Carroll Bulldogs
By Lee Brecheen
Head Coach: Garry Hines (1st year)
2022 Record: 8-1
Class & District: Class 3A (District 1)
2022 Playoffs: Lost to Breaux Bridge 21-17 in 1st Round of Division II (Non-Select) Playoffs
Carroll OL Jeremiah SIms
New Carroll High School head football coach Garry Hines is a graduate of Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton, Florida where he was coached by Dwight Thomas, the same coach who coached Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith at Escambia High School in Pensacola, Florida. After high school, Coach Hines wasn’t offered by his home state schools like Florida, Florida A&M, Miami or Florida State, so he went to college at Northeast Louisiana (now ULM) where he played running back and never left. Coach Hines is also the head track and field coach for Carroll High School and in 1995, they won the state outdoor title.
Carroll LB Dennis Blunt
“We lost a lot of experience on our offensive line and we have a new QB,” Hines said. “We have some growing pains with new starters learning. The 2022 season was a great one for the Bulldogs as we beat our rival (Wossman High School) in triple overtime, and I think we will do a great job in 2023 with some new faces and experienced players back.”
The Bulldogs have two quarterbacks for this fall season to talk about: QB Jordan Brisco and QB Jason Friels (6-2, 165) talented young QB. Both quarterbacks can play but they need the reps. The skill talent, however, is not lacking after talking to Coach Hines who knows speed when he sees it as he is also the school’s track coach. You have great skill talent in RB Cam Williams 5-8 175 strong and quick, RB Zaylin Singleton (5-8, 175), WR Nathan Roberts (6-0, 185), WR Peja Roberts (5-9, 165), WR Alexander Cooper, WR Glenterrius Billiups (5-9, 175) and others from the freshman team getting reps if needed. The offensive line, like Coach said, is young but they have talent in second-year starter Jordan Holmes (6-2, 275), new starter Daniel Straughter (6-3, 270), OL Jeremiah Sims (6-4, 290), OL Naylen Gray (5-10, 230) and OL JaQualyn Perry (6-1, 255).
Carroll kicker Josh Bravo
The defense has a chance to be dominant up front with a great front seven coming back. The group that will lead this defense up front are senior DT/DE Ian Allen (6-2, 220), second-year starter DE/OLB Tyrone Walker (6-1, 185, 4.6 speed), OLB/DE/FS LaTierance Gland (6-3, 220), DT Denterius Jenkins (6-0, 255), DT Aaron Marles (5-9, 230), second-year starter LB Dennis Blunt (6-1, 200), LB Michael White (5-11, 190) and others will make this a really good group. The defensive backfield has speed and size in third-year starter CB Xhane Williams (6-2, 185, 4.5 speed), SS/FS Darius Briggs (6-0, 185, 4.5 speed), CB Jardell Carter (6-0, 170, 4.5 speed), CB Elijah Jones (5-11, 160, 4.5 speed) and DB Kyderrian Smith (6-0, 175, 4.5 speed).
The special teams have a kicker who returns with ice in his veins when it comes to pressure Joshua Bravo (5-7, 190) who has a strong leg and came in the clutch when Carroll beat Wossman in 2022 with his leg.
The program will miss these kids from the 2023 graduating class including ATH Demardrick Blunt (signed with Louisiana Tech), Amareya Greeley (signed with Southern), OL Damien Toney (signed with Arkansas-Pine Bluff), ATH Jy Brown (signed with Grambling), DT Myron Thomas (signed with Arkansas-Pine Bluff) and ATH Aston Scott (signed with Louisiana Christian).
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