Defensive showstopper

Perhaps the best news surrounding the Seymour High School football program following last year’s 6-5 campaign is the number of underclassmen that got some meaningful playing time during the season. Longtime Seymour head coach Gary Householder has to feel good about the returning talent the Eagles have coming back over the next couple of years. The player with as much potential as anybody, not just on the Seymour team but on any team in the county, is SHS sophomore defensive lineman/fullback Brandon Dockery. Dockery is the Herald Newspaper’s first annual Sevier County High School Football Defensive Sophomore of the Year. Sevier County High School sophomore tailback Tyler Thomas was named the offensive sophomore of the year last week in an article that can be found at www.theheraldnewspapers.com. At 6-foot-2, 220-pounds, Dockery is a man-child on the local prep gridiron ranks. Perhaps the trait that sets the aggressive defensive lineman apart is the speed that goes along with his muscular frame that sometimes makes the 10th grader look like a cannon ball coming directly at the opposing quarterback. Householder has seen a lot of talented players come through in his 30-plus years on the Seymour sideline, but he says Dockery’s athleticism, combined with his competitive spirit, sets him apart from the average high school football player. “Well, I think he’s definitely got a lot of athletic ability,” said Householder. “He has a lot of natural ability, stuff that you just can’t coach.” Dockery spearheaded a SHS defensive line this year that was made up of two sophomores and a junior. Along with fellow sophomore Chris Beard (6.5 sacks), and junior Todd Fink (9.5 sacks), Dockery (6.5 sacks) and the Eagles’ defensive line combined for 22.5 sacks during last season’s 11 games. Dockery was second on a defensive line that led the Eagles’ 2006 defense to an all-time best number of sacks (41) in a season. Although Dockery was one of the three defensive players that started every defensive play with his hand on the ground, he still finished fifth on the team in tackles with a total of 49. He and Fink (57 tackles) were the only two non-linebackers among the Eagles’ top five tacklers this season. Defense is unquestionably Dockery’s bread-and-butter, but he also shined as a fullback. He finished the season with 38 rushes for 177 yards, an average of 4.6 yards per carry, which was good for fifth best on the squad. With his size and strength, Dockery is an ideal ball-carrier for short-yardage situations, as well as a skillful blocker who is more than comfortable opening holes for his fellow running backs. He was oftentimes the team’s best candidate to get the ball near the goal line, and finished the season with four touchdowns from his fullback position. “He’s definitely a good lead-blocker,” said Householder. “He played some fullback for us and made some big runs.” Householder says Dockery, who earned All-Region honors for his defensive play this season, has the potential to be one of the best he’s ever coached. However, the coach is quick to point out that there is still a lot of room for improvement. “As far as potential and natural athletic ability, he’s one of the bet we’ve had,” Householder said. “Scott Galyon had those kind of natural instincts and athletic ability. (Dockery) definitely has that kind of potential. But Brandon still has to learn to play hard on every down. “During the season he’ll make two outstanding plays and then he’ll take a play off,” Householder added. “He’s still learning to play hard and physical on every down. But during the season I saw him improve at that.”