Senior Joseph Hooks Photos by Kyle Thornton

New look to '24 Tigers

By Michael Butler

Tallassee goes into the 2024 football season with several significant changes. It starts at the top. L.A. O'Neal takes over as head football coach for Mike Battles Jr., who spent the last 12 seasons at THS.

O'Neal, last year's Class 4A Coach of the Year at nearby Booker T. Washington, is no stranger to these parts. He is the son of Reeltown coaching legend Jackie O'Neal and was an all-state player on his father's 2001 state championship team.

This will be O'Neal's second head coaching job. He also served as an assistant at Pike Road prior to taking the job in Tuskegee.

"We're going to be a hard-nosed, physical team. We're going to be disciplined and fast," said O'Neal of his expectations at Tallassee. "We're going to impose our will on people. We're going to be tough."

The new addition has been making moves in the off-season bringing more new faces to the purple and gold roster. Five additions already have playing experience at other places; Kevin Mason (Southern Prep), Jordan King (Pike Road), "Big" Mike Lainez (Pike Road), Tiny Green (Dadeville) and Lil' Josh Griffin (Montgomery Catholic).

Griffin is a familiar name in Tallassee. The former Tiger transferred for his junior season and played a key role in Catholic's state championship run in Class 4A last year, including a semifinal victory over O'Neal's BTW squad.

"It was nice to win - a lot of hard work was put in," said Griffin of last year's title. "It feels great to be back with the guys I started with. We have a good fan base. We've got great coaches. I feel like we're going to have a great year this year."

Griffin (6-0, 190), a three-star prospect, has offers from Appalachian State, Liberty and North Alabama. The running back also plays linebacker.

A trio of senior players at the recent THS Football Media Day (left to right): Lil' Josh Griffin, Isaiah Hughley, Kevin Mason.

Adding depth should limit platoon play for a lot of guys who played on both sides of the ball last year, like fellow senior Chase Chumley (6-1, 165). Chumley, who spent time in the defensive secondary last season, expects to play mostly on offense this year with a loaded receiving corps, which now includes newcomers Mason and King.

"We've got a lot of weapons," Chumley said. "It's going to help us out not going both ways."

O'Neal spoke about having the luxury of limiting snaps for players.

"It helps out tremendously especially in 4A ball because most of your teams are playing both ways. If you've got guys who are fresh in the second half and other teams are kind of gassed, it gives you unlimited options."

Senior Carter Sayers (5-10, 200) has changed positions. The former linebacker will start on the offensive line at right tackle this season.

"Coach O'Neal asked me if I was willing to change roles to help the team," said Sayers. "It was an easy decision. It's bigger than me."

That type of selfless move made an impression on O'Neal.

"Carter's a team-first guy," O'Neal said. "He's a scrappy guy. That's what we look for. You don't have to be the biggest to play the o-line, but you've got to have a lot of fight."

O'Neal at River Region Sports Prep Media Day in Mongomery's Garrett Colliseum with seniors (left to right): Joseph Hooks, Carter Sayers and Chase Chumley.

Tallassee is moving back to 4A competition this season after six straight seasons in 5A. The last time the Tigers played in the 4A classification was in 2016 when the team reached the quarterfinals - the deepest post-season run during Battles' tenure.

The senior-laden team has 19 soon-to-be graduates. Although last year's record was 1-9, O'Neal is optimistic about a complete turnaround.

"Our goal is to be 1-0 after every game," he said. "We're not going into any game thinking, 'if we can just stay in the game.' Our goal is to win the game. Our gameplan is to execute to come out on top. Our kids have bought in. We think we can win every game. And that's the mindset you've got to have."

Tallassee opens the season at Montgomery Academy on Aug. 23, the first of four road games to start the season. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. All games will be broadcast on WTLS - Score 94.7/Hit 106.9 with the videocast on YouTube. Air time is set for 6 p.m. each week.

*2024 Schedule