ADDISON, Ala. — Addison begins the highly unusual 2020 football season like all other teams in Alabama, with no spring practice and a ton of questions coming into the fall. Addison is coming off an 8-3 season, acceptable for most schools, but if you asked the players and Addison Head Coach David Smothers, they would tell you it should have been better. After a disappointing upset loss in the first round of the playoffs to North Sand Mountain, Addison is determined to make this season unforgettable.
“We lost a lot of production from our team last year. We lost two all-state players (WR/S Luke Chambers & DT Jeb Robinson) and a ton of experience,” Smothers said. “The biggest difference between this year’s team and last year is the depth and experience. What I mean by that is our reserves last year had played a lot of ball. This year we have talent in our reserves, but they haven’t gotten a lot of playing time on the varsity level.”
Smothers stated that having no spring practice kind of put the Bulldogs behind a little.
“I know all the schools are going through the same thing, but it really hurt us as far as finding out where kids can play,” Smothers said. “Is the kid better at guard or tackle? That is what you use the spring for to find out where your young players best fit.”
Addison can depend on strong-armed junior QB Christian Roberts to be a steadying influence on the field. Roberts shared time with the now graduated Grant Rice at QB last year.
“Roberts is a nice combination of speed and a solid arm,” Smothers said, “Christian is as good a kid as you will find, and I expect big things from him this year. This is his team now and I know he will step up and be a fine leader.”
Addison has three returning offensive lineman, junior Ross Steele, junior Mark Williams and senior Bailey Wilson, which should make the transition much easier.
“We have three of our line positions pretty well figured out and we are using practice to try and sort out the other two spots. I feel good about our line.”
The Bulldogs are well stocked in the backfield with senior Weston “Big Game” Smith leading the way.
“Weston is a hoss. He runs hard and is tough to bring down.” (senior) Nelson Martin, (senior) Cannon Hiller and (junior) Eli Howse have been running hard as well,” Smothers said. “Hiller doesn’t have a lot of experience, but he is going to be fine back there.”
A big hole to be filled at WR is now graduated and UNA signee Luke Chambers. Smothers believes that junior WR Justin Mather has the ability to stretch the field and junior WR Brody Dollar is a good hands possession receiver.
junior Eli Howse will handle the placekicking and punting duties again this year.
“Eli is going to play a little more this year than just kick and punt,” Smothers said. “He is a good athlete and I think he will find a spot to contribute.”
Coach Smothers thinks that the defense will be solid as always.
“We need to fit some young guys in and some other older players to step up. I mean we lost some multiyear starters and some quality players from last year. I know that senior LB Nelson Martin and senior DE Nelson Hernandez are really going to step up and have great years. Our secondary will have a lot of experience coming back we just need to be more consistent in our coverages. I’m looking for one of them to step up and be the guy to get us in the right positions.”
Addison has three 4A teams on the schedule this fall, and Smothers and the Bulldogs are looking forward to the challenge.
“We have a hard time getting schools our size to play us. I look as it being a challenge. We are a 2A team playing Haleyville, Hamilton and Good Hope, two of those teams were very good last year. I don’t get upset when we get beat but I hate losing,” Smothers said. “Losing is when you don’t compete and don’t give it your best. If the other team is better than you and you play your best, well that is all you can ask your kids to do.”
“Addison is a great job regardless of classification. I am around some great parents who allow me to coach their kids hard. It all started back with Coach (Aubrey) Hicks and Coach Stephenson. They laid the groundwork about hard work, hard coaching and hardnosed football. It just progressed from there,” Smothers said. “Success bred success. Coach (Phil) Wilson, Coach (Randy) White and Coach (Steven) Smothers all had the support of the community and all had success. I am just a product of the groundwork that they laid down. I am grateful to all those coaches that came before me.”
All in all, the 2020 Addison Bulldogs should be a competitive team, as always, and hopefully a long playoff run will be in the works. Roll Addi Roll!
The Addison Bulldogs will kick off the 2020 season on the road against Halyeville Friday night.
2020 Addison Football Schedule (2A Region 5)
8/21: @ Haleyville
8/28: Lynn
9/4: @ Aliceville*
9/11: Midfield*
9/18: @Winston County*
9/25: Good Hope
10/2: Cold Springs*
10/9: Lamar County*
10/16: @ Hamilton
10/23: @ Sulligent*
2020 Addison Football Roster
1 Nelson Martin
2 Cannon Hiller
3 Christian Roberts
5 Xavier Barley
6 Jacob Hardin
7 Lawson Alexander
8 Briley Holt
10 Tommy Lee Daniel
12 Justin Mather
13 Eli Melvin
14 Eli Howse
15 Quentin Barley
17 Brody Dollar
20 Ty Tuggle
21 Briley Hayes
22 Nelson Hernandez
24 Hayden Holland
28 Will Tuggle
30 Dave Tuggle
32 Zach Thompson
34 Jack Wilson
40 Braden Luker
43 Weston Smith
51 McKinley Cagle
52 Cordell Barnett
54 Mark Williams
55 Dawson Lemley
56 Hunter Gent
57 Noah Jeffreys
60 Ross Steele
70 Isaiah Treece
76 Lucas Crow
77 Ethan Woodard
78 Bailey Wilson
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