2023 Spring Review: Rock Hill Bearcats

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ROCK HILL</strong> | Rock Hill coach Bubba Pittman and the Bearcats wrapped up spring practice with a scrimmage under cloudy skies and some drizzle at District 3 Stadium on Friday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was competition on both sides of the ball that you should expect to continue heading into the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are our notes from the session:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bringing the heat</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Here is a name to keep an eye on defense for the Bearcats this fall: <strong>Ty Pettus (pictured above). </strong>We wrote his name down multiple times for the way he brought pressure on the quarterbacks. Let's just say it's a good thing they weren't live – offensive linemen couldn't block him from his linebacker spot. He made a big hit towards the end of a session where the receiver was up field getting yards.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>JJ Henning </strong>was a part of an active defensive front who defeated blocks and he came red hot right up the middle to tag WIlson for a sack.&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997363' first='Landon' last='Armstrong'] </strong>made a couple of nice plays on the defensive line. He limited an inside run play for a short gain before the runner could get going.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Zacarrius McKinney</strong> got his arms up from his defensive end position and knocked the ball down on a pass play midway through the session.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>A nice balance of run and throw</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Keep an eye on rising senior <strong>Ray Barber</strong> as we head into the fall. He has a good burst when he gets in between the tackles with the inside run game. If he gets out into the open field, he can use his speed to break away from defenders. <strong>JJ Henning </strong>also ran hard and fought through contact.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360412' first='EJ' last='Ratley'] </strong>caught our eye at the wide receiver early and often. He caught a touchdown on a post route from starting quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139293' first='Matthew' last='Wilson'] </strong>early on in the session. He knows how to get up field after making the catch, like when he caught a bubble screen.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Duncan Stocknaus </strong>caught a pass over the middle for a touchdown early in the session. He played in the slot. <strong>Denari Takuri </strong>also reeled in a touchdown grab on a catch and run from backup quarterback <strong>Kason Cannup</strong>.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Reaction and Looking Ahead</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Barber transferred to Rock Hill from South Pointe this spring and the transition has been a learning curve but he's up for the challenge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Just coming back, I had to learn a lot of plays, learn a lot of stuff. Having to catch on easily, having to get a relationship with my teammates again and being a leader,” Barber wants to get bigger heading into the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pettus initially played wide receiver and moved to linebacker and the transition has gone well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I was out here moving fast, doing what my coaches told me to do. It was a really good game and I'm proud of myself,” Pettus said. He wants to learn how to be in the right place at the right time when it comes to the position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pittman was pleased with what he saw and wants to see the progression continue heading from the spring into this summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“As the heat starts to come and getting ready for those first couple of weeks in August gets on us, we want to make sure that we spend the summer getting used to that and getting our bodies acclimated to that. I think that's the biggest thing, man: Maintain what we gained in the offseason, perfect what we've done offensively and defensively, continue to get better at tackling. That's been a big weakness for us and we've worked really hard on it and I think our guys have shown they've done a better job with it. The biggest thing is get in shape and get ready to play.”&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rock Hill will open the 2023 season on the road against South Pointe on August 25.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->