Panthers begin preseason football workouts

***Pictured is Lincoln Prep Coach Glen Hall (far right) watching his team work out during Monday’s opening day of preseason practice for the Panthers. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)***

By T. Scott Boatright

The dog days of summer made it a tough opening day of practice for the Panthers Monday afternoon as the Lincoln Preparatory School football team began preseason workouts.

That was not a major surprise for Lincoln Prep Coach Glen Hall.

“They’re still young and not that used to the heat we had today, and that got to them some,” Hall said. “We had to give them some time off before we started back up for preseason practice. Some of them had still been showing up for conditioning workouts on their own and some of them didn’t show for those.

“And for the ones who didn’t come when they didn’t have to, I think that showed today.”

Hall had 26 players on the turf at Panthers’ Field on Monday.

“We were missing some of our linemen today because they hadn’t taken physicals yet so I wouldn’t let them practice,” Hall said. “With it being that hot out there, I wanted it to be safe.”

Hall said he has an idea to try to keep his team fresher while working out in the suffocating heat and humidity that has taken over the region.

“I’m going to go out and try to get in a good hour and a half, mainly from just running plays and do our conditioning with running plays and special teams and not so much running 40 yards, 30 yards and that type of thing,” Hall said. “If we can get them to go hard — run hard — during drills I’m hoping we won’t have to do all that other kind of running, and I think that can help keep us fresher even in this kind of heat.”

“That way they don’t realize they’re still doing conditioning other than just straight running.”

Hall said one thing he needs this preseason is for quarterback Jordan Brown to focus on all phases of the game, including the mental aspect.

“He’s got a year up under his belt and we really need him to become more consistent and become more of a leader,” Hall said about his senior signal caller. “He’s still the type of guy who sometimes wants to play back there in the back of the crowd.

“As a starting quarterback, you’ve got to be more of a leader. He’s got to understand that while he might not be a quarterback that’s going to blow everybody away, if he plays within this system, he has the ability to be very successful. And part of that is him stepping up into the kind of leadership role we need from him.”

Hall hopes Lincoln Prep’s running back corps, including D’Tavion Wright, Jaydon Huntley, Tyler Wimberly and Verlanski Glosson, can help take some pressure off Brown.

“If our running backs are playing well, we don’t have to depend completely on our quarterback, and we have some good running backs,” Hall said. “And if they get going, that opens play action passing for our quarterback.

“I’ve got a few guys — D’Tavion Wright is the real deal,” Hall said. “And when Huntley is on, he is on in a big way. He’s quick. Wright is more of the power back and Huntley provides the quickness. So, If I can them to (combine) for 150-200 yards per game, we are in good shape.”

Hall said he feels good about his defense doing their part to help the Panthers’ offense.

“We have a pair of good linebackers in D’Tavion Wright and Tyler Wimberly,” Hall said. Verlanski Glosson is returning at strong safety. Jaydon Hunley is returning at safety. Trey

Spann and Cenario Wilson return in our backfield, so we have some guys who can run and make plays on defense.

“That is pretty much our strongpoint — being able to run and make plays. We also have my big guy, (lineman) Ryan Randolph that we are going to get a chance to get some blows, and even a little rest will help him because we had to use him a lot last year. A lot.”

Hall said his Panthers will play a scrimmage the week before traveling to Delhi for a preseason jamboree.

“I don’t want to have to drive a long way for a scrimmage when we’ll have to turn around and go all the way to Delhi for the jamboree,” Hall said.

Lincoln Prep begins regular season play on Sept. 6 at D’Arbonne Woods. Following is Lincoln Prep’s 2024 regular season schedule: