When the Alma Bryant offense takes the field this season, much of the attention will fall on senior running back Jayden James, No. 5, though opposing defenses may have trouble finding him. The Hurricanes host St. Michael in a jamboree this Friday before officially opening the season the following Friday, Aug. 21, at St. Paul’s.
At 5-foot-7 and 145 pounds, James isn’t the biggest back on the field, but he was one of the area’s most productive last season, rushing for more than 1,100 yards and scoring 10 touchdowns. Alma Bryant’s offensive game plan will again lean heavily on getting the ball in his hands.
Coach Sessions said James’ combination of speed, quickness and agility makes him difficult to bring down once he reaches open space. “He is very, very difficult to bring down when we get him in the open field,” Sessions said. “I mean, the kid’s an 1,100-yard rusher last year. Obviously, he’s not the biggest running back around, but he’s really strong for his size. He plays much bigger than what he is. He’s a really good receiver of the football. And when the ball’s in his hands, he’s just a gamer. I mean, he makes plays. He’s hard to bring down.”
James said he’s optimistic about what he has seen from the offense in practice heading into the season. “We’re going to try to do more this year,” he said. “We’re going to try to do at least 1,500 (rushing yards) and then more receiving yards. It’s kind of always been like that, but it’s also because of my teammates too. You know, I can’t do it all. You’ve got to give it to the O-line, the quarterback, the receivers, everybody. … Our offense, I feel like it’s going to be really explosive this year.”
Alma Bryant is coming off a 3-7 season and an 0-7 region record. The Hurricanes will compete in Class 6A, Region 1 under the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s new classifications this year, though the lineup of opposing teams remains largely the same as last year’s Class 7A, Region 1. Alma Bryant hasn’t posted a winning season since 2003 and hasn’t won more than four games in a year since then. Sessions is entering his sixth season at the school with a 13-36 overall record.
Sessions said the Hurricanes return significant depth at running back and receiver, along with a mostly intact offensive line, though the defense will be relatively young this season. “We graduated some experience, some two and three-year starters on that side, but we really like our athleticism,” Sessions said. “We’ve got some kids up front that have a little size. … There will be some growing pains, I’m sure, early, once we actually get into the game, but that’s why you play the St. Michaels and the St. Pauls early in the year is to work those kinks out.”