Bowie football coach Jeff Ables understands the challenges of arriving at football practice before the sun touches the morning sky.
For the 23rd time, the 62-year-old coach walked onto the campus field for the start of summer camp on Monday. He was followed by his legion of Bulldogs, 238 strong, as they gathered for their first practice of the upcoming season.
“These guys are making a sacrifice and a commitment to get up while their buddies are still sleeping,” Ables said. “I want all the focus to be on these kids.”
There were similar gatherings throughout the state on Monday, the first day of football training camp for teams that did not participate in spring drills. Teams that had spring ball will opening their training camps next Monday.
Bowie is among many schools that begin practice early to avoid the hottest part of the day. The Bulldogs are optimistic about the 2024 season with a group of eight offensive players who were in the starting lineup last year, including quarterback Cruz Tello. Leading the defense are a pair of veterans — safety Reagan Cooper and linebacker Wyatt Barnes.
Tello said he has gained confidence as a verbal leader over the past few years with the Bulldogs. The senior quarterback had two simple words when asked about the three-plus weeks of camp before Bowie opens the season Aug. 30 at Manor: “I’m ready.”
Cooper said he was ready to get started when his alarm clock went off at 5:30 in the morning. A senior, this is his final year of organized football with his neighborhood friends who are willing to wake up earlier than roosters.
“It makes me feel productive to get my day started early,” Cooper said. “I know a lot of people are still sleeping, but we have a brotherhood here. I’ve made so many friends playing football. Football teaches you life lessons like leadership and so many other things you carry after it’s all over.”
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Barnes had similar thoughts about his final first day of summer camp.
“Being here, I’m doing things other people don’t want to do or decided they can’t do,” Barnes said. “That just gives me more motivation and desire to come out here.”
At Travis, wanting some 2023 momentum
About six miles east of Bowie, Travis coach Joe Frank Martinez greeted his Rebels for the first day of practice for the 21st year. Optimism surrounds the red-clad players after they posted a 6-5 record and a berth in the playoffs in 2023.
The players have reason to feel good about themselves because they return 14 starters — seven on each side of the ball — including quarterback Jordan Davis, the District 13-4A DI offensive player of the year. Davis, who combined for 25 passing and rushing touchdowns, will rely on all-district lineman Dominic Juarez and all-district running back Frank McChriston, who contributed 1,175 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior.
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“We’re looking forward to a veteran group returning,” Martinez said. “As a school, we’re dropping from Class 5A to Class 4A, which gives us new challenges and we should be able to compete. And we’ve got some incoming talent from our JV team that went 7-3 last year.”
LBJ welcomes the drop back to Class 4A
In Northeast Austin, perennial power LBJ will be locked and loaded after dropping from Class 5A back to Class 4A, too. Second-year head coach Joseph Rauls is loaded with talent on both sides of the ball as he enters his second season as head coach.
The most notable player is senior Ali Scott, one of the state’s best dual-threat quarterbacks. Entering his fourth season with the Jaguars, Scott is looking for more success after combining for 2,700 total yards and 40 touchdowns as a junior.
He also improved himself by participating in a summer track and field program. For starters, he improved his 100-meter time of 10.9 seconds last year to 10.7 entering his senior season. He recently bench-pressed 300 pounds, up from 250 last year.
One of the biggest additions at LBJ is defensive lineman Caleb Dickey, an All-Central Texas second-team selection last season after contributing 146 tackles, 39 for loss of yards, while playing at Crockett.
Old rivals McCallum and Anderson could have footballs flying all over House Park when they tangle in the annual Taco Shack Bowl on Aug. 29.
McCallum returns most of its skill players on offense, including quarterback Luke Dunham, who commands respect in the passing game. Anderson, meanwhile, will rely on highly-touted quarterback Max Gerlich, who will throw the ball to Ed Small, one of the Austin area’s top receivers who earned All-Central Texas honors last year.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin-area high schools hold first preseason football practices
Austin American-Statesman
