Six players to watch this season

COLE PITTMAN Right Tackle

Coach Klees praises Cole Pittman for his hard work ethic: “Hard-nosed, hard-working kid. Just comes to work.” Not a star, doesn’t get a lot of attention, Klees says, but “He’s a special kid. He makes us go.”
Game he’s looking forward to: “Chiles. It’s the first game.”
Nickname: “Pip.”
Favorite Team: “Alabama.”
Favorite Player: “Julio Jones. We have the same birthday.”


TANNER LANIER Linebacker

The senior linebacker is leader of the defense. Last year he had 108 tackles and 5 sacks and was named to the All-Big Bend Defensive Team. He’s named as possible All-Big Bend Defensive Player of the Year.
His goal this year: “Getting Coach Klees his first (championship) ring.”
Game: “The Disney one.”
Team: “Florida Gators.”
Player: “Anthony Richardson.”


KANE TUCKER Lineman

While some War Eagle linemen are small, this senior lineman is big – 6’6” and 250 pounds – and he should be easy to spot on the field.  
Goal: “I want the line to really improve, to dominate and really show it.”
Game: “Balboa (from California, at Disney). To play a team that’s very foreign to us is good for team-building.”
Nickname: “Big red.”
Team: “FSU.”


Samron Brinson RECEIVER

Named, along with Haden Klees, as potential All-Big Bend Offensive Player of the Year, he finished last year with 13 TDs and 707 receiving yards.
Goal: “State championship. The games we lost last year we shouldn’t have lost... To stay healthy.”
Game: “The ones we lost. And the playoffs.”
Team: “49ers.”
Player: “Davante Adams.”


Haden Klees QUARTERBACK

In 8 games last year, he threw for almost 2,000 yards and 20 TDs. Then he broke his collarbone. He says he’s worked on his flexibility to try to prevent injury. He is a commit to Samford University.
Goal: “To win a state championship.”
Game: “The district games. They’re most important.”
Team: “Samford Bulldogs.”
Player: “Joe Burrow.” 


BRADLEY KELLY Running Back

The senior is a bruising running back who runs over defenders instead of juking. He’s bulked up some in the offseason, up to around 210 pounds.
Goal: “Going to state. We’re all on the same page with that one.”
Game: “Orlando. It’s different. Something we haven’t done since I’ve been on the team, other than Bainbridge.”
Player: “Saquon Barkley.”