After the Muldrow Bulldogs went 1-9 last season, about the only thing left to do for the 2024 season is to go up, and Muldrow coach Logan Coatney believes that’s a very distinct possibility of happening this fall.
“Last year was a big learning curve, not just for myself but our roster was really young,” Coatney said. “Our kids have done a great job this offseason. We’ve worked extremely hard. We’ll have a new offense and defense scheme going into (this new season). Luckily, we’ve had most of our kids here this whole off-season. We have a lot of one-sport athletes on our team, so that transition has been really nice. We have three new staff members as part of our football staff this year — Matt Brady, Tyler Sheppard, who is going to be our defensive coordinator, and John Rozell (who is Muldrow’s new baseball coach). They’ve been a great addition to our program. We’re excited. Any time you spend working all off-season, we’re just excited to get going.”
Experience will be one of the biggest factors in the favor of the ’Dogs this campaign, which will begin with the annual “Battle of 64” with the archrival Roland Rangers at 7 p.m. Sept. 5 at Marty Rogers Field.
“Luckily for us, we return eight guys on both sides of the ball that started last year,” Coatney said. “Again, we’re loaded with juniors and sophomores. These kids have a year of experience under their belts, and they had a phenomenal off-season. We’re truly excited for what this opportunity brings us in 2024.”
One of the changes fans will see is who takes the center snaps on offense, since last year’s quarterback, Reid Sutton, is prepping for his freshman baseball season at Seminole State College.
“Right now, it’s going to be Teaguen Collins,” Coatney said about Sutton’s successor. “Teaguen did a great job this spring of studying what we’re going to be doing. He did the film work, and then took the work outside and got the reps in. He had a phenomenal spring. He had a great team camp. He did well at 7-on 7s, so we’re going to put the ball in his hands to run with it.”
Coatney describes his backfield as a “fiveheaded monster.”
“We think we’ll have a five-headed monster at our running back positions,” Coatney said. “Gabe Miller is going to be one of those guys. Jacob Gregory is going to be one of those guys — he’s one of our returning seniors. Devan Gibbs is another senior. Tyson Williams is a new addition to our program. DeShawn Willson is probably going to be the name you’ll hear the most.”
Most of the receiving corps is intact from last season.
“The receiving corps will be very similar to what it was last year,” Coatney said. “Kade Scott will be a big name in that process for us (along with) Caden Grinstead, Parker Likens and (former Roland Ranger) D.J. Massey, who is another addition to our program. D.J. will be a good addition to our athletic department. Jermauree Palmer is one of the feistiest athletes we have on this team. When people look at his size, they may not think they have to worry about that kid, but you have to worry about that kid regardless where he lines up. You’rel feel like we have a pretty good corps there. They’re guys who have done it (play receiver), then well have a lot of youth behind that.”
One of strengths, if not the top strength, of the Bulldogs this season is their offensive linemen.
“The great thing about going into this season and coming off what we did was we will actually return our entire offensive line,” Coatney said. “They’re another year experienced. They had a great off-season. They’ll be great position players for us. We’re going to be led by Jonah Claborn, who will be back as our starting center. He had a phenomenal off-season and spring. The musclemass growth he’s been able to obtain has been surreal. We’re looking for him to anchor our offensive line for us. Our left guard will be Mark Gleason. He’s been a four-year starter for us. We’ve moved him around a little bit. He’s just another kid who knows what it takes to be up there (in the trenches). Braxton Miller is going to start at left tackle for us. He’s another kid who will give us some athleticism up front. Alejandro Santacruz, who is coming off an appearance at the state powerlifting meet this spring, is going to be one of our guards as well. Tasker Colbert is going to be tackle on the offensive line. Tasker started for us last year as a freshman until he had a knee injury. He’s done a phenomenal job rehabbing from that knee injury. He looks to be in great shape.”
On the defensive side of the line of scrimmage, Mudlrow’s men in the trenches are players who played all or most of last season.
“It’s going to look a little bit the same as it did last year,” Coatney said. “Dakota Rushing is going to man one of the defensive end positions for us. The rest of our defensive line will be a mixture of guys who either started for us or had a lot of playing time. Braxton Miller and Tasker Colbert are another one of those kids. A kid we’re really excited about doing some stuff for us is Braxton Thrailkill. He’s coming into his sophomore year. He was a kid who was able to make it to the state powerlifting meet this spring, so we’re excited for what that’s to bring us.”
Muldrow’s linebackers also should be a strong suit for the ’Dogs this campaign.
“That corps is going to look very similar to what it did last year,” Coatney said. “Jacob Gregory comes back as a senior. He’s going to man one of those positions for us. He understands what we’re trying to do. He’s a great communicator out there on the field. It is up in the air right now as for our two inside linebackers. Caden Grinstead has gotten a lot of reps there this spring. He’s done a phenomenal job. Devan Gibbs will have an opportunity there. Then, well have Tyson Williams.”
However, when it comes to the defensive backfield, that is where the Bulldogs will have some bite.
“We’re extremely athletic back there,” Coatney said. “We’re possibly playing five or six defensive backs at a time, depending on what we’re in. Teaguen Collins is being moved from cornerback to safety. He’s going to be the focal point of our defense. Kade Scott is going to be one of our safeties. Kade may be a better communicator out there than Teaguen, so we’re excited about those two. Jermauree Palmer is a phenomenal cornerback for us. He plays the position extremely well. He’ll come strike you, too — even though weighs just 150 pounds. D.J. Massey and Parker Likens are going to be back in that (defensive) backfield along with Gabe Miller.”
