Every football play starts with the center, which is why one of Oglethorpe County’s biggest offseason moves was sliding sophomore Kayden Phelps to center to replace Brock Barrett, who graduated.
After spending summer and early fall learning the position, Phelps is one-half an entirely new exchange with first-year starting quarterback Nathan McCalla, making the under-center snap a top offseason priority.
“The snap is the most important thing,” offensive coordinator Josh Austin said. “We’re an under-center team, so the most coaching that we’ve had to do with those two together as a unit is making sure we get the snap right. There’s been some trial and error with it, but they’re figuring it out.”
Phelps joins experienced returning starters junior Jack Baldwin at guard and tackles senior Jake Huff and junior Isaiah Hood, who Austin said has a “nasty” down block.
“We’re only going to be as good as our O-line is going to be,” Austin said. “We’ve got some talented backs, but if we want to be consistently good, we’re going to depend on those returners to do their job.”
Freshman Lance Ellefson will complete the Patriots’ five-man front at guard. At 6-foot, 185 pounds, the freshman isn’t the biggest, but has already made an impact on and off the field.
“He’s the one that’s become the vocal leader,” Austin said. “He’s the one you can hear, he’s picking people up, he’s also the one that likes to talk the trash a little bit.”
While energy may not be the unit’s issue, pad level remains a work in progress.
“We’re playing way too high and we’re not getting movement up front on the offensive side of the ball,” coach Mike Holland said. “It’s hard for us to do what we do if we’re not getting movement up front.”
But as the group gains experience, Phelps sees the line closing in on its potential.
“Once we know every play, once we fix our little issues, it’s gonna be pretty hard to stop us,” he said.