[tps_title]Glen Mills Battlin’ Bulls [/tps_title]
Glen Mills linebacker Quadir Gibson, center blue pinnie, will be a significant figure on the Battlin Bulls’ defense.
Bulls hope to follow Abdul-Lateef’s lead
THORNBURY >> Early in training camp, Glen Mills offensive coordinator Robert Hall was teaching his skill position players the proper technique for picking up and blocking a blitzing linebacker.
Some players picked up the concept quickly while other struggled. 
After Hall had gone over the method several times, wide receiver/defensive back Tawfeeq Abdul-Lateef decided to enter the mix. Being one of the few veterans on the team, Abdul-Lateef stepped in and showed the newcomers how it’s done.
Abdul-Lateef stepped into the drill area and went through the technique step by step. He squared up the defensive player in front of him, then placed both hands on the breast plate of the player’s shoulder pads, just as Hall instructed.
Abdul-Lateef then quietly stepped away and let the drill continue.
“I was just trying to show leadership,” Abdul-Lateef said. “We have to have leadership on this team, and I want everyone to be into the drill instead of falling back into the line. I don’t want them to be scared. I want them to have that grit inside of them.”
Head coach Kevin Owens smiled when told of Abdul-Lateef’s impromptu teaching moment.
“We need that,” said Owens, who is in his 13th season. “It’s a whole different perspective coming from another player than coming from a coach to a player. If we can get that kind of leadership and develop some other leaders on the team, we’ll have a good season and a great experience for these guys.”
Owens rarely has the luxury of veterans. This season is no different. Abdul-Lateef and running back/linebacker Quadir Gibson are the only returning starters for the Bulls. A few others saw some time last year on a team that went 5-6 and qualified for the District 1 Class 5A playoffs, but the list of returnees is short, as usual.
“Everyone’s new, but that’s Glen Mills football,” Owens said. “It’s been that way for a long time so we’re used to it.”
The Bulls may be short on veterans, but not size or athletic ability. That’s normal, too.
One area will be a little different this year. In quarterback Tarik Bey, the cousin of former Glen Mills and Saint Joseph’s basketball standout Rashid Bey, Owens feels he has a player who can stretch the field.
“Tarik is a talented kid,” Owens said. “People are going to think I’m crazy, but we’re going to throw the ball a little bit more this year because we have some really good skill kids.”
That should open up the running game for the 240-pound Gibson, who is a load to handle and a rarity at Glen Mills. This is his third season with the Bulls. Gibson averaged 6.5 yards per carry last season and led the team in rushing yards (848) and rushing touchdowns (five) despite being slowed by an injury.
Gibson also is an outstanding thrower in track and won the 242-pound class at the national high school powerlifting championships in the spring. He is receiving recruiting interest from Syracuse and Army, among others.
“He’s going to be our featured running back,” Owens said. “He’s going to carry the load for us and we hope that we can get a big offensive line to push people around and bring that 240 pounds of his down their throat and hopefully get the job done.”
Faheem Parker and Earnest Peoples are among the players expected to fill that rebuilt offensive line. Abdul-Lateef and fellow wide receiver/defensive back Karon Thomas are among the skill players Owens hopes will take some of the pressure off of Gibson and the running game.
Gibson features prominently on a defense that has to be rebuilt, too. He’ll be at outside linebacker once again. Parker is expected to go both ways. Tayvon Jackson is another linebacker to keep an eye on, while Abdul-Lateef, Bey and Thomas figure prominently in the secondary.
“We’re looking good,” Abdul-Lateef said. “We’re building our chemistry. We haven’t been together for four years like other teams so we have to build it as we go along on this journey.”
By Terry Toohey; ttoohey@21st-centurymedia.com
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