By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director

GAYLESVILLE – Last football season, Kyler Bradley was utilized mainly on the receiving end of the Gaylesville Trojan offense.

He’ll be the one throwing those passes in 2023.

Bradley shifts over to quarterback for his senior year, replacing former starter Tanner Eads, who graduated following last season. It’s a role Gaylesville fifth-year head coach Brian Knapp said Bradley has embraced during the offseason.

“He’s the ultimate team player. He’s very coachable,” Knapp said. “At a small school sometimes, you have to play people out of position at times. That’s kind of what we’ve faced. When he has the ball in his hands we’ve got a chance. That’s what kind of player he is. He’s fast. He’s strong. He has great instincts. He’s a fine young man. In order for us to be successful, everything has to go through him. That’s just the way it is.”

Like Knapp said, Bradley is the top returning offensive performer for the Trojans from last season’s 3-6 team. They lost top rusher Keylon Higgins (1,172 yards and 12 TDs) and Eads at quarterback (809 yards passing with 11 TDs).

Bradley caught 22 passes for 437 yards and eight scores last season. He said it’s been an adjustment behind center, but one he says that’s “been pretty good.”

“It’s a lot (to take on) after losing all the seniors we did. You have younger kids having to play. All you can do is try to tell them what to do and hope they can do it,” Bradley said.

The Trojans have six returners on the offensive side of the ball. One of Bradley’s big targets in the passing game is 6-foot-2, 255-pound junior tight end Collin Hendon.

“Collin has a big frame and a unique skill set. He’s a three-sport guy, so that kind of tells you what kind of ability he has,” Knapp said. “What we do, the tight end slips out and comes open a lot because of the play action and the run game we try to establish a lot. He is going to be a major target for Kyler.”

Bradley also hopes to be making connections with his younger brother, sophomore Kuper Bradley. Knapp said Kuper Bradley will play at split end.

“Kuper is also going to be a major target. We’ll try to get him the ball early and often in space,” Knapp said.

Junior Hunter Allmond is also expected to be another threat in the Trojan passing game.

“There are four or five guys out there, so (Kyler Bradley) is going to have to do a good job there of spreading the wealth in terms of when we do put it up. I believe he’ll do that,” Knapp said.

“Everything we do is based off of play action. If we can get Kyler outside the tackle box, and he does a great job of utilizing that run-pass option, we’ll be able to move the chains. If we can move the chains and hang on to the football, we’ll have a chance to win.”

One thing the Trojans are looking for on offense is some players to emerge in the backfield to complement the passing game. Knapp says it will be running back by committee between Allmond, junior Braden Barrett, and freshmen Jack Sentell and Ayden Heinrich.

“In my first four years, we had big, bruising backs and we had a big, bruising tackle. We could say we’re going to run right there and we’re going to get three or four yards and we’re going to control the football, but we don’t have big, bruising backs anymore. I’ve had to adapt,” Knapp said. “I still have a belief in running the football, but we’re going to get into what we’re going to do a little differently. We’re going to predicate everything off of misdirection, which comes off of a lot of play action. You’re not going to see a lot of direct stuff.”

Blocking for the Trojan playmakers are senior guards Braden Sharp and Eli Bryson in addition to Hendon at tight end.

“Those three have a boatload of playing experience, so we’re going to lean on them,” Knapp said.

Sharp said the Trojans’ summer workouts have gone well.

“We’re getting better,” he said. “We only have three coming back (on the line), but the younger guys have grown up a lot. If we can all get to our blocks, we’ll be pretty good.”

The Trojans have five returning starters on defense. Knapp said Gaylesville will base out of a 4-3, with Kyler Bradley in the secondary and Sharp at middle linebacker. Junior Karrson Ray will also help anchor the defense.

“There is some familiarity of game speed and game experience on that side of the ball,” Knapp said. “We’ll base out of a 4-3, cover-2 and go from there.”

The Trojans compete in Class 1A, Region 7 along with Cedar Bluff, Coosa Christian, Valley Head, Appalachian, Decatur Heritage and Woodville.

Following a jamboree at Brindlee Mountain on Aug. 17, the Trojans open the 2023 season with two non-region games on Aug. 25 at West End in Walnut Grove and host Collinsville on Sept. 1. It’s the first meeting between Gaylesville and Collinsville since 2013.

The Trojans open up region play on Sept. 8 at home against Coosa Christian, then travel to Cedar Bluff on Sept. 15.

“It’s a tough schedule,” Knapp said. “As far as the non-region toughness of our games, what I hope is we can get through them with valuable experience. We get through them without major injuries. Hopefully it can pay dividends in us achieving our goal, which is making the playoffs.”

2023 Gaylesville Football Schedule
Aug. 25 at West End
Sept. 1 Collinsville
Sept. 8 Coosa Christian
Sept. 15 at Cedar Bluff
Sept. 22 Appalachian
Sept. 29 Victory Christian
Oct. 6 at Woodville
Oct. 20 at Decatur Heritage
Oct. 27 at Valley Head
Nov. 2 Talladega County Central