Clay County High School Head Football Coach Bruce Lamb is prioritizing physicality and toughness as the program prepares for the upcoming season following a successful playoff run last year.
Coach Bruce Lamb said the coaching staff consistently teaches a physical style of play to ensure the team’s identity remains intact as new players step into starting roles. Lamb said he expects the physical traits established by previous classes to carry over into the current season as the team continues to develop.
“I’ve always tried to teach physicality and I think that these kids understand that and I think it’ll carry over again this year and that’s what we do.” Lamb said.
Lamb said the offensive line has shown significant progress during the off-season as younger players gain experience and learn to work together. Lamb said the unit features several players who have shown dedication in the weight room, including Roland Holloway, Cole Ledbetter, Tucker Walker, and Jackson Ritter.
“I think our offensive line has really come together I think they’ve really worked hard and kind of meshed together got some younger kids there we were real young there last year and so they’ve gotten a little more experienced behind them and I think it’s going to really help them this year,” Lamb said.
Lamb said the team is also integrating athletic but inexperienced players into skill positions. Lamb said returners like Nehemiah Hamilton and quarterback Fletcher Strong are providing leadership for a group of receivers that includes Jacob Pennington, Isaiah Wyatt, and Juju.
“I think with a lot of inexperience that we have I think we’re going to get better each week and that’s what last year’s team did,” Lamb said. “We got better each week and I think they’ll do the same thing.”
Lamb said the program’s recent success has established high expectations that the current roster is working to meet. Lamb said the players understand the effort required outside of scheduled practice times to achieve greatness on the field.
“These kids that’s come in they know what the expectations are and they know what how we do things and I think that I think all that’s going to come together and we’re going to step out and just got to have some kids step up and I think that we got some of those that are willing to do that and put the work in and I think it’ll show definitely late in the season when we get ready for that playoff run,” Lamb said.
Lamb said the team also features students who are active in the community, including Cage Ashley, Thomas Ashley, and Logan Shirey. Lamb said he feels fortunate to work with a group of students who are maturing into helpful adults.
“I’ve got such wonderful kids I mean I’m so blessed to be able to coach those guys and watch them mature and grow into such wonderful adults and see the things that they do,” Lamb said. “I mean I could just go on and on and on about that.”
