Tascosa football coach Ken Plunk directs practice Saturday at Tascosa High School. Plunk begins his 13th season at the helm of the Rebels program. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
Editor’s note: Press Pass Sports will breakdown the three Amarillo ISD schools participating in spring football.
May 3: Tascosa’s spring report
May 10: Amarillo High’s spring report
May 17: Palo Duro’s spring report
2020 resume
Head coach: Ken Plunk, 13th year at Tascosa, 78-61; 15th year overall, 96-66.
Record: 8-3 overall, 5-1 in District 2-5A Division I. Lost to Mansfield Summitt, 31-28, in the area round.
Returning starters
Offense: 9
Defense: 5
Spring game: 7:00 p.m. Thursday, May 20, Dick Bivins Stadium.
Tascosa middle linebacker Keevin Ledoux made 35 tackles with two sacks last season. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
Breakdown
Tascosa has gotten the taste out of its mouth from a heartbreaking Class 5A Division I area round loss to Mansfield Summit, 31-28, last December and are full go into spring football. The Rebels reload under head coach Ken Plunk, who is four wins shy of 100 career victories, as he enters his 13th season at Tascosa.
The Rebs bring back 14 starters including nine on the offensive side of the football. BT Daniels returns at quarterback, the elusive Major Everhart (839 rush yards, eight TDs) and his 17 Division I offers returns in the backfield. Look out for La’Travion Brown (272 rush yards, four TDs). The senior-to-be came on strong at running back, as well as a shutdown cornerback a year ago. Pass rusher Avion Carter (nine sacks) and linebacker Keevin Ledoux (6-3, 217 pounds) are two Division I prospects solidifying the Rebels defense.
Head coach Ken Plunk: “We didn’t know how much we missed this till you look at last year. This time last year we were at home, couldn’t see each other, it wasn’t good. But we’re back now, and working on our fundamentals. We aren’t getting into anything out of our normal offense or defense. One thing we are focusing on is getting better at throwing the football. Last year teams crowded the box, and we weren’t confident enough to make the throws we needed to.”
Tascosa’s Avion Carter is rated as a four-star defensive end by 247 Sports, and currently carries 12 Division I offers. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
Players to watch
Major Everhart, 5-11 175, RB, Sr.
Everhart is missing part of spring workouts due to his ongoing success on the track. The speedster is set to compete at the UIL Class 5A state track and field championships in both the 100 and 200 meter dash Friday night at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin. Everhart is well established as one of the top Division I recruits in the Texas Panhandle, and continues to gain nation-wide noteriety. The three-star running back has 17 Division I offers that include, Penn State, Texas Tech, Baylor, TCU and Virginia Tech.
Avion Carter, 6-5, 260, DE, Sr.
Thanks to a breakout sophomore campaign, not to mention his impresive 6-foot-5, 260-pound frame, Carter caught fire in the offseason racking up 12 Division I eye-opening offers that include high-profile programs in LSU, USC, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Texas, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech. Carter is stronger, he’s older and Plunk feels his defensive staff knows how utilize Carter in an even better way this upcoming season. His ability to rush the passer is unmatched, however, Plunk says he’d like Carter to continue to improve on his run stopping ability.
BT Daniel, 6-1, 190, QB, Sr.
No question Daniel has the most to gain from the Rebels 18 spring football workouts. With the coronavirus pandemic shutting down school last year, Daniel was unable to get the extra reps coming up from the JV. It was already pressure enough being the heir apparent to the Rebels greatest QB in school history, Joseph Plunk, and not having a spring only set Daniel back. Daniel did get a year under his belt taking over the starting role by district in the fall. Plunk is very pleased through the spring how far the soon-to-be senior has progressed in his reads, to his athleticism and throwing ability.
Tascosa’s Collin Farrell is expected to be a valuable part of the offense in the fall. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
Rising stars
Tayden Barnes, 5-10, 175, Jr. RB-DB
Barnes was a factor for the Rebels a year ago, and is expected to see even more playing time on both sides of the ball in 2021. The junior-to-be has been getting significant carries in the running back rotation during spring practices, and is a physical runner that shows explosive speed. On the defensive side of the ball, Barnes moves from cornerback to more of a rover/linebacker position to cover inside receivers and help on run support.
Colin Farrell, 6-4, 205, Sr. WR-TE
The 6-foot-4 senior-to-be gives the Rebels great size on the outside including another blocker in their vaunted option attack. Farrell is a strong possession receiver, but is getting college looks at tight end. Farrell has put on 15 pounds since the fall, and will definitely see a more expanded role in the offense.
Abrian Humphrey, 5-10, 217, Sr. DT
Pound for pound Humphrey may be one of the strongest players in the Tascosa football program. Weighing 217-pounds, Humphrey benches close to 400-pounds, as his strength makes up for his size on the defensive line. Plunk and the staff fully expect Humphrey to start on the defensive line, as they love the way he controls gaps while using his quickness to get off the ball.
2021 schedule
