It’s been a rebuilding process for Compton under head coach Calvin Bryant. The Tarbabes bottomed out with a winless season four years ago and have been steadily improving and getting their program back together the last three seasons under Bryant, who is in his second stint with the team.
“It’s my fourth year back so all the guys that had to start as freshmen, this is their senior year,” said Bryant. “We have four guys who are four-year starters.”
The Tarbabes were 5-5 last year, their best record since Bryant was fired several seasons back, and he’s hoping this is the season they can jump back to the right side of .500.
“Our guys have really bought in, they’ve put in a lot of work in the offseason, I think we’ll take it a little further this year,” said Bryant. “We’re feeling really good about what we have out there and about the future.”
Niles Hibbert is one of the four-year starters and will be this year’s star, featuring as both a running back in Compton’s run-heavy double-wing offense, and as a cornerback. Jesse Brew will quarterback the team and direct the Tarbabes’ misdirection-heavy offense, with Terrence Pratt likely to get plenty of touches while also featuring as a linebacker.
The secret weapon for Compton is that their offensive and defensive line might be the biggest in the Moore League after Poly’s–it’s certainly one of the biggest in the area. Jonathan Fernandez and Eduardo Garcia return but linemen like Israel Tornes (6-3, 330 pounds) and Syre Williams (6-4, 315 pounds) are a big part of why Bryant is so optimistic about his team this year.
“I think we have a shot to show some things in the division we’re in, we’re trying to vie for a playoff spot,” said Bryant. “We’re definitely not going to disappear–we want to fight for that position.”
As he does every year, Bryant also says his team’s double-wing might feature some new wrinkles.
“People might be surprised, we might be throwing the ball a little more,” he said. “It’s just hard for coach Bryant all these years running the ball, now you have an incompletion and it’s second and 10, I’m not used to that.”
Projected Starting Lineup
Offense
OL: Syre Williams
OL: Israel Tornes
OL: Lonzo Williams
TE/OL: Jonathan Fernandez
TE/OL: Tyrone Fleming
QB: Jesse Brew
QB: Bill Wilson
WR: Jaishawn Smith
WR: Keilan White
RB: Terrence Pratt
RB: Niles Hibbert
RB: Jaheim Williams
Defense
DL: Jonathan Fernandez
DL: Tyrone Fleming
DL: MykTrayl McGraw
DL: Ericsson Adebowale
DL: Francisco Vargas
LB: Eduardo Garcia
LB: Jesse Lopez
LB: Bill Wilson
LB: Jaheim Hunt
DB: Jesse Brew
DB: Niles Hibbert
DB: Jaishawn Smith
DB: Jaheim Williams
Compton Schedule
8/17 vs. Compton Centennial
8/24 vs. Santa Monica
8/31 BYE
9/7 @ Dominguez
9/14 vs. Gardena
9/21 vs. Jordan
9/28 vs. Millikan
10/5 @ Long Beach Poly
10/12 vs. Lakewood
10/19 @ Cabrillo
10/26 @ Wilson
Compton Football Season Preview 2018
Read more about this year’s Tarbabes team: https://stage.the562.org/2018/08/10/compton-tarbabes-football-preview/ Visit the562.org and click SUBSCRIBE to keep these videos on Youtube.
