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Goodpasture football hoping to build on 2020 turnaround





Goodpasture coach Greg Cotten talks to his players after practice on Monday, July 26.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville

Goodpasture coach Greg Cotten talks to his players after practice on Monday, July 26.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville

Goodpasture football enjoyed a renaissance of sorts in 2020.

After three consecutive losing seasons, first-year head coach Tyler Turner guided the Cougars to a 9-3 record and a TSSAA Division II-AA state semifinal appearance.

Much has changed since last November.

Turner left for Mississippi’s Jackson Prep this spring and was replaced by former offensive line coach Greg Cotten.

The Cougars also graduated seven key players including quarterback/cornerback Cooper Pennington, wide receiver/safety David Harris and do-it-all man Brendan Jones, leaving several vacancies on both sides of the ball.

What hasn’t changed?

Goodpasture’s belief that it can hold its own in the DII-AA Middle Region that includes perennial playoff teams like BGA, CPA, Davidson Academy and Lipscomb Academy.

“We realized (last year) that we could actually be pretty good and maybe go to state and get a ring,” Goodpasture senior Josh Williams said. “That’s our thing. We want to get a ring.”

Goodpasture senior Josh Williams runs upfield after making a catch.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville

Goodpasture senior Josh Williams runs upfield after making a catch.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville

Getting there will require breakout performances from a different cast of characters. While Goodpasture returns nearly all its starting offensive and defensive linemen and expects to be strong in those areas, the Cougars still have ongoing battles at various skill positions.

“We feel like going into this season (our) offensive and defensive lines should be stable,” Cotten said. “This whole summer has been about getting those young guys on the outside as many reps as possible so that we can have them ready to go and hopefully fill the shoes of Cooper, Brendan and David.”

Senior AJ Brooks, who spent the last three seasons as a backup, is expected to take over at QB. In limited action as a sophomore in 2019, Brooks competed 21-of-38 passes for 223 yards and rushed for three touchdowns.

Brooks has already established chemistry with Williams, the team’s most productive returning wide receiver who made 20 catches for 292 yards and five scores a year ago.

Goodpasture quarterback JD Mastin handles a snap during a practice last summer.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

Goodpasture quarterback JD Mastin handles a snap during a practice last summer.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

“He’s been ready since last year,” Williams said of Brooks. “He’s a really good quarterback, trusts his teammates and shows good leadership.

“We’ve been buddies since like (age) three, so I think we’ve got a pretty good connection together.”

Carson Gregory and Octavius Henderson may also be factors at receiver, while Jaron Elkins and Musa Wellman will see time at running back.

Elkins, Henderson, Williams and linemen Vernon Holland and Emmett Smiley could each play both ways, especially early in the season as Cotten tries to get less-experienced players up to speed.

“It’s really just getting the young guys used to carrying the load that they’re going to have to carry,” Cotten said. “Up front (on the lines), a lot of our guys know what to expect when it comes to the rigor of a game week and the reps they are going to get on a Friday night. But we’ve also got a lot of guys who played for us last year who we are asking to do different things.”

Goodpasture players enjoy a water break during practice on Monday, July 26.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville

Goodpasture players enjoy a water break during practice on Monday, July 26.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville

Goodpasture opens its season with contests at Harding Academy and Nashville Christian before its first region test against DII-AA state runner-up Lipscomb Academy at home on Sept. 3.

If all the new pieces come together in time, the Cougars hope to still be standing again in late November.

“I think we have a really good team, we all work hard in the weight room, and we’re coming together (well),” Williams said. “I would say that we’ve got pretty good competition, but I think we still got it. We can still go to state.”

Goodpasture head coach Greg Cotten (left) watches practice with offensive coordinator Fred Kaiss on Monday, July 26.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville

Goodpasture head coach Greg Cotten (left) watches practice with offensive coordinator Fred Kaiss on Monday, July 26.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville

Goodpasture linemen Vernon Holland (52) and Jahka Foxx (54) take a breather during Monday's practice.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville

Goodpasture linemen Vernon Holland (52) and Jahka Foxx (54) take a breather during Monday’s practice.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville

Goodpasture running back Musa Wellman looks for open space on Monday.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville

Goodpasture running back Musa Wellman looks for open space on Monday.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville

Goodpasture coach Greg Cotten meets with members of his staff during Monday's practice.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville

Goodpasture coach Greg Cotten meets with members of his staff during Monday’s practice.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville

A Goodpasture assistant football coach gives instructions during Monday's practice.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville

A Goodpasture assistant football coach gives instructions during Monday’s practice.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville

A Goodpasture player wears a

A Goodpasture player wears a “Danger: Beware of Dog” sign on his pads.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville

Goodpasture quarterback JD Mastin (7) hands off to Musa Wellman during Monday's practice.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville

Goodpasture quarterback JD Mastin (7) hands off to Musa Wellman during Monday’s practice.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville

Goodpasture senior Gabe King (76) goes through drills on Monday, July 26.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville

Goodpasture senior Gabe King (76) goes through drills on Monday, July 26.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville

 

 

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