By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Cummings won’t look the same as in past seasons, but that isn’t going to deter the Cavaliers.
“Everything will be good,” said Jaidyn Briskey, a junior running back and defensive end. “We’re a young team, but we got more time.”
The Cavaliers relied heavily on star playmaker Jonathan Paylor in recent seasons. He’s now on the roster at North Carolina State following highly publicized recruiting more than a year ago.
Yet this is no starting over situation for coach David Grimm.
“A little bit different style,” Grimm said. “Obviously, we have lost a little bit of that explosiveness.”
Without No. 14 attracting all sorts of attention and producing touchdowns at rapid clips, Grimm said the Cavaliers will have to “step out of his shadow. We’re going to be all right.”
Briskey showed glimpses of a bruising running style last year and he could be featured more this season.
“It’s definitely more work,” he said. “We got to work harder. We got to do everything harder.”
Briskey said he expects more passing from the offense. Regardless, Grimm said linemen Corey Wiley, Sa’Quan Holloway, and Trey Harris supplied a ground foundation on the offensive front.
The Cavaliers could be deep in positions on defense. They handled business on that side of the ball last season.
“Defensively, we have a nice rotation,” Grimm said. “I’m real excited to see that defense.”
The defense could be anchored by Tabori Stanfield, Jaheim Marley, Jolton Long, and defensive tackle Bryan Phillips.
The Cavaliers have had four consecutive winning seasons.
The Paylor factor might follow the Cavaliers until they show they’re up to the task without him.
“They definitely expect us to be down.” Briskey said of outside observers.
Grimm said last year’s sophomore class already looked solid and now that group has matured.
“Really excited to see what they have in store,” he said.
Cummings has six regular-season home games this year, marking the most for any team in Alamance County.
This is a residual effect from last year when a track renovation at the school’s stadium meant some scheduled home games were switched to road outings.
This year’s opener against Eden Morehead will be at home instead of on the road when the school essentially switched those on the schedule.
See separate story on the Cavaliers’ quarterback options: https://alamancenews.com/cavaliers-sort-through-qb-possibilities/
