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Spring Fling: Practices give Eagles better idea of what team will look like come fall
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
Allen's Blue-White Game may have been its highest-profile practice of the season, but it by no means defined the entirety of the Eagles' spring.
There was plenty more the coaches learned during the team's 18 practices.
"Every spring is different," said Tom Westerberg, Allen head coach. "Our spring was alright; it was a little up and down the whole way with one unit standing out one day and another unit standing out the next. It was very back and forth."
On offense, only Oliver Pierce and Brad North are back as starters with Pierce moving from slot receiver to take over at quarterback for former signal caller Alec Morris, who has signed with Alabama.
"Oliver is an athlete," said Jeff Fleener, Allen offensive coordinator. "He can throw the ball and also has a unique ability to run, so I think he can get us out of some tough spots."
Pierce will be protected by an offensive line anchored by North, who already has offers from Arkansas State, Boise State, Colorado State, Houston, Nevada, Northwestern, San Diego State, Wake Forest and Washington State. North will be joined up front by Cade Camp (a move-in from Mississippi), Tejan Karoma, John Clark and Kevin Wortham.
Swapping out Morris for Pierce, paired with the loss of graduate Andrew Rodriguez, will impact the vertical passing game, but Allen seems primed to adjust.
"We tried a lot of things out this spring," Fleener said. "Since we looked at a lot, we didn't have the opportunity to focus on just one area too much. But all of the coaches will get together during the summer, take a look at what we did, see what we like most and focus on that going forward."
Among the things Allen has tried out is a two-tight end set that was featured during the Spring Game with Donald Rosentel and Bobby Evans.
Though Jonathan Williams is graduating as well, the Eagles have experience in the backfield with the returning tandem of Jeff Harris, who posted 476 yards and five touchdowns last season, and Marcus Ward.
"I got hurt last year, so both those guys got playing time," Williams said. "And I have faith in both of them; Marcus and Jeff are hard workers and they're both fast and strong."
The Allen defense has only three returning starters (defensive lineman Stone Drulman, inside linebacker Nick Cobb and defensive back Camden Cooper), but the Eagles are high on their defense following spring practices.
"Our defense is looking very good compared to where we were at this time last year," Fleener said.
Drulman will be joined up front by Byron Bonds (who has offers from Arkansas State, Colorado State and Tulsa), Lance Williams, Marcus Davis and Tyran McClendon. Though only Drulman is classified as a returning starter, Allen frequently rotates defensive linemen, so the Eagles have multiple players back with experience.
Cobb, a three-time state champion wrestler, will have to lead a more inexperienced linebacking corps.
Look for Anthony Walker to be in the mix once fall practices begin while Tay Evans and Christian Sam have both established themselves as viable options at outside linebacker.
The defensive backfield for Allen is similar to its defensive line as the team has only one returning starter, but also a good bit of experience.
That includes Chad Adams, a safety that was the team's leading tackler last season (65) while also registering an interception and six pass break-ups. Adams and Cooper lead a contingent of defensive backfield candidates that includes Cameron Hartsfield, Michael Jacob and Mayomi Olootu.
Special teams might be the sturdiest unit Allen rolls into the summer with as kicker Carlos Arochi and Shane Tripucka, recently named the No. 1 punter in the state, are both back.
Those two got plenty of action last Thursday as Allen followed its Spring Game up with a practice that focused on all phases of the kicking game. The Eagles completed their 18-practice slate Friday with a 7-on-7 workout.
"We wanted to get those guys ready for the summer," Fleener said.
That summer will include a 7-on-7 stop at Craig Ranch in McKinney for a NIKE event and the annual journey to Arkansas for the Shootout of the South. Unlike many Metroplex teams, Allen stays away from the 7-on-7 state qualifying tournaments.
"We just don't want to play teams from our district," Fleener said, "or teams that are on our schedule and that's normally who you match up with at those events."
The 7-on-7 tournaments, along with weight training and conditioning programs, will constitute the bulk of the Eagles' summer as the team gears up for the start of fall practices and the Aug. 31 season opener against defending Class 5A State Champion Southlake Carroll at the new Eagle Stadium.
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