By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
A lot has changed for Porter since the end of the 2016 season.
Head coach Tom Campos resigned to pursue an opportunity outside coaching. Offensive coordinator Carlos Uresti was chosen as Campos’ replacement just a couple months later. Within a month of Uresti’s hiring, former Pace head coach Bill Deen became the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator.
So, among the coaching changes, Porter is using its time during spring practices to get some reps for a young team.
“I wanted to see how much we have grown with our football IQ,” Uresti said via text message because of a recent medical absence. “We had an abundance of youth in our football team last year. So, we wanted to see how far our kids have come along. We’re on our way there … still have another week left of spring football.”
The Cowboys have youth on both sides of the ball, but now with a year of varsity experience, the future looks brighter for Porter on the field.
Defensive coordinator Raul Gomez now has a season under his belt, and is trying to build up a young defensive unit that is also one-year older.
“We’re bonding together,” senior linebacker Christian Villa said. “We’re working to be even better.”
The offensive side has seen the most change, even though Uresti has been a familiar face after his tenure with the team for the past four years as the offensive coordinator before taking the reins.
“Team is doing great,” he said. “I wasn’t a total stranger to our kids, I’ve been with all these kids from Day 1. Some changes were made but everyone is on board right now. As for a different way of doing things, I think everyone has an idea of what they’d do if it was their program. I’m just trying to continue what we started when I got here as an offensive coordinator for coach Campos and adding my personal touch to things.”
Those changes with Uresti are a more aggressive approach, one with more attitude than before.
“I’m really excited,” senior fullback Joe Solis said of the changes to the scheme. “We’ve added more power to the line, going out for the linebackers. For the running backs, just hitting the holes.”
Porter used group work to further improve on techniques and hopes the reps will continue to develop its young squad.
“We’re on our way there,” Uresti said. “(We) still have another week left of spring football.”
The Cowboys hope their extra work will lead to a better season in the fall. And so far, Uresti hopes the spring practices continue that momentum until practice resumes at the end of the summer.
“Hunger for next year,” Uresti said of what he hopes the team takes away from spring practices. “Our kids are fired up and looking forward to the season.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.