Murfreesboro area high school football spring practices: What to know

Spring football practice is approaching.

While most area teams kick off spring practice the last week of April, Riverdale will get started on April 22.

The soon-to-be-opened Rockvale is not eligible to participate in a spring practice.

Here's a breakdown of area teams:

Blackman

Dates: April 29-May 17

Scrimmages: May 10 vs. Gallatin; May 16 at Stewarts Creek

The Blaze will have a new artificial turf football field and a lot of new faces in camp. Incoming junior quarterback Drew Beam and senior wide receiver Keionte Newson, a transfer from Brighton, should be big offensive weapons, and incoming senior defensive back Dajeun Gibson will help anchor the defense. Beam and incoming senior linebacker Conner Murphy will participate sparingly in spring practice, as both are starters on the Blaze baseball team.

Cannon County

Dates: May 2-18

Scrimmages: May 18 vs. Red Boiling Springs

The Lions are coming off their best season in years, going 4-6 under first-year coach Matt Daniel. The relatively young Lions will have to build on last year's success after four all-region performers graduated.

Eagleville

Dates: April 29-May 10

Scrimmages: None

Coach Floyd Walker's toughest job will be finding a quarterback to replace four-year starter Ethan Cobb, but the team also will have to replace some big components of a defense that helped the team go 7-4.

La Vergne

Dates: May 1-10

Scrimmages: May 3 at Father Ryan; May 10 vs. Marshall County

Coach Stanton Stevens' squad will hope to return to the playoffs after missing in 2018. Incoming seniors Issac Ridley (quarterback) and Dagem Samuel (wide receiver/defensive back), along with offensive lineman Will Monaghan and running back/defensive back Kavius Wells will hope to guide a more experienced Wolverines squad that struggled to just two wins in 2018.

MTCS

Dates: April 29-May 8

Scrimmages: None

The Cougars are coming off a 9-3 season and trip to the second round of the Division II-A state playoffs and will return incoming senior running back Kemari McGowan (more than 3,500 yards the past two seasons), along with quarterback Jackson Green and wide receiver/quarterback Matthew George.

Oakland

Dates: April 29-May 17

Scrimmages: May 10 vs. Knox Catholic; May 17 Red/Blue game

The Patriots will have a lot of momentum heading into spring practice, coming off a Class 6A state championship. Several key cogs return, including 2020 prospects DeArre McDonald (defensive back), Aaron Moore (linebacker/defensive end) and Jackson Riley (offensive line). Oakland also will bring in newcomers Jordan Brown (running back/linebacker), a transfer from Blackman, and Kody Sparks (quarterback), a transfer from Indiana.

Riverdale

Dates: April 22-May 9

Scrimmages: May 9 vs. Independence

Despite a rebuilding season in 2018, Riverdale reached the playoffs and hopes to build with a more mature squad this spring. Incoming seniors Taylor Yancey (quarterback), Gaston Haney (defensive end) and Drew Smith (running back) as well as incoming junior Javon Nelson (defensive end) will be players to watch.

Siegel

Dates: April 29-May 17

Scrimmages: May 10 vs. Father Ryan; May 17 at Brentwood

The Stars flashed signs of an explosive offense last year, scoring 40-plus points twice, and incoming seniors Tucker Sears (quarterback), Evan Milligan (wide receiver) and Ethan Vanhook (wide receiver) return. Sears and Milligan play for the Stars' baseball team. A big emphasis in spring and going forward will be improving a defense that allowed 30 points a contest.

Smyrna

Dates: April 29-May 10

Scrimmages: May 10 at Franklin; May 13 Purple/Gold game

The Bulldogs lost some heavy hitters on both offense and defense from last year's 7-4 squad, but there will still be some huge keys returning, including 2020 defensive line prospect Dallas Walker along with fellow incoming seniors Tyler Lansden (wide receiver/defensive back), Jacob Owens (wide receiver/defensive back), Mikel Hartfield (running back/defensive end) and Lane Cripps (offensive line/defensive line) as well as incoming sophomore Jeremiah Bailey (linebacker/tight end).

Stewarts Creek

Dates: April 29-May 16

Scrimmages: May 6 Red/Black scrimmage; May 16 vs. Blackman

First-year coach Bert Browne will be at the helm after hall of fame coach David Martin stepped down after the 2018 season. Incoming seniors Jonnie Simmons (quarterback) and Savion Davis (running back/defensive back) will be among those trying to get SCHS back in the playoffs after a two-year layoff.

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.