Continuity the key for Sickles Gryphons in 2022
TAMPA, FLORIDA – With the transition to a new system taking place in the spring the Sickles Gryphons were learning on the ropes.
A view of Sickles’ home facilities.
Photo courtesy of Sickles Football
Sickles took part in a 3-team jamboree in the spring, yielding good results. The team got to learn a lot about what they can work on while getting a lot of the younger guys playing time within the new system. Head coach Kyle Jolly stated both being able to learn and play the younger players was big for the program.
Sickles finished 4-6 in 2021.
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“Guys had to learn a complete new system in terms of offense and defense,” said Jolly. “As well as, they had to get use to and learn my style as a coach. We learned a lot in the spring. We got comfortable with the scheme. We are playing a lot of young players, which just needed reps.”
It’s been a widely known deal when it comes to players transferring all throughout the Tampa Bay Area, but Sickles hasn’t been a team out of Hillsborough County that has had to deal with any transfer issues. Jolly stated that the Gryphons did not experience a player transferring out during the off-season, giving the team the ability to focus on themselves.
“We actually have not had any transfer this off-season,” Jolly said. “So we were able to work and get comfortable with guys working together.”
When it comes down to who Jolly and his staff have been able to work with, it all starts with returning starting quarterback Brandon Royal, who threw for 2,035 yards and 25 touchdowns in his sophomore season. Royal comes back for his junior season with even higher expectations to improve upon his 2021 numbers.
Isaiah Hudson is also back after rushing for just over 200 yards last season. The defense is an experienced group, led by defensive back AJ Henderson and linebackers Rufus Ferguson (64 tackles in 2021), Erich Raymond (61 tackles in 2021). Jolly makes it clear with this specific team, he wants to win a district title and get to the postseason in 2022.
“As far as goals , we want to win our district,” Jolly added. “We want to be our best at the end of the year and improve each game. As far as our district, we have some good teams in it. We will have to develop and get better every rep, every practice, every day, every game to be able to compete with the top talent.”
Andy Villamarzo can be reached at andyvillamarzo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @Andy_Villamarzo.
