Page 4 - 2016 Football

El Dorado
Lansdell takes helm as cornerbacks’ coach
By Tony Burns
He’s a blazer. He’s fast and he’ll play hard. He’ll come up and be physical. He has a chance to get on the field.”
Lansdell likes the toughness Steward brings.
“It’s between him and Destin for the most physical guy we’ve got. He will strike you,” the coach said. “He’s working on his technique and being more fluid. But, he’ll come up and hit you hard and let you know about it. He’s coachable. The thing that stands out about him is his intensity and tenacity. His nickname is the Viper because he’ll come up and strike you.”
One thing the coach said all of his corners have in common is being physical. It’s a trait El Dorado cornerbacks must possess.
“We worked really hard to be physical, to use our hands, shoot them into the receiver and try to knock the receivers off their routes,” said Lansdell. “In the run game and screen game, be physical and maintain our leverage and be able to get off and make a play.”
Sports Editor
EL DORADO - Former El Dorado Wildcat Luke Lansdell returned home to coach cor- nerbacks this season.
The Wildcats expect a lot out of their cornerbacks, who have to be able to both cover and tackle. The coach believes he has the manpower to get the job done, especially with senior Destin Miller leading the way.
“We have four guys that are fighting for a spot to play Friday night. Destin Miller is a three-year starter. He’s going to be on the field,” said Lansdell. “He’s the most experienced guy we’ve got in our second- ary.”
Kameron Buie, Jeremiah Henry and Stedman Steward also expect to contribute at the position.
“Buie made some great strides in the spring. From the spring to the summer workouts to now, he’s improved night- and-day,” said Lansdell. “He has long arms. He’s a pretty physical guy, very coachable. He wants to do great. I’m on him 24-7, trying to get him
Terranace Armstard/News-Times
Cornerbacks: El Dorado’s cornerbacks include, front from left, LJ Yarbrough, Jeremiah Henry, Donnell Thompson, Kameron Buie and Ramon Jackson. Back row, Kenya Dawkins, Destin Miller, Coach Luke Lansdell and Austin Alexander.
Newcomers at safety for Wildcats
of them and see who wants those jobs. They’re working very hard.”
Sprawls poached Ja’Kal Wade from the linebackers. He may have found a new home at strong safety.
“A converted linebacker we stole from the lineback- ing corps. Ja’kal is a talented kid, an intelligent kid,” said Sprawls. “We really like him, especially in instances where we’re going to play a lot of one- high (safety), whether it be a one-high zone or man-to-man coverage schemes where we roll him into the box. He’s real comfortable in the box. He’s a really good run-fitting safety that we feel is going to make a
See SAFETIES, Page 11
there. I think he’ll do great for us this year. He has pretty good speed, good with his hands.
He’s physical.”
Henry is a senior.
“Not the biggest guy but he
plays with a big heart. He will fight you,” said Lansdell. “He plays a lot bigger than his size.
By Tony Burns
Sports Editor
EL DORADO - For the past five years, El Dorado safeties coach Mike Sprawls enjoyed the luxury of having at least one returning starter at the back of the defense. He gradu- ated a pair of three-year start- ers in back-to-back years in Christian Jefferson and Rhett Conner.
This year, all the faces are new for Sprawls, who aims to restock a position that has been bountiful for El Dorado in recent years.
“Right now we’ve got three guys that are having a good battle to fill two spots,” he said. “My train of thought right now, especially early on, is we’re probably going to play all three
Terrance Armstard/News-Times
Safeties: El Dorado’s safeties include, front from left, Cornelious Johnson, Ja’Kal Wade, Peyton Perry and Keontae Larry. Back row, Chris Newton, Austin Hutchins, Coach Mike Sprawls and Bishop Foster.
4 – Thursday, September 1, 2016 – El Dorado NEWS-TIMES