”