by Malcolm Butler
Cason Floyd doesn’t even have his drivers license yet.
But the Cedar Creek freshman-to-be is being handed the keys to the car by Cougar head coach William Parkerson.
Floyd, who is just 15 years old and only has a driver’s permit, has won the starting QB role for the Cougars less than two weeks into fall workouts.
This comes on the heels of the decision by sophomre Kade Luker not to play football this year, a decision that left Parkerson and Co. without a player on the varsity roster who has ever taken a varsity snap under center.
However, Parkerson said he has been pleasantly surprised by Floyd’s demeanor and composure.
“I knew from junior high football and from watching him play baseball, running around on the track … I knew he was a good athlete,” said Parkerson. “What has shocked me is his presence in the huddle and his command of the huddle.
“We have never announced to the team that he was the starting quarterback, but he organically became the starter. I think the kids knew it. I think the coaches knew it. He has stepped up and his leadership is beyond what I expected.”
Last year’s Cedar Creek starting quarterback Ladd Thompson graduated. Luker opted to focus on baseball. So now it’s Floyd’s turn. He started at QB on the junior high level the past two years, but said there is a difference in varsity practice.
“It’s a lot more serious,” said Floyd. “A lot more energetic. The guys really want to fight.”
The Cougars will conduct an intrasquad scrimmage Friday evening as part of Meet the Cougars Night and then will host Lakeside in a scrimmage on Friday, August 24. Cedar Creek will then face OCS at the Bayou Jamb on August 30 before opening the season the following week.
Thus, Floyd still has plenty of practice reps in front of him and some opportunities to get the butterflies out before the regular season opener.
So what does he have to improve on?
“Work on my footwork,” said Floyd.
His coach agrees.
“Training his eyes pre-snap,” said Parkerson. “Who the dive key is. Who the pitch key is regardless of the front the defense is in. Just mastering his footwork. The quarterback … especially in the option … it starts with the feet up. Getting those feet to the right places every snap.”
With a true freshman in such a leadership role on the field, Floyd will need to get comfortable with reacting instead of over-thinking things. It will be a process that won’t happen overnight. So how does he feel right now?
“Depends on what play we are running,” said Floyd. “Usually I can just go off my line, and I know what I’m doing.”
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