Experience-laden Owls still searching for QB
Memphis University School coach Bobby Alston has a plan.
The Owls have to replace quarterback Jordan Rodgers, who rewrote the passing section of the school’s record book last year in leading the Owls to a 10-3 season that ended with a loss to Nashville Ensworth in the Division 2-AA state championship game.
So to fill those big shoes, the Owls — at least early on — will use no fewer than four quarterbacks.
Senior James Sexton, who has been in a close camp battle with classmate Blake Bennett, will start in Friday’s opener at Brentwood Academy. Bennett will play, as well, and the Owls also have plans to use versatile junior Marcus Evans — who was injured last year — and Thomas Pickens, a sophomore whom Alston describes as “a freak.”
“James and Blake have been kind of splitting time,” Alston said. “But all four will play, at least early on until someone starts to separate themselves either positively or negatively.”
Quarterback is one of the few positions unsettled at MUS, which opens the year ranked second in The Commercial Appeal’s Dandy Dozen. The Owls return 14 starters from last year’s team — seven on each side of the ball — and are brimming with talent.
Whoever is under center will have one of the top targets in the state to throw to — 6-3, 182-pound senior Devin Perry.
“Devin is a difference maker,” said Alston.
Said Perry, “We have a lot of potential (on offense). Our guys have worked hard over the summer. We’re a closeknit group and we’re just going to continue to work
and get better.”
Junior Darien Bradburn, who had a terrific preseason scrimmage against top-ranked and defending 6A state champion Whitehaven, will start at running back and will operate behind a massive line led by 6- 6, 316-pound junior Drew Richmond, one of the nation’s top Oline prospects in the class of 2015.
The outlook is bright on defense too.
“I like our defense,” said Alston. “Our defense has a chance to be really good.”
The team’s strength is its linebacker corps, led by seniors James Prather (6-5, 234) and Trey Moore (6-2, 220). Alston also singled out senior Bud Harris as one of the main surprises in preseason camp.
Both starting corners, MaLeik Gatewood and Lucas Crenshaw, also return, while Pickens will start at safety.
“We’ve got a lot experience but we’ve got a few young guys that are pretty explosive too, Thomas Pickens and (sophomore linebacker) Tim Hart,” said Prather. “They should contribute a lot. We’ll be pretty stout, I think. We’ve just got to take care of our reads and punish when the ball comes our way.”
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