Franklin County varsity football coaches and players were the focus Tuesday morning at day two of the annual Football in the South Media Days, held July 21-22 at the Clarion Inn in Sheffield.
Coaches and selected players from Phil Campbell, Red Bay, Vina, Tharptown and Russellville High Schools (Belgreen is not eligible to participate until it plays a region schedule beginning next year) answered questions about the upcoming season under the watchful eyes of reporters and television cameras.
PHIL CAMPBELL BOBCATS:
The morning began with Phil Campbell Coach Jacob Hamilton and five players, Hayston Scott, Jayden Taylor, Hagen Raper, Logan Cooper and Ethan Hallman, took center stage.
Hamilton, who begins his third year at PCHS, talked about his commitment to the program, community and school that's been a part of most of his life.
“I grew up in this community and still have so many family ties to this school,” Hamilton said. “My quarterback (Scott) is my cousin. This was my second coaching job while I was in college and our administration knows I'm in this for a long time. We get lots of support from the community and it's a big advantage that I'm not some outside guy.
“Going into year three, I know who to talk to if something needs to be done so it gets done. We get a ton of support from our administration and this is an exciting place to be. We've got some good athletes and we'll keep going with the foundation we've built and keep rocking and rolling. The trust is there. The relationship is there and there are lots of things we can do with that,” Hamilton added.
The Bobcats finished 4-6 last season and their first four games include teams they went 1-3 against last year, including three consecutive 3A Region 5 games (Vinemont, Oakman and Winfield) after a trip to Hamilton to begin the season on Friday, August 29. The Bobcats defeated Vinemont last year at home in a four-overtime 44-42 game.
“Vinemont runs the single wing and is a very physical team. We like playing them. I do think it's an advantage to play them early in the year. It gets us welcome to the region, with Oakman and Winfield coming after that,” Hamilton said.
Phil Campbell was a playoff team in 2023, but missed the post season last year. With an experienced junior quarterback, Hamilton looks to open up the offense more this year.
“(Halston) is more mature and we'll be ready to throw the ball and capitalize on that experience. We lost four senior linemen but replaced them with some guys who do have experience. We also lost three running backs from last year. We return five guys who can catch the ball, so if we can protect our quarterback we'll throw more and play some spread,” Hamilton said.
For Scott, his first cousin/coach serves as a daily inspiration to his players.
“When Coach Hamilton took the job, that was a big step for our program. To see someone take a chance on us meant a lot to us and when you see that commitment, you want to give it all you got,” Scott said. “Coach Hamilton is my first cousin so I knew he was someone to look up to. He's shown me what it's like to be a leader in the locker room, weight room and on the field.”
RED BAY TIGERS:
For Red Bay Coach Tyler Jeffreys, Tuesday's media day came after his hiring two weeks earlier. Jeffreys brought four senior players, Brayden Tabbs, Ayden Pruitt, Jeremiah Thorn and Jaxon Vinson.
Jeffreys' early impression of his team has left him optimistic about the coming season, which begins August 29th with a home game against Lamar County.
“I guess what I'm most proud of so far is how hard these players have worked. There's no loafing. They're getting after it in the weight room and on the field and I'm very proud of their work so far,” Jeffreys said.
After a playoff appearance in 2023, the Tigers finished 2-8 last year. But Jeffreys grew up around the Red Bay football program led by his father, former head coach Dale Jeffreys, so he knows the potential, and the expectations, for his program. And he welcomes input from his father.
“I get a lot of tips on what to do and what not to do everyday. He's been very helpful in my career and I'd be dumb not to take that advice with the success my dad had,” Jeffreys said.
Vinson, a senior running back, said Jeffreys' program includes more conditioning and working out, and he believes the team is responding well to its new coach, something he can encourage as a senior team leader.
“The younger guys look up to us to set a good example in practice, and that's something you accept as a senior. We're working hard and getting ready for the season,” Vinson said.
Jeffreys' staff includes Jamie Purser, Joseph Boyd, Jason Vinson and Taylor Hamilton.
After two non-region games (Lamar County and University Charter) to start the season, the Tigers host Winston County and Lexington in back-to-back crucial 2A Region 8 games. The Tigers will finish the regular season on Halloween night at Phil Campbell.
VINA RED DEVILS:
After a 6-4 2024 campaign, Vina Coach Cody Renfrow answered questions about building on last year's winning season, something Vina hasn't seen much of in recent years.
Renfrow, in his third year leading the Red Devils, brought seniors Bryson Finch, Lane Easterling and Zack Sparks and sophomore quarterback Branson Vick to Media Day this year.
The Red Devils went 4-1 against the first five opponents on their schedule (Brindlee Mountain, Phillips, Shoals Christian, Cherokee and Tharptown), so Renfrow's hoping for a similar strong start to the 2025 campaign.
