Eatonton, Ga. – The Putnam County High School football team started summer workouts earlier this month following the GHSA-mandated dead week.
The War Eagles have been holding early morning practices in helmets and shorts from Tuesday through Thursday for the past several weeks.
“In the month of June, we only go three days,” said Putnam County head coach Shaun Pope. “We bring them (the players) in early, feed them breakfast at 7:30 a.m. and then we hit the weight room or watch film. We go through a normal practice during the summer. Obviously, we just don’t have pads on.”
The reigning GHSA Region 4-AA champs attended a 7-on-7 camp hosted by Georgia Military College Prep in Milledgeville last week. The War Eagles also participated in another scrimmage-style camp this week at Baldwin High School.
According to Pope, it was a ‘great chance’ for his squad to get to line up against other competition.
“I like 7-on-7s from a competition standpoint, as far as getting your QBs, receivers, running backs, linebackers and DBs a chance to get out and compete,” Pope said. “With us having a young quarterback, it did us well. He’s progressing and any chance he gets to compete in live action is great.”
Brennan Griffin is a rising freshman at PCHS. He will replace graduated senior and Tennessee Tech signee Gerald Kilgore in the fall under center. Griffin will be tasked with leading a talented War Eagles roster back to the playoffs this fall.
He is just getting his feet wet for the first time at the high school level; however, his progression through the summer will help him prepare for what lies ahead.
“I know it’s not real football,” Pope said. “I am not a fan of 7-on-7s because sometimes they get overrated, as far as the football aspect. But, it gives us a chance to get some work in, especially with a young quarterback. It allows him to throw the football and get some timing down with our receivers.”
Pope acknowledges that Griffin has started to develop since the start of spring camp.
“He’s gotten better every day, he comes to work,” Pope said. “The guys have really rallied around him because he has a good work ethic and attitude. His competitiveness showed early on, especially in the spring game.”
Griffin was the starting quarterback for the War Eagles against Jefferson County during the spring scrimmage back in May. He made several plays against the Warriors, impressing his PCHS teammates and coaches with his ability to stretch the field.
Pope said his teammates have rallied around the talented freshman this summer because of it.
“He didn’t mind lowering his pads and running over a couple of defenders in the spring game against Jefferson County,” Pope said. “I think that got our guys excited. They knew they can depend on him just on what they’ve seen so far.”
The War Eagles are slated to attend another 7-on-7 camp this month and an OTA in July before settling its summer schedule down. They will then shift focus to finishing out the summer and start transitioning towards fall camp.
According to Pope, that will better help Putnam County for its upcoming season.
“Once July hits, we just center the focus on us,” he said. “That’s when we really get going with our normal practice schedule and focusing on what we do.”
The War Eagles will host Baldwin at Al Reeves Field Aug. 26 at 7:30 p.m. for the season opener.