BUFORD -- One might think that the talent, depth and sheer physical size on display at Buford guarantees success year-in, year-out.<br />
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But championships are built on more than raw ability, and the titles that the Wolves have built their program around -- nine state crowns in 13 seasons -- stem from something far less tangible than a star-studded roster.<br />
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Ask coach Jess Simpson about the keys to his team's success and the words "leadership, intangibles and determination" lead the way like a crushing block from one of the Wolves' own fullbacks.<br />
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"The intangibles of this program are just really special," Simpson said. "We fight complacency all the time. Every day at practice we remind the guys that last year is over and that we haven't accomplished anything yet."<br />
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Certainly the success of last year's 15-0 campaign (and many previous years) will have Buford right back near the top of most preseason top 10s, but Simpson says his team will leave all the championship talk for others.<br />
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His team is simply focusing on getting better each day.<br />
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"We've got to be better than we were even last year," Simpson said. "Everything is tougher this year, and we have a lot to bite off."<br />
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The increased competition comes in the form of a move from Class AAA to AAAA, where fellow state behemoths such as Sandy Creek, Griffin, Carrollton and Marist reside -- along with a Region 8-AAAA schedule that includes six playoff teams from a season ago (of seven region foes on the slate). On top of that Buford faces a non-region schedule that includes defending Florida Class AAA champion Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.) and GHSA Class AAAAAA favorite McEachern.<br />
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It is a schedule that promises a test for any program -- even one that features five FBS commitments and three more players with offers.<br />
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For his part, Simpson says his Wolves are itching for the opportunity.<br />
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"This is a pretty balanced group that likes being together," Simpson said. "We have 25 seniors and 25 juniors on the roster, and they really get along. They can really compete with each other without anyone getting their feelings hurt. They all know they're working to make each other better."<br />
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Certainly the Wolves have some positions to fill this season after the graduation of a talented senior class that included seven players now competing in the collegiate ranks -- including at quarterback and in the secondary.<br />
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But the return of veterans and standouts along the offensive and defensive lines, along with the running back position, mean that Buford's bread-and-butter of pounding the run game and grinding opposing run games to a halt is very much a strength again.<br />
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Senior running back Joshua Thomas (team-high 1,064 yards rushing, 16 TDs in 2013) is amongst the most explosive players in the state, while senior linemen Nick Polino (North Carolina commit), Hunter Holland and Shane Robinson have the size and ability to plow holes in most defensive lines. Perhaps most exciting is that Simpson lists Thomas, Polino and Holland amongst the team's leaders.<br />
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Luke Humphrey and Mic Roof are battling to start at quarterback, but Buford showed last season that it could rotate quarterbacks successfully with the performances of Montgomery VanGorder and Taylor Mitchell. And Humphrey and Roof will be aided by veteran and physical teammates such as junior tight end and FBS prospect Isaac Nauta and fullbacks Tyler Shipman, Jordan Perlotte and Xavier Gantt.<br />
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Defensively, the Wolves feature a stout front line -- "We have eight or nine guys there that all know what to do," Simpson said. -- led by tackles Quay Picou (Tennessee commit), Polino, Holland and junior