“We felt great with the good start last season, but that was last season. It did give us a lot of momentum coming into this year. These kids play with a chip on their shoulders and want to prove last year was not a 'one and done.' We are certainly looking to build on that success,” Renfrow said.
Renfrow, a Vina graduate, said there's every reason to believe the Red Devils can maintain a winning program.
“This isn't about me. It's about a great group of kids, a great facility, a great school and having a great relationship with these kids. They are buying into what we're trying to get out of them,” Renfrow said.
Easterling, a senior running back/linebacker, said his coach's lifelong ties to his community means a lot to the team.
“He's focused on us. It's not about him. Coach isn't doing this for himself. He's taught us that football is a family sport, and we've got to work together and build off each other. It helps our younger players know their coach is behind them and he's not going to leave,” Easterling said. “He's a wonderful coach. He gets us out there, helps us out, teaching us a lot of things and I couldn't ask for a better coach.”
THARPTOWN WILDCATS:
For veteran varsity football coach Brian White, taking over at Tharptown will be about building a foundation, one brick at a time.
White hopes the two players he brought to Media Day, eighth-grade quarterback Wyatt Harrell and freshman tackle Zach May, will each become one of those foundational bricks for the Wildcats' program.
“We're going to rebuild from the ground up and do it the right way,” White said. “That's why I brought these young guys today. They'll be the foundation of doing just that.”
Tharptown's head coaching change came after records of 2-8 (2022), 1-9 (2023) and 0-10 (2024).
One immediate goal White has is to build up the number of kids who come out for football, and he knows it's no secret how to do that.
“The process is just do things the right way, be fundamentally sound as possible, do the job in the weight room, and recruit as many kids from the hallways as we can,” White said. “We've got to get them there before we can build them up. I'm very old school with a very simple philosophy—repetition. We'll do the things we're best at so many times that nobody has to think about what they're going. They'll just line up and play.
“I've been doing this a long time at a high level. I know what it takes to rebuild. That's a process we all will go through,” he added.
When asked by a reporter about 'rivalry games,' White's answer wasn't what the reporter might have expected.
“Our focus is us—to get better every single day, whether in the weight room, doing tire pulls, box jumps, fundamental drills of blocking or tackling. Those are the things we'll do every single day. Those are the things that will make us better.
“You've got to win some games before you have a rival. It's hard to have a rival when you've only had one or two winning seasons in school history. One day we'll establish a rivalry with another school but now it's a matter of getting better every day and being the best we can be,” White said.
Harrell agrees that winning will be the best way to encourage more players to come out for football.
“If we start winning, they'll come in themselves. But in the hallways, we'll just invite them and tell them we have a new coaching staff and we're going to be better than last year,” Harrell said.
RUSSELLVILLE GOLDEN TIGERS:
Accompanying second-year Russellville varsity head coach Dustin Goodwin to Media Day were seniors Ben Pounders and Tyrese Wiulson, juniors Keifer Hallmark and Tarus Davis and sophomore Whit Goodwin.
After finishing 7-4 and second place in 5A Region 7 last year, the Golden Tigers have the goal of returning to the top of the region standings, somewhere the program is accustomed to sitting.
Russellville will face a stiff Region 7 challenge with last year's champion, Fairview, in week six. But the Golden Tigers also have tough non-region games with Deshler, Mars Hill and Athens.
Although last year's Golden Tigers were senior heavy, Goodwin said there is a lot of experience on his roster and he's impressed with his team's character as he sees them coming together every day.
Russellville raced out to a 4-1 start last year, with a loss to Mars Hill in week two the only blemish. By the time the Golden Tigers reach their bye week on September 26th, they could be sitting at 3-0 in Region 7 play if they handle Lawrence County, East Limestone and Ardmore, teams they defeated by a combined 132-33 last season.
Roster turnover also included the loss of an All-State running back, but on the positive side, Goodwin is excited about the return of Pounders, a wide receiver/safety who was injured in fall practice and did not play last year.
The Golden Tigers have one offensive starter returning and four on the defensive side. When you coach, and play, at a football-rich school like Russellville, there are never excuses.
“All we can do is coaches is maximize the potential we have in our players and ourselves. When I think of Russellville, I think of great tradition, great playoff runs, solid coaching staffs and teams that don't give up,” Goodwin said. “If you want to take days or plays off, and you really don't enjoy this, it might be time to do something else.
“We want to help boys turn into young men and I think we are on the right track,” Goodwin added.
With returning starting quarterback Goodwin leading the offense, Russellville is expected to be much more aggressive this year with its passing game. Goodwin likes his receiving corps and his running back pool is talented with some good hands as well, so the confidence to air it out should be there.
“I think this is going to be a great group to coach. I like the character of this team. We challenge our guys to be close to one another and to be close in everything we challenge them to do,” Goodwin added.
