DAVID MUNDEE
Tanner Harris has a lot of familiarity in his new job as head coach of the Houston County Lions.
He already knows a lot about the school and the small community of Columbia.
“That place is home,” said Harris, who was born in the area and spent the first four years (1997-2001) of his life in Columbia as his dad, Chip, guided the Lions football program. In addition, Harris served as an assistant coach at Houston County in the 2020-21 football seasons.
Harris returns to Houston County after serving a year as an assistant coach at Daleville and a year as head football coach of Brilliant High School in north Alabama.
“Being away for a couple of years and coming back now, I have loved every second of it,” Harris said. “It is great being with the kids. I missed them the last couple of years, so to be able to come back and be able to be their head coach is a dream come true.”
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Harris takes over a Lion program that was one of the surprises of 2023, earning a 5-5 record after going 2-8 the season before. They were within a couple of plays from going 7-3 and making the state playoffs.
That, though, was a Class 1A member. Houston County has moved up to Class 2A this season.
Harris inherits a team filled with talent as five starters are back on offense and eight on defense.
“We are blessed with a lot of strong athletes,” Harris said. “We have a lot of guys who can run and catch, guys who play hard and are competitive. Through the 7-on-7s (in the summer) you can see that. Front wise, we have a good offensive and defensive line who are working their butts off. We have decent size and are strong in the weight room.”
Two traits immediately jumped out to Harris in his early look at the Lions.
“Speed and physicality,” Harris said. “Our 4x100 team won the state championship last year (in the spring) and three of those guys play for us. Even going back and watching film, you can tell they were physical and hit you. When you can run and be physical, that is pretty good starting point.”
The members of that winning relay team playing football are running back/linebacker Azariel Todd, running back/wide receiver/linebacker Deyshaun Wynn and quarterback/safety Zy’Kevious Neal-Culver.
The three also placed in the top eight in other events during the Class 1A state track meet. Todd finished seventh in the 100 meters (11.59 seconds) and tied for seventh in the high jump (5 feet, 8 inches). Neal-Culver finished second in the 200 meters (22.99 seconds) and fourth in the 100 meters (11.50), while Wynn took eighth in the 400 meters (53.27).
Todd, a 6-foot, 210-pounder, has committed to play college ball at Alabama State where he is expected to play linebacker.
“He is coachable and works his tail off for you,” Harris said. “Every day in the weight room he is bringing it 100 miles per hour. He soaks up everything on the field on offense and defense.”
Todd is one of three players back at running back with starting experience. Wynn (Sr., 6-1, 190) and Victor Horton (Sr., 5-10, 170) are the other two.
Two offensive linemen return as starters – Clay Hand (Sr., 5-10, 225) and Martrez Allen (Sr., 5-11, 220).
The Lions have to replace starters at the other positions, including at quarterback, and will do so with mostly younger players. Several sophom*ores, a freshman and even an eighth grader are among projected starters.
Neal-Culver (Jr., 6-1, 175) is the heir apparent to start at quarterback. KJ May, only an eighth grader, Trey Griffin (Sr.) and Netjer Todd (Jr.) are expected to fill the wide receiver spots with KD Johnson (Fr.) and Tyriq Williams (So.) playing at tight end.
The other OL starters are expected to be Jacob Ard (Jr.), Adrian Gomez (So.) and Riley Danley (Jr.) with Ard handling center duties.
The defense returns eight starters, led by a pair who will start for a third year in Hand on the defensive line and Azariel Todd at linebacker.
Allen joins Hand as a returning DL starter, while Wynn joins Todd as a returning linebacker starter.
The secondary has plenty of experience as Griffin (Sr., 5-10, 165), Horton (Sr., 5-10, 170), Neal-Culver and May returning as starters. May (5-8, 155) started last year as a seventh grader.
Others expected to start on the defense include Williams on the defensive front and Johnson at linebacker. Danley and eighth-grader Amarius Carridine are batting for another D-line starting spot.
On special teams, Azariel Todd will handle punting, Allen the kickoffs and Hand the extra-point kicks and field goals. Neal-Culver is projected to snap on the kicks with May holding.
LIONS AT A GLANCE
>> Head coach: Tanner Harris (1st year at Houston County, 2nd year as a head coach, 3-7)
>> 2023 record: 5-5 overall, 4-4 in Class 1A, Region 2
>> 2023 results: Northside Methodist (L, 6-25); at Brantley # (L, 14-19); Elba # (L, 14-49); at Red Level # (W, 40-35); Georgiana # (L, 0-8); Graceville (Fla.) (W, 14-8); at Florala # (L, 14-24); Pleasant Home # (W, 35-7); McKenzie # (W, 48-32); at Kinston # (W, 48-25)
>> Points scored/per game: 233/23.3
>> Points allowed/per game: 232/23.2
>> Returning offensive starters (5): RB Azariel Todd (Sr., 6-0, 210); RB Deyshawn Wynn (Sr., 6-1, 180); RB Victor Horton (Sr., 5-10, 170); OL Clay Hand (Sr., 5-10, 225); OL Martrez Allen (Sr., 5-11, 220).
>> Returning defensive starters (8): DL Clay Hand (Sr., 5-10, 225); DL Martrez Allen (Sr., 5-11, 220); LB Azariel Todd (Sr., 6-0, 210); LB Deshawn Wynn (Sr., 6-1, 190); DB Trey Griffin (Sr., 5-10, 165); DB Victor Horton (Sr. 5-10, 170); DB KJ May (8th, 5-8, 155); DB Zykevious Neal-Culver (Jr., 6-1, 175)
2024 Schedule
Aug. 30 at Graceville (Fla.)
Sept. 6 at Ariton #
Sept. 13 at Cottonwood #
Sept. 20 Abbeville #
Sept. 27 at Baker (Fla.)
Oct. 4 Samson #
Oct. 11 G.W. Long #
Oct. 18 at Geneva County #
Oct. 25 at Providence Christian #
Nov. 1 FAMU High (Fla.)
# Denotes region contest
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