Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Newcomer Bolters Tiger’s Roster
NEWCOMERS BOLSTER ROSTER
PRAIRIE GROVE — Three transfers, two of which came to Prairie Grove last year, are projected to make a big impact on the Tiger football program.
That’s a plus for the Tigers with 44 kids out, returning 4 starters on offense, and 5 on defense.
“We’ve got a smaller junior class,” said Prairie Grove head coach Danny Abshier. “I think there’s 14 seniors. The junior class is a little small. We gained a couple. The sophomore class we lost a few of those, two or three of those.”
Ozark, Mo. Transfer
A newcomer from the “Show Me” State will get his chance to show Prairie Grove coaches that he can play football.
“At right guard, we’ve got Chuckie Edwards, (5-8, 220), (who) moved in from Ozark, Mo., last year and learned the system,” Abshier said. “He’s done really well. In fact, we’ve relied on him quite a bit, and I don’t think he realizes how much we really want to rely on him, how important he is. He could start on either side of the ball and played a lot for us last year. I need him to decide he’s one of the leaders of the line.”
Abshier wants Edwards to personify the tough guy image of, “I am the guy, and you’re going to
have to deal with me kind of attitude.”
The veteran coach believes in Edwards while looking for the enforcer to show up.
“I haven’t seen that yet,” Abshier said.
Edwards played defensive line last year, but will switch back-and-forth in the Tiger defensive alignment this season.
“He’s having to be versatile in playing both defensive line and linebacker, giving us some depth,” Abshier said. “So, we’re using Chuckie Edwards at that defensive tackle and some linebacker.”
Defensive coordinator Craig Laird envisions Edwards plugging the gap at both spots.
“Chuckie is one of our strongest squatters,” Laird said. “He has a linebacker build. We worked him at linebacker early last year. He gives us a lot of what we like at defensive tackle.”
Greenland Transfer
From Greenland Pirate to Prairie Grove Tiger so goes senior James Millwood (6-2, 205), a young man discovering football opportunity and dedicating himself to make the most of it.
Millwood transferred as a junior from Greenland, and contributed an impact as a post player for the Tiger boys basketball team. Greenland head football coach Lee Larkan reportedly told him to go out for football at Prairie Grove. His desire to defend and defend well hasn’t escaped notice in the short time he’s been practicing with the football team.
“We’ve never seen Millwood on the football field until last week,” Abshier said on media day, Aug. 3. “If you saw him play basketball, oh yeah, this guy will help on the football team.”
Abshier, who coaches the defensive ends, fully expects Millwood to bust loose disrupting opposing offenses. Laird is seeing the same thing, noting Millwood gives of himself, volunteering to referee Upward Basketball games.
“That dude is contagious,” Laird said. “He’s all in. He is all business.”
While some players enjoyed an easy day on media day, Millwood was out running, refusing to take an off day. According to Laird, Millwood runs after practice with a singular goal in mind — to get better.
Abshier, who diligently shepherds players on his watch, was sensitive to a frown Millwood displayed and popped the question, “What’s wrong?”
“I’m tired of being average,” Millwood replied.
“You won’t be average very long with that attitude,” Abshier said.
The coaches consider Millwood a good prospect at wingback on offense.
“James has a bigger frame, provides some different things that a little lighter (starter Kaine) Caswell can’t do; and so we’re using him at wingback also,” Abshier said.
Lincoln Transfer
Junior Cordelle Whetsell (6-2, 185) transferred from Lincoln where he scored a touchdown against the Tigers during the regular season finale last season. If that didn’t impress Tiger coaches, practice has for Whetsell, who may play wide receiver or wingback on offense.
“We want to use him, we’ve got to figure out where,” Abshier said. “He’s got a good attitude, good grades, he’s a good, quiet guy. He’s never ran the ball. We’re looking at him run the ball and see how he does. He moved in fairly late. He was playing in Lincoln last year. We’re not real sure exactly where we want to use him. Anyway, we see that he’s very athletic and one of our faster guys. So, wingback and split end, Cordelle Whetsell, is going to play a vital part of our offense.
Whetsell is also likely to see a lot of action as a defensive back for the Tigers.