Turning heads
Cherokees’ mammoth lineman has worked his way up the recruiting ladder
For those who have to line up opposite Bryce Goodner this upcoming fall on the football field, good luck.
The 6-foot-3, 300-pound McMinn County High School offensive lineman has added even more power to his game. That in itself is scary as Goodner was named the Region 2-6A offensive lineman of the year last season and helped pave the way to an 8-0 start for the Cherokees.
On Feb. 26, Goodner turned heads as he front squatted 545 pounds with ease and no help from his spotter and fellow standout offensive lineman Garrett Priest. Soon after the school gym would be closed due to the coronavirus pandemic but Goodner kept working. At home he found great results from squatting 405 pounds during which he would pause and then come back up, and said jumping rope during workouts has helped him feel even more spring in his legs and ready to burst through anyone in his way.
“I called Garrett and told him I need you to text me every day and ask me if I have done something. Keep me going,” said Goodner, who has maxed out at 645 pounds in the squat. “I feel pretty good about it because I feel a lot more explosive and powerful. I am excited now, because I am
back at practice with my teammates and I think this is where I am at my best.”
After Goodner’s front squat video created quite the rave on social media with 77,000 views on Twitter, he took things to another level last weekend.
With water up to nearly his waist, and without using his hands, he sprung up and out of the pool onto the pool deck that stood 44 inches above the pool floor. The June 7 video has reached nearly 90,000 views on Twitter already.
“I have actually been able to do a pool jump for a long time,” said Goodner, who also has pushed a truck filled with wet and heavy deck wood up a slight incline for a leg workout. “I just didn’t know until now it was that cool. I like to do box jumps too and I have to turn the boxes on their side to make them vertical and tougher for me at practice. I think the short explosive workouts really have made me better.”
At Tuesday’s practice, McMinn County players motivated one another to finish each drill strong by saying they wanted to outwork Maryville, who they finished behind last year in the region standings. With four of five starters returning on the offensive line, the Cherokees look to make lots of room for star senior running back Jalen Hunt to run and time to open up the passing game as well.
Excitement is certainly in the air for Bo Cagle’s team after winning nine games last season.
“We always keep each other accountable in the weight room and in school,” Goodner said.
“We have developed so much spiritually and mentally and we love playing for one another. I think by the time we finish here we will have set up the future really well for this football program. A lot of the younger middle school kids look up to us and we don’t want to let them down.”
After an all-state season last year, Goodner is now a highly sought-after recruit and his viral videos and gains this offseason should help his future even more.
“My decision is not only a four year one, but a 40 year one,” said Goodner, who has a 3.95 GPA and says he learned to be a better student when he came home with two B’s as a freshman and was scolded by him mom for slacking off. “I want to go to a school that has a great electrical engineering program as well as great football. I would love to play in the NFL one day, but I also want to set myself up well for life after football and have great connections.”
Goodner says potential suitors he really likes includes Navy, Air Force, Harvard, Yale, Rice and Charlotte. He also has become the biggest advocate of himself and has pushed his talents to Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech, two schools he really likes.
“When I was a kid I was small, had a blonde bowl cut and was mean,” Goodner added. “I was bad and my mom was thinking man, he’s going to go to juvy one day. So she put me in football. I got knocked around and chilled out and grew up. I am so thankful for this game. The camaraderie and brotherhood that has come with it can’t be beat.”