This story published in the 2016 edition of Gridiron magazine. 

It’s been an offseason of change at Selma High School. The Saints have a new coach in Keon Handley, who comes over after serving as an offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for schools in Mississippi.

He takes over for the departed Leroy Miles, who had coached Selma for the last six years. Under Miles, the Saints were a methodical, power-run team that relied on a physical offensive line and a mixture of speed and power backs.

The Saints’ offense will look much different in 2016. Handley spent the offseason implementing his spread offense, which will give the quarterback a lot of control to audible at the line of scrimmage.

“Some people say the offense I’m running is complicated,” Handley said. “It’s not complicated. It just takes two to three years to implement… You’ve got to have thousands of reps with these plays.”

Handley said Selma’s practices are set up so that the Saints get 70-80 plays of offense each day in practice. The Saints hosted a 7-on-7 with Sidney Lanier High School and also held two scrimmages before the season got underway.

Senior quarterback Kordez Ervin took snaps with the first team offense throughout the offseason. He’ll be expected to lead an offense that must improve upon last year’s struggles. Selma was held under 14 points five times last season and didn’t crack the 30 point mark but two times all season.

The defense again promises to be stout. Led by an experienced defensive line, Handley expects the defense to be the key to Selma’s team. Selma will transition to a 4-2-5 defense this upcoming season.

“I have high expectations of them,” Handley said. “It’s a non-negotiable that we have a top 10 defense. We should have a top-10 defense in the state.”

 

Quarterbacks

Ervin is the unquestioned starter at quarterback after an offseason where he led the team in every scrimmage and 7-on-7. Handley said Ervin has learned to accept his flaws, which has helped him become more of a leader.

“He’s learning from his mistakes and he’s day by day emerging as a leader. He’s starting to accept that responsibility more,” Handley said. “He understands he’s the point guard of the offense and everything runs through him.”

Handley’s spread offense will give the quarterback a lot of control at the line of scrimmage. He said he wants the Saints’ to be ready to run a play six seconds after the previous play ends because it’ll give the quarterback time to survey the defense.

Ervin will be expected to read the defense and check out of bad plays.

“I’m going to live or die with it and if we make a mistake, we are going to correct it on film,” Handley said.

Behind Ervin is freshman Tyreshon Freeman, who will likely get on the field in other roles. He showed during scrimmage games that he can run. He’ll likely play some wide receiver and also get on the field on special teams.

Nicholas Pernell, another freshman is the third string quarterback.

 

Running Backs

Brandon Hope, a senior, will get the majority of carries out of the backfield, Handley said. Handley said he likes that Hope doesn’t have to come off the field in any situation.

Henry Gordon, a junior, will also get a lot of carries, especially in short yardage situations. He’s the more physical of the two and will see a lot of carries.

 

Wide Receivers

Jacquez Wright, a senior and Pautavious Curtis, a junior, have separated themselves at wideout for the Saints. Curtis caught three touchdowns in Selma’s first scrimmage of the offseason.

“Pautavious and Jacquez are our two smoothest route runners. I’d like to see their hands get stronger but as far as route running and the ability to get open and to catch the ball … they can do it all,” Handley said.

Charles Black, a senior receiver that will also line up at tight end, could develop into an X-factor.

Freeman and junior Matthew Smith are developing for the fourth and final starting wide receiver spot. Handley hopes to know who will start the Sunday before the Southside game on Aug. 26.

 

Offensive Line

Handley said the offensive line is day-to-day. He’s still trying to find five starters who he can count on to open up holes for Hope and protect Ervin’s blindside.

“They are learning a new system. They have extreme demands on them that haven’t been there before,” Handley said.” We have certain plays that they run very, very well. As a coach, it’s my job to cater to that strength and cater to the things they are weak in.”

The Saints lost senior center Michael Davidson to a torn ACL during an offensive line camp in Birmingham. Davidson was going to be the leader of the offensive line. Another senior, Ronttarious Tabb, has been moved to center in Davidson’s absense. Handley said he’s starting to emerge as a leader.

Jeremiah Wright, a freshman, will start at right tackle.

 

Defensive Line

DeVaughan Blackmon will lead Selma’s defensive line, which figures to be one of the best units on the team. Blackmon, a senior, will require constant double teams, Handley said.

“He’s just a force. You are going to have to double team him,” Handley said. “If not, he’s going to wreak havoc.”

Blackmon has been moved back inside to defensive tackle after playing end last season. He’ll be joined by freshman Zion Jackson at defensive tackle. Senior Brandon Hatcher and sophomore Javarsva Sims will play the defensive end spots.

 

Linebackers

Seniors Kevin Jones and TaQuillis Chappell will lead the linebacker core for the Saints this year. Handley believes Chappell could play at the next level but has been overlooked because of his 5-foot-10 height.

 

Defensive Backs

Another senior, Ryan Snell, will lead Selma’s defensive backs. Handley called him a “field general” for the Saints’ defense. Ronderius Sanders, another senior, will play cornerback. Handley said Sanders is undersized but has the potential to lock down a quarter of the field.

Freshmen Amarian Molette and Nicholas Pernell also will factor in to the mix. All in all seven guys are fighting for spots at defensive back.

“Those seven guys could start for anybody I feel like in our region,” Handley said.

 

Special Teams

Freeman and Broderick Tripp are battling for kickoff duties. Tripp will likely be the team’s field goal and extra point kicker, a position he held last year. Curtis will likely handle the punting duties.