Senators looking for strong junior class representation

A talented junior class has Pulaski Robinson Coach Todd Eskola feeling good going into the 2014 season.

Led by quarterback Brennen Johnson and receiver T.J. Hammonds, the Senators will try to return to the Class 4A playoffs for a second consecutive season.

Robinson, located in west Little Rock off Arkansas 10, has 16 juniors expected to see significant playing time. Overall, the Senators have 42 players participating in fall camp as they prepare for their season opener Friday night against Bauxite at Charlie George Stadium.

"We've got some good seniors, but we're loaded with juniors," Eskola said.

Johnson, 5-11, 178 pounds, threw for more than 2,300 yards and rushed for more than 1,100 last season as a sophomore. He took over as the Senators' starter after Kristian Thompson transferred to Dardanelle.

"He's steadily improving," Eskola said. "He had a breakout year as a sophomore. He's the trigger man. He throws a good ball. He's got excellent speed. He's a lights-come-on player.

"Some kids have the 'it' factor when the lights come on. He's one of those kids."

Hammonds, 5-11, 196, scored six rushing touchdowns last season and may be Robinson's most versatile player.

"He's phenomenal," Eskola said. "You can move him all over the field. We feel like he's fixing to explode."

Joining Hammonds in the Senators' receiving corps are seniors Cameron Harris, 5-8, 168, and Stormi Chaney, 5-10, 155. Harris finished with more than 600 yards receiving and six touchdowns in 2013, while Chaney had more than 400 yards receiving. Tight end Marcus Devine, 6-3, 238, had six touchdowns last season as a junior.

Senior running back Hakeem Aldridge missed most of last season because of an injury. Aldridge, 5-8, 208, had 260 yards rushing against Arkansas Baptist in his only game last season. He is expected to split carries with senior Naquon Manley, 6-0, 167.

The Senators' left side of the offensive line is solid with sophomore Sanderson Hines, 6-3, 310, at left tackle and junior Grant Hobson, 6-0, 250. Hines started all 11 games last season as a freshman. Hobson moved to Arkansas this year from California.

Senior Hunter Hudson, 6-5, 211, is at right guard and junior Juan Newburn, 5-9, 219, is at right tackle. Hudson is the only senior on the offensive line, which went through what Eskola called a trial by fire last season in the 7-4A Conference with Nashville and Malvern.

"They've all gotten in the weight room," Eskola said. "They've gotten bigger. They've been to battle before and know what to expect. I feel like they're going to do a great job."

Eskola said his skill position players are as good as he's had since he's coached at the school.

"We think we can score points on anybody in the state," he said. "I really believe that."

This year Robinson moves to the 4-4A, where they'll play Arkansas Baptist, Clinton, Dardanelle and Pottsville, among others.

"Everybody in the 7-4A was hurry-up, Spread, chuck it all over the place with D-I kids all over the field," Eskola said. "A lot of these schools are going to line up with big linemen and run right at you. Pottsville and Dover don't care if they ever throw the forward pass. They're going to beat you by lining up and hitting you in the mouth.

"I love that style of football."

Robinson won its own Summer Showdown 7-on-7 tournament, winning the Division II championship game against Malvern 29-27 after coming back from an 18-point deficit.

It's situations such as that one in June that Eskola believes can help his team this fall after losing 49-15 in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs at Prairie Grove.

"We had to get our diapers off," Eskola said. "Our sophomores had never been there before. We started a freshman and we started sophomores all over the field. We got it handed to us by Prairie Grove. Prairie Grove is a really good football team. Things went south in a hurry. When you play a bunch of sophomores, that's what's going to happen.

"We feel like we've matured a lot since then."

Sports on 08/31/2014