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Wednesday, August 28, 2019 El Dorado News-Times 5D Hicks makes move to running back to spark El Dorado's offense
By Tony Burns
Sports Editor
El Dorado’s Alex Hicks didn’t ques- tion moving from quarterback to run- ning back as a senior. That team-first attitude set an example for the entire Wildcats’ roster. But the move wasn’t just what was best for the team. It was also best for Hicks.
The 5-6, 175-pound tailback won’t be the quarterback, but he won’t dis- appear, either. El Dorado’s up-tempo, spread attack looks to feature the backs. Hicks and fellow-senior Devon- te Yarbrough enter the season as the team’s workhorses.
“They’re good. I’ve got two that’s go- ing to have a lot of the time spent on the field,” said running backs’ coach DeAnthony Curtis. “Those two guys will be the ones on the field a lot more. They hit the hole very well. The knowl- edge of the offense they’ve gained over the past couple of months Coach Jones has been here has been good.”
Hicks, who passed for 852 yards and 10 touchdowns, led the Wildcats with 885 yards rushing, including 12 touch- downs. He averaged 5.8 yards per car- ry.
When asked if running back was more of a natural fit for Hicks, Cur- tis answered, “I think anywhere on
Sarah Primm/News-Times
Running backs: El Dorado running backs' coach DeAnthony Curtis joins this year's backs, from left, Alex Hicks, Trevon Hays, Jeremiah Jackson, Devonte Yar- brough, Hollis McCuien and Branden Moore.
they’re not dropping, they’re keying on him. He’s been looking good out here. We’ll see.”
Curtis believes Hicks’ background at quarterback could give him an added dimension at his new position.
“Being a quarterback, he has a great awareness of the game. I think that helps a running back,” he explained. “It doesn’t seem like it but the knowl- edge of where people are going to be is important.”
Yarbrough (5-5, 156) could be de- scribed as the scatback of the two. He rushed for 256 yards on 35 attempts with two touchdowns last season.
“He’s a ball of muscle, also. His frame isn’t as big as Alex but he’s a ball of muscle,” said Curtis. “He’s strong. He’s made gains in the weight room. He’s more of a scatback but I’ve seen him this summer stick his foot in the ground and get north a couple of times.”
Providing depth will be juniors Bran- den Moore and Hollis McCuien.
“Those two juniors are very knowl- edgeable of the offense. It’s not like I’m telling them what to do when they go in. Those guys are paying atten- tion in meetings,” said Curtis. “When
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the field is a natural spot for that guy. He’s very explosive. He’s tough, tough to bring down. But it’s going to be a little different. When you’re a quarter- back running the ball, you’ve got guys
dropping in coverage. When he gets his shoulders squared down the field and he gets those legs moving, he’s a hard man to tackle. I think it’s going to be a good test for him because now
Tollette, Kidd to lead talented corps of receivers
By Tony Burns
Sports Editor
El Dorado’s football team appears to have talent on the perimeter of its of- fense. Getting the ball into the hands of those players will
good mix of youth and experience in this group.”
In the spring and summer, Kidd es- tablished himself as one of the fastest athletes in Arkansas. Tollette might be
“Kidd’s isolations will be more of a post route, go routes, get him one-on- one with somebody and say hey, ‘Do you wanna race?’ Let’s see if they can run with him. He’s going to get a lot of quick stuff like three-step hitches and slants because when he takes off,
they better back up. This opens up a cushion for him, which is going to be beneficial.”
With Tollette and Kidd on the out- side, the slot receivers could get more
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be a key to how well the Wildcats push the ball down the field.
Seniors Steven Tollette and Devunte Kidd lead a talented group of receivers this season that could give El Dorado a ver- satile attack with op- tions through the air.
Kidd
Tollette
the most polished at the position.
“Our two definite leaders are Steven Tollette and Devunte Kidd,” Qualls said. “Steven will play on the left side of the formation 90 percent of the time. Our Z and our X don’t switch sides except for a few
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“We’ve got a really talented group of guys, a good mix of seniors, juniors and sophomores,” said receivers coach Hal Qualls. “They’ve done an excellent job over the summer. Our attendance has been exceptionally good. A really
rule breakers. The basic rule is, they don’t switch sides. There will be times when he’s by himself. We’ll isolate him over there. If you watched us in 7-on-7, if we get him isolated with the corner- back, it really puts the guy in a bind.
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