Father Ryan’s head coach Brian Rector speaks to his team during practice at Father Ryan High School, Monday, July 25, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn.
Father Ryan’s Elton Nkwembe (21) throws during practice at Father Ryan High School, Monday, July 25, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn.
Father Ryan’s head coach Brian Rector speaks to his team during practice at Father Ryan High School, Monday, July 25, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn.
Father Ryan’s head coach Brian Rector speaks to his team during practice at Father Ryan High School, Monday, July 25, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn.
Father Ryan’s Ryan Bauer (81) and Jay Shoop (12) run a drill during practice at Father Ryan High School, Monday, July 25, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn.
Father Ryan’s Seamus O’Connell (3) and Nick Miller (82) during practice at Father Ryan High School, Monday, July 25, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn.
Father Ryan’s head coach Brian Rector speaks to his team during practice at Father Ryan High School, Monday, July 25, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn.
Father Ryan’s Sam Brocato (35) makes a catch during practice at Father Ryan High School, Monday, July 25, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn.
Father Ryan’s David Ward (88) makes a catch during practice at Father Ryan High School, Monday, July 25, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn.
Ravenwood’s Blake VanLandingham throws during practice Monday, the first day Tennessee high school football teams were allowed to practice in full pads.
Ravenwood and other high school football teams across the state held their first practices in full pads on Monday.
Ravenwood coach Richie Wessman talks with a player during practice Monday, the first day of practice in full pads for Tennessee high school football teams.
Ravenwood’s D’angelow Rice stretches for a pass during passing drills on Monday, the first day of practice in pads for Tennessee high school football teams.
Nick Stallcup stays hydrated to beat the heat Monday during a brief break in practice. Ravenwood joined with other high school football teams across the Midstate on the first day of practice in full pads.
Christ Presbyterian Academy players participate in the first full-contact drills of the season on Monday morning.
Rossview High football team trains with pads for first time this season on July 25, 2016.
Christ Presbyterian Academy football players during contact drill on first day teams in Middle Tennessee can practice in pads on July 25, 2016.
Footballs
Middle Tennessee high school football teams practiced in pads Monday for the first time for the 2016-17 season.
Gannett Tennessee regional reporters attended several practices across the Midstate. Below is a timeline of some of the highlights on the first day as teams get ready for Week 1 games on Aug. 18-20:
5:55 a.m.: Brentwood Academy and White House are two of the first schools in Middle Tennessee to take the field.
The defending DII-AA champs meet shortly then split into offense and defense. The offense takes the main field. The defense takes the practice field.
At White House, with the sun still well below the tree line surrounding the practice field, players make their way up from the fieldhouse. The coaches have yet to drive over to begin the session. The Blue Devils are coming off a 4-6 season in which they failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 1991.
7:01 a.m.: Roosters crow in the distance as Christ Presbyterian Academy coach Ingle Martin takes the field. His players are waiting for him. Martin, entering his sixth season with the Lions, boasts a 67-6 record with three straight BlueCross Bowl appearances.
7:07 a.m.: Three Gallatin High quarterbacks — senior Wyatt Hayes, junior Collin Minor and sophomore Ander Sloan — warm up with one another before they begin throwing to receivers. All three quarterbacks are in competition for the starting job, although Hayes is the incumbent.
7:11 a.m.: “Don’t think about two-a-days. Today everyone think about encouraging someone else. Older guys, take someone under your wing and encourage them. If you can encourage two people today — open your mouth and encourage two people — we’ll be a better football team,” CPA’s Martin tells his players.
7:12 a.m.: Siegel first-year assistant Jacquez Williams, a former Gallatin standout, leads the Stars through their morning stretches before practice.
“Birds are chirping,” Williams said. “God’s talking to you. That’s what I read in my devotional today.”
8:03 a.m.: Former Riverdale standout quarterback Dillon Woodruff watches his old team go through defensive drills. Next month he will report back to Furman, where he is now a linebacker for the Paladins.
8:17 a.m. With a skeleton offensive group, Rossview practices on keeping up a rapid pace on play calls and snaps. “We’re supposed to get tired. It’s hot. We’re going to get tired. But that means you’re working. I want tempo. We will be the hardest working team in Montgomery County.” Rossview coach Ron Lambert tells his team.
8:36 a.m.: Nashville Christian begins practice by doing some preparation for its first game against Red Boiling Springs, as the offense is running plays out of the wing-T formation. The defending Class 1A state champion Eagles lost a plethora of starters but still have a lot of buzz around their practice.
9:08 a.m.: Ravenwood High School leaves the weight room and takes to its practice field. Coaches split up players into offense and defense, and by specific position, for an overview of practice.
9:40 a.m. Kenwood star and Purdue University commitment Antwuan Branch is the biggest cheerleader on the sidelines while watching the starting linebackers compete in drills.
10:47 a.m.: “He made me fall!” Beech cornerback Jahmal Robinson shouted after getting beaten while covering freshman Bobby Whitley. Teammates let Robinson know about it, yelling “he’s a freshman” at the senior defender.
11 a.m.: Said Mt. Juliet senior defensive end Aaron Weist: “Everybody kind of picks it up a little, especially when you get to crack heads.”
11:55 a.m.: Oakland defensive lineman Blake Spencer, is in the weight room with a couple teammates. Spencer, whose nickname is “Mississippi,” left the team late last year to move to Mississippi. He recently moved back, however.
1:19 p.m.: Some of the parking lot at Station Camp High School is flooded after a heavy shower passes through. The Bison were scheduled to be outside for Monday’s second practice, but moved indoors to continue workouts.
5:01 p.m.: First-year Father Ryan coach Brian Rector delivers a passionate pep talk prior to practice. Rector, who was hired in February, led Ravenwood to a state championship in 2005 before posting a 41-20 record at Centennial.
5:15 p.m. Clarksville Academy coach Todd Hood has his players remove their shoulder pads and practice pants in the early-evening heat.
6 p.m.: Creek Wood coach Chuck Daniel delays the start of practice a bit due to the heat index.
6 p.m.: Father Ryan senior Jay Shoop, the son of University of Tennessee defensive coordinator Bob Shoop, mans the quarterback position for the starting offense. The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder, who returned to Father Ryan after spending one semester at a high school in Pennsylvania, will also play defensive back.
6:43 p.m.: Former Titans linebacker Gerald McGrath barks out instructions to Hillsboro’s linebacking corps. McGrath, who spent four seasons with the Titans (2009-12), previously coached defensive backs at Division III Berry College in Rome, Ga. Former Ezell-Harding and Vanderbilt wide receiver Erik Davis is also a member of the Burros’ coaching staff.
Gannett Tennessee’s Michael Murphy, Craig Harris, Tom Kreager, George Robinson, Andy Simmons and Chris Brooks contributed to this report.
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