The Taylor Ducks varsity football team officially began fall practice on Monday, Aug. 5, as it prepares for the 2024–25 season. Head coach Earven Flowers shared his early impressions of the team following the first few days of camp.
“We retained a lot of information from last year. We’ve got a lot of guys returning, and they came back in solid shape,” Flowers said. “The first two days are just the basic stuff, and we’re executing it very well, so I’m pretty excited about that.”
The Ducks began practice without pads, wearing only T-shirts and helmets as part of the University Interscholastic League’s four-day acclimation period. Flowers said he’s eager to see how the team performs when full contact is allowed next week.
“Pads are definitely going to change some things because the majority of people can look solid without pads,” he said. “But when you put those on, things kind of change. Football is a physical game, so we’re waiting to see what it looks like with pads — but we’re still excited about the retention.”
Flowers also praised the energy and mindset of his team early on.
“It’s upbeat. Our kids are showing up, they’re ready to go, and they’re hungry for more,” he said.
Taylor will continue preseason practice in preparation for its season opener on Friday, Aug. 29, on the road against Gatesville.
