Cookeville High School Head Football Coach Taylor Hennigan is prioritizing early execution and fundamental consistency as the Cavaliers prepare for a challenging schedule following a season of late-year growth.
Hennigan said the team faces one of the most difficult non-region schedules in the program’s history. Hennigan said the coaching staff has a deeper understanding of the current roster compared to the same period last year.
“I feel like, certainly we have a better understanding of our team than we did at this point last year, but, you know, I think everybody’s wanting to do that, but yeah, absolutely, critical to execute better earlier than we did last year,” Hennigan said.
Hennigan said the team must replace the production of graduated linemen Austin Hone and Amari Williamson. Hennigan said the program added Coach Ledford to the staff to assist with tight ends and run-game schemes alongside offensive line coach, Coach Harding.
“We’re not going to replace him with one player,” Hennigan said. “We’re going to have to replace those guys with a group of players and just being better as a unit: offensive line, defensive line, being more fundamentally sound, being able to rotate a few more guys.”
Hennigan said the return of starting quarterback Easton Reeder provides a significant advantage for the offense. Hennigan said the quarterback showed substantial growth during a three-game winning streak at the end of the previous season.
“I think he learned to just not have to do too much, just try to get the ball to our playmakers,” Hennigan said. “So I do think that there’s obviously things we’ve talked to him about, worked with him in improving in the offseason, and certainly still a lot of work to do, but it does help.”
Hennigan said the offensive strategy will rely on a diverse group of running backs and playmakers at the tight end and receiver positions. Hennigan said the quarterback is working with Coach Z on pre-snap recognition and identifying defensive coverages.
“I think a lot of it’s pre-snap on both sides of the ball because he’s very talented and that’ll take over when everything slows down,” Hennigan said. “And then I know they’ve worked really hard with Coach Z working on pre-snap recognition and identification of safeties and coverages and potential blitzers and all the stuff that goes into playing quarterback.”
Hennigan said the roster features several returning contributors, including two-way starter Taylor Phipps and senior Hunt Reese. Hennigan said players such as Max Roberts and Isaac Logre are expected to take on larger roles after returning from injuries.
“Taylor Phipps, two-way starter, a little bit undersized but really just plays extremely hard,” Hennigan said. “You know, he’s a guy that’s just made plays for a couple years now. I think he’s going to have another good year.”
Hennigan said the program emphasizes community service and academic achievement as core values for the student-athletes. Hennigan said Gabe Dean and Creed Hardison are among the players expected to rank highly in their senior class academically.
“I’m proud of just the way that those guys attack those areas of our program as much as we do, you know, the practice field or the weight room or whatever it might be,” Hennigan said.
Hennigan said the team will begin intensive preparations in the coming days
