receiver/slot back late last season
and he returns to continue as a dual
threat. Bryson signed a scholarship
to play baseball at Appalachian
State University.
Three seniors, Ephraim Tice (5-8,
145), Jeremy Chagnon (6-2, 175),
Riley Jones (6-1, 150) and junior
tight end Locke Davis (6-1, 205), will
see a large portion of the targets.
Tuscola fans got a glimpse of the
special talent late last season
when Coleman Bryson (6-1, 175)
was inserted as the starting
quarterback as a freshman. Now the
Mountaineers’ QB is a sophomore
and Postell thinks his young gun is
going to be special as soon as he
gets a few more reps.
“Coleman (Bryson) is athletic,
smart, tough, very talented and
I think he is going to be a special
quarterback for us,” said Postell.
“But he lacks one thing, reps. He is
just low on reps. He got some reps
last season under center, but the
more he plays at quarterback this
season, the better he will get and
that excites me a lot.”
SPECIAL TEAMS
One thing that has surely remained
consistent throughout the years for
the Tuscola football program is the
Mountaineers always seem to have
an excellent placekicker. This year is
no different as senior Davis King, (6-
0, 155) will assume all placekicking
duties.
The punting duties are expected to
fall to (Coleman) Bryson, but it will
be an open competition once camp
opens in August to find the long
snapper.
DEFENSE
“When you play in a conference like
ours, you better play great defense
if you want a chance to win the
conference title,” said Postell. “I
really think we are going to have a
defense that will be tough to play
against. I do know they will play with
great effort. They always do.”
Sanchez and (Joseph) Smart return
as starters at the two defensive
tackle spots and Postell thinks
opposing spread offenses will have
a difficult time moving the football,
especially when seniors Caleb Henry
(6-2, 220), Lucas Teague (5-8, 195),
Andres Vazquez (5-9, 210) and Davis
are plugged into the two spots on
the outside of the D-line.
“Sanchez and Smart are just tough
kids who do a great job clogging
the gaps in the middle,” said Postell.
“Henry is a kid I can’t wait to see
play. He has made huge strides
since his JV years. He has grown
up. He has made hug strides in size
and strength. I can’t wait to see how
that translates to the football field.”
For the past couple of seasons,
the inside linebacker play has gone
through a dry spell. But coming
into this season, Postell believes
the inside linebackers may be the
defense’s strength. Returning to
the inside “Backers” will be Helsel,
who was the Mountaineers’ leading
tackler in 2018. Also in the middle
returns senior John Francis (5-
11, 180), who battled injuries last
season, but is expected to start. A
pair of rising JV standouts, juniors
Greg Harrison (5-11, 205) and
Connor Medina (5-9, 190), have
huge upside.
The outside linebacker in the
Tuscola scheme is a hybrid, who
has to be a run stopping linebacker
and also quick enough to cover in
the secondary like a strong safety.
Senior Gavin Tannerhill (5-10, 170)
returns after becoming a midseason
starter last season. But
Postell also expects senior Drew
Gilland (5-9, 170) and Carlos Vera
(5-10 180) to be in the mix for
playing time.
The last line of defense, the
secondary, will draw on its
experience and skill to shut down
opposing offenses. (Coleman)
Bryson, who started as a freshman
at corner will move to free safety,
while older brother Hunter Bryson
will slide into his cornerback spot
and Tice is expected to be the
other corner. Jones, a transfer
from Smoky Mountain, will be in
the starting mix in the secondary
according to Postell.
SCHEDULE
A tough 2019 schedule is sure to
test Tuscola right out of the gate
22
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cont. on pg 26
photo by Patrick Parton