'22 GRIDIRON PREVIEW: No secret weapon - foes know ACA's Landers
Corey Landers did it all last year for the ACA Eagles, leading in several offensive categories. (Tim Gayle)
By TIM GAYLE
Corey Landers isn’t a secret weapon any more. And if you don’t believe the Alabama Christian Academy running back is for real, just ask his head coach.
“I think he’s the best running back in 3A,” ACA coach Michael Summers said. “That’s not bulletin board material, I respect everybody we play, but if you look at what he’s done since he’s been a freshman, he could have easily had 2,000 yards last year. But we got him out of games early, we have two other running backs we give the ball to and he plays both ways. If he didn’t play defense, he’d probably have more energy to run in the fourth quarter.
“He’s our punt returner, he’s our kickoff returner, he’s our tailback, he’s our outside linebacker last year, this year at safety. He’s what I want an ACA football player to be.”
Landers was definitely the workhorse last year for the Eagles, alternating between his time at tailback -- when he earned a rest from backups taking his place -- and at linebacker, where he was generally around every running or short passing play in which he participated.
This year, the Eagles will move him to safety to take the place of graduated senior D’Andre Snead, a move that generally reflects Summers’ belief that he has more capable linebackers on the roster than strong safeties.
“Sometimes you’ve got the best 11, but is it the right 11?” the ACA coach questioned. “We’re trying to find the right pieces to the puzzle.”
Landers, generally a quiet person off the field, offered a simple shrug when asked how much he enjoyed the move to a new defensive position this fall.
“I think it’s more knowing coverages and stuff,” he said. “It’ll be a different challenge for me.”
Offensively, he’ll remain the featured back after gaining nearly 700 yards as a sophomore and 1,200 yards last season, giving the Eagles a potent weapon in the backfield.
“It makes it easy,” ACA quarterback Hayes Hunt said. “I remember we played BTW last year and he ran for four touchdowns and 200 yards. I wasn’t even sweating after the game. You just turn around and hand the ball to him and he goes to work. He never complains about anything.”
He never complains about staying on the field, either, even if it wears him down over the course of early-season games.
“The only thing we can do is more conditioning at practice,” Landers said.
Summers is tasked with the challenge of playing his best player both ways, while being careful to get him enough rest during the course of the game. The second-year coach knows what he has, however, and he’s determined to make sure Landers is ready for a long and productive season.
“We’ve got two running backs behind him that are good,” Summers said. “He’s the best running back on our team, he’s the best running back in 3A, but I’m not going to run his tongue into the ground because I want him Week 3 of the playoffs or I want him fresh when we’re trying to win the region or get in the playoffs. We’re going to get him some rest when necessary.”