Robertsville Middle School: Rams
When Robertsville Middle School opens its 2024 season it will have a new head coach roaming the sideline. Ron Gray was named to the position in May.
But the more things change, the more they stay the same for the Rams. Former head coach Tyler Carr has remained on the staff as the team’s defensive coordinator. Carr and Gray have a longstanding relationship.
“Tyler played for me at Oak Ridge High School and he was an all-state lineman for me,” said Gray, who formerly served as an assistant for the Wildcats and at Knoxville Catholic and Knoxville Halls. “I recommended him for the job.”
When the time came, Carr asked Gray to take over the program, returning the favor.
“He asked me to come and coach and I told him that I would, but only if he stayed on,” Gray said. “He’s really my assistant head coach and I bounce ideas of him and he bounces ideas off me, and at this point in my career, I’m just happy to be able to coach with one of my former players.”
Gray may be a new face but the Rams have plenty of veterans on their 2024 roster, including one, who will play a different position on offense.
Eighth grader Josiah McClure will return and he looks to be the starting quarterback for Rams. He played wide receiver as a seventh grader in 2023. He also shined as a defensive back last year, hauling in nine interceptions.
Other key returners include: La’Miere Porter (eighth grade, wide receiver/defensive back/running back); Kamoni Willis (eighth grade, wide receiver/defensive back); Everitt Hartman (eighth grade, wide receiver/defensive back/punter); Ben Hartman (eighth grade, tight end/outside linebacker/kicker); Kaston Seaman (seventh grade/outside linebacker); Braylon Payne (eighth grade, offensive lineman/defensive lineman); Malik Teasley (seventh grade/offensive lineman/defensive lineman); Caleb Cooper (eighth grade, center); Spenser Hatmaker (eighth grade, offensive lineman/defensive lineman); Jaxon Billingsley (eighth grade tailback); Michael Blair (eighth grade, tailback) and Bentley Pettus (seventh grade, tailback).
Key newcomers include: Hardin Valley transfers Dominic Campbell (eighth grade, tight end/linebacker); Oliver Pagel (eighth grade, offensive line/defensive line); Landon Carter (seventh grade, wide receiver/defensive back) and Dallas Brown (seventh grade, nose guard).
“Our hope is to make the playoffs, but we have to take things one game at a time,” he said. “They’ve changed the schedule this year and the playoffs take place on both weeks of fall break, and we’ve told the kids to plan on making the playoffs.
“We’re an eighth-grade dominated team, but we have some good seventh graders and we have some sixth graders and maybe we can get some contributions from them as the season goes along.”
Gray took the job late but he said that he wasted no time getting his team into shape.
“Our conditioning will be a strength. Our kids have been dedicated and they’ve worked hard all summer and we’re in good shape,” he said.
Coaching staff: Gray and Carr will be joined on the staff by Jason Tate (quarterbacks/linebackers); Greg Campbell (running backs/defensive backs); Logan Vincent (offensive line/defensive line) and Taylor Hill (wide receivers/defensive line).
The Rams open the season at home on Aug. 8, against Fort Londoun. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m.