Spring football began Monday for high school teams around the state.
Palm Beach Gardens linebacker VanDarius Cowan runs drills during the first day of spring football practice April 25. Cowan, an Alabama commit, was one of 105 Gators’ players who practiced in shorts and helmets. Pads will be introduced later in the week. (Photo by Daniel Owen)
Jodie Wagner (@JRWagner5) and Adam Lichtenstein (@ABLichtenstein) will be visiting practices around Palm Beach County throughout the next month, and we’ll list everything we hear on the spring football trail. We’ll provide observations and insight from coaches and players as teams prepare for their spring games.
According to the FHSAA, spring practice is confined to a maximum of 20 sessions beginning with the Monday of Week 44 or the last 20 days of the school year, whichever comes first. Sessions are inclusive of the spring jamboree or classic.
Get ready …
Wednesday, April 29
Cardinal Newman players work out during the third day of spring football practice Wednesday. (Photo by Jodie Wagner)
There are some changes this spring at Cardinal Newman, with the addition of head coach Brian Pulaski being one of the biggest. A former defensive coordinator with the Crusaders, Pulaski took over as interim coach in March, and was named head coach earlier this month.
Pulaski said Wednesday he plans to overhaul the Crusaders’ offense by switching to a triple option scheme. The defense will remain the same.
“Offensively it’s a new thing, and it fits us a lot better,” Pulaski said. “It’s a huge change. It’s like speaking a Latin language and other Romance languages, to speaking Arabic and Chinese. It fits our personnel better. We don’t have the guys to run what everybody else runs. So we have to run what we need to do to be successful.”
Forty players have turned out for practice this week, and Pulaski said all have been eager to get going. “We’re very happy, very excited with what we’re doing,” he said. “We’ve got the right guys buying in.”
Monday, April 27
American Heritage’s Chris Mignone performs a drill during the first day of spring practice in Delray Beach. (Photo by Bruce Bennett)
Palm Beach Gardens returned to the football practice field Monday for the first time in five months, and wasted little time finding its footing.
“We’re at the point here where we can come out right now and come to practice,” coach Rob Freeman said. “We’re organized, so we’re rolling from day one. That’s how we plan it.”
More than 100 players wearing shorts and helmets participated in afternoon drills, with players divided by position.
Among Monday’s participants were defensive standouts VanDarius Cowan, a linebacker who has committed to Alabama; and safety Amari Carter, who holds numerous Division I offers including Miami, Notre Dame and Clemson. Offensive lineman Jerry Drake, who counts Alabama, Auburn and Florida State among his many offers, also practiced.
Get a look at our report on the first day of spring practice from Palm Beach Gardens and American Heritage.
