Titans looking to rebuild offensive and defensive lines
Carl Albert coach Mike Dunn talks to his team after a playoff game in 2023. Photo by Jeff Harrison
By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon
Carl Albert knows what it takes to win state championships.
The Titans will be trying for a third consecutive Class 5A title this fall.
They got a jump on it last week as they hosted a two-day team camp at Gary Rose Stadium. Southmoore, Elgin, Putnam City North and Heritage Hall joined Carl Albert in the spring event.
Coach Mike Dunn said he was pleased with what he saw from both his returning starters and newcomers.
“We felt really good about our veteran guys like Caden Davis, Trystan Haynes, Trey Washington, Marcus James and others,” Dunn said. “And some of the younger guys really stepped up.”
Delijah Matthews and Carl’Veon Young both shined in the defensive secondary at the team camp.
“We rested some of our senior defensive backs who had some hamstring issues after the state track meet and Delijah got a lot of reps at cornerback and had a great two days of camp,” Dunn said. “And Carl’Veon Young had two really good days at the nickel spot.”
On offense, Devin Woodring and Anderson Collier took most of the snaps at quarterback. Daniel Newton, a move-in from Edmond Santa Fe, will also compete for the job but was out with injury at the team camp.
While the Titans have several returning skill players, they will have some new faces on the offensive and defensive lines.
“We’re really young up front and it was good to see those guys go against someone else,” Dunn said. “We knew that we’d have some busts here and there in execution, but we wanted to see them play with great effort and speed. And our guys stepped up.”
The Titans will replace nearly their entire offensive line. Cody Voelker is the only returning starter at right tackle. Elijah Esparza was among the top offensive linemen at team camp, Dunn said.
On the defensive line, Lebron Royal, Joe Thomas, Kathan Pierucci, Thomas Welch and Nick Hill all impressed coaches at the team camp.
“We wanted to see who would go out and play hard and fight on the offensive and defensive lines,” Dunn said. “It doesn’t matter to us if a guy is 205 pounds or 305 pounds. We can make them a player if they if they play hard.”
The Titans will begin their summer performance course conditioning and lifting program next week.
