Wesleyan started its summer workouts last week and the Wolves are working hard to make sure this season is more fruitful than their last. They ended last season at a disappointing 4-7, Wesleyan’s first losing record since 2001 (according to records on GHSFHA.org).
“Our team is built between January and August, in the off-season, not by waiting until June or July to begin training,” said coach Franklin Pridgen in his address at the spring ceremony.
Pridgen stressed that the biggest strength for Wesleyan is the work on the offensive and defensive line. Seniors Hank Masters and Stuart Johnson are leading the way on both sides of the ball on the lines. Masters and Johnson do not know who it is they will be protecting this season, as Pridgen has not yet decided who will be starting at quarterback this year.
Johnson has drawn major interest as a prospect for college teams, drawing offers from 10 different schools including Air Force, Navy and Appalachian State. Johnson is a vital part of the Wolves as he helps solidify their strength at the line as well as bringing leadership to a young team.
This is a very young team and if the Wolves have any weaknesses, it is purely a lack of experience among young players. Wesleyan will rely on players like Johnson and LB Alex Robinson to help the younger players reach their potential. The team runs a multiple I offense and a multiple defense.
“We don’t want to trap ourselves in a box on defense, so we run multiple defensive sets,” Pridgen said about the lack of a true defensive identity. This is especially useful with the young team because he can put his players in position to be successful without constricting his team to one specific defensive formation.
When asked what their biggest game will be this year most would expect Pridgen to say it was their rival GAC on Nov. 2, but Pridgen responded very deliberately.
“GAC is Game 10, right now our biggest game is Holy Innocents’.”
The Wolves play Holy Innocents’ in their first game of the season and is a Class A opponent.
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