WHEELER COUNTY: Big-time ball carriers, battle-tested defense will make Bulldogs a team to beat

In a sense, Thomas Smith has made variety his trademark, employing a diverse range of strategies and tactics over his coaching career.

Smith began as head coach of the Wheeler County Bulldogs in 2020, ending his first season with a 1-9 record. However, five of those losses were due to forfeits stemming from player eligibility issues.

He then followed up with a 5-5 record in 2021 and a 5-6 record in 2022, bringing the Bulldogs to the first round of playoffs.

Smith transferred to Dodge County for the 2023 season, hoping the move would be a better opportunity for his family, but went 1-9 in a single season as the Indians’ head coach. 

When Wheeler’s head coach position reopened, Smith came back to retake the helm, and picked up about where he left off. 

“I’m just glad to be back here,” he said. “We’ve got tremendous support from our administration.”

Upon Smith’s return, the Bulldogs saw major success again, going 7-4 with a 4-2 region record last fall. The team made it to the playoffs, though they lost to Jenkins County in the first round. 

But the season got off to an awkward start after quarterback Reco Wooten was injured in July, and much of what the team had practiced over the summer was reliant on him. 

Though their first game against Wilkinson County ended as a 34-20 loss, the Bulldogs quickly rebounded by moving into a wildcat set they relied on for the rest of the year. 

With the return of their QB this fall, Smith aims to go back to a multiple approach to avoid an over-reliance on one player.

“Last year, wildcat-wise, I mean, it was a lot of direct snap, and we’ll still have that aspect of it in our game, but just being able to be more multiple, being able to throw the ball when we want to, should help out,” he said. 

Smith’s diverse scheme comes from tailoring offenses to fit his player’s strengths and weaknesses each year. 

“I think you have to just sort of adapt your scheme to what your team does best,” he said. “I think we always try to carry our core principles of being physical, toughness, being disciplined, but I think scheme-wise you have to adapt it to what your kids are able to do best.”

Last year, the Bulldogs focused on a technique style of defense due to having bigger linemen who could take up and defend much more space. Their defense this year will be more aggressive out of the same 3-5 base, featuring more slanting and forward motion, due to the more athletic builds of linemen. 

“They’re more of the athletic guys that you’re wanting to attack instead of just sitting in spots,” Smith said. 

Wheeler County still has bigger players who will see action against “downhill running teams.”  

Regardless, Smith’s goal on defense is always the same: force opponents to drive the field and lock them out of big plays.

The Bulldogs lost defensive end J.T. Gillis, but their entire secondary lineup returned, and Smith noted the group had a good offseason. 

Many linebackers also return, some in similar positions to last year such as Jaden Bridges, but many will have their placements changed, such as Lane Connell, Laith Davis and Malik Madison, who will be taking over as stack linebackers. 

Sencear Marks will also assume the “spur” position, while contributing on offense as both a running back and wide receiver.

“He was an all-region guy last year that we’re counting on a lot out of this year as well,” Smith said. 

Offensively, Smith is looking to control the tempo of the game through ball security, and feature the multitude of athletes in the backfield. 

Running backs Alvin Ricks and Justin Culver are both highly regarded for their playmaking abilities, and the tandem, which Smith described as a “pretty good one-two punch running the football,” will be the go-to ball-carriers. 

Wheeler County had some holes to fill following the departure of some key players on the offensive line, including tackle Jordan Bridges and guard K.J. Williams. 

In particular, the team needed a new pair of guards, and Jackson Scott and Trey Williams, both sophomores, have stepped up to fill those roles. 

Scott began as an offensive line starter last year and has since put on some bulk to take over the new position, while Williams was occasionally swapped into the lineup when a starter suffered an injury.

Luke Smith will assume the tackle position as a first-year starter, with Jerric Peeples as the other tackle.

Over the summer, the Bulldogs took part in more 7-on-7 matchups than usual, and have placed an emphasis on improving their passing game. 

Smith said the team will ask a lot of wide receivers J.J. Woodard, K.T. Troop and Jah’Koryan Dinkins. 

In addition, Wheeler County focused on weight training and conditioning, and 18 players never missed a workout session. 

“I’ve been proud of the guys, the work they’ve put in this summer,” says Smith.

Staff spent time during the offseason speaking to the team about handling adversity, and set up leadership groups with players from each grade level.

Looking at the 2025 schedule, Smith isn’t concerned with any one game save for Wilkinson County, but only because the matchup will again be the Bulldogs’ first game and a test of their summer training. 

In fact, Smith encourages players not to look ahead on the schedule, but rather to take each game at a time.

“What we sell and what we get our kids to buy into, we don’t look ahead,” he said. 

Rather, Smith wants his players to focus on practices and training, which he believes will serve them far better than dwelling on specific games.

“What one of our just, I guess, foundational deals is if you make practice as hard as your games are, then the games should be easy,” he said. “And so, just getting them to, every day at practice, to bring that same mentality, the results at the end will take care of themselves.”

Bulldogs at a glance…

HEAD COACH: Thomas Smith (5th season, 83-81 career)

OFFENSE: Multiple

DEFENSE: 3-5

2024: 7-4 (4-2 region 4-Low A)FINISH: GHSA playoffs (lost to Jenkins Co. in first round)

RETURNING STARTERS: 6 offense / 8 defense 

KEY LOSSES: WR/DB Quenshawn Glasper; TE/DL E J.T. Gillis; OL/DL Jordan Bridges (Andrew); OL/DL K.J. Williams (Capital)

PLAYERS TO WATCH: RB/DB Alvin Ricks, Sr.; RB/LB Justin Culver, Sr. ATH/DB Sencear Marks, Sr.; QB Reco Wooten, Sr.; TE/LB Lane Connell, Sr.; OL/DL Trey Williams, So.; LB Laith Davis, Sr.; OL/DL Luke Smith, Jr.; OL/LB Jackson Scott, So.

THE UPSIDES: Loaded running back room, defensive experience

KEY CONCERN: Limiting unforced errors in critical situations/games 

Schedule…

8/15 at Wilkinson Co. ($)

8/22 Taylor Co.

9/05 at Twiggs Co.

9/12 Atkinson Co.

9/19 at Dooly Co.*

9/26 Hawkinsville* ($)

10/03 Montgomery Co.*

10/17 at Telfair Co.* ($)

10/24 at Wilcox Co.* ($)

10/31 Treutlen* 

* – Region 4-Low A

($) –Pivotal games