*****UPDATE FROM FRIDAYS GAME*****
First of all - BELFRY IS FOR REAL and I will make the trk over again when Cabell Midland WV comes to town (Cabell beat them last season at Cabell)
First of all it was VERY DIFFICULT to determine how well the line played because the Creekers submarined just about every play to try to take out the OL and let LB / DB's to make the plays. After seeing that - actually not a bad idea - but it failed - and it failed MISERABLY. (Creekers coaching staff did not impress me at all - Not Coach Walton - BTW where Coach Haywood 1st Assistant Job was with)
First off - Belfry lined up on their strong side - Scott with a verbal to Tn tech / Dotson verbal to UK / Bentley verbal to U of L and ran over them (I know DUH). Best of the bunch was def Dotson - he was very athletic and got to second level and downfield appropriately. Some times Belfry went double tights and had Rayquan Horton in and had 2 TE that were 300 + lbs....sheesh I thought at times I was watching the old Joe Gibbs Hogs!
I am telling ya - these kids were HUGE for HS and Dotson has that streak in him were he wants to dominate!!
I see why Dotson was chosen for scholly offer over Bentley (not offered) - near same size but Dotson physique is more athletic looking - footwork is more athletic looking and went hard every play - businesslike. Looks like the kind of kid a staff can work with and develop over time - body that you can get HUGE while keeping athleticism. bentley - not near as athletic - and (in uniform) body shape was barrelled compare to "V" look for Dotson.
He will take a lot (A WHOLE LOT) of work for pass protection technique and such because Belfry is not gonna run many passing plays and of those 20 they do in season they will be play action style - but with Dotson athleticism - I feel he will succeed in becoming a well rounded linemen.
Of note, IF and this is a big IF - that Rayquan Horton kid played hard every play - he COULD be a dominate DL....but he did not seem to have the desire to play hard every play. Coach Haywood even praised the kid who has started for 4 straight years as "unblockable when he wants to be". And if you know Coach - he isn't one to praise kids in public forum.
My former teammates I went with told me that just 3-4 plays in and you could see that Dotson was best player on field. But we did fall in love with Belfry little # 10 - he was one of Belfry best athletes who is undersized but has that Coach Haywood heart of a BRUTE attitude.
And - BELFRY IS GON BE REAL GOOD AGAIN!
Pretty fair take!
#10 is Cameron Catron. He is a four year starter at Safety and a two year starter at HB and the first time he touched it Friday was a gorgeous 73 yard punt return.
Catron is very undersized but has some Division 2 and Division 3 programs all over him. A real winner of a kid from what I gather. He has some Southern Conference FCS schools showing him interest as well.
Another kid I love on this team that UK was impressed with is the MLB and FB #5 Wellman. He is a Junior but he is a football player. 6'1 and right at 200 and a natural LB. he was the one that had a beautiful INT dropping in a zone and then two plays later ran it 50 yards for the TD. I think you see him get FCS offers before it is over next year.
Horton was in cruise control Friday for a couple reasons. For starters Tate's Creek Offense and Belfrys Defensive philosophy just contrast. Haywood is super conservative against spread teams and only rushed three and an occasional LB. Horton constantly had two or three watching him. Secondly, they really didn't call on him to ramp it up much because Tate's Creek couldn't move the ball even against Belfrys base D. The kid is something to watch when Haywood gives him the green light to be aggressive or when it is a 3rd and 2 type of situation.
That Cabell Midland game should be interesting but the one to watch if it is streamed live will be that Knoxville Catholic game. KnoxCath is one of the top teams in TN regardless of class and loaded with five or six D1 guys including three elite talents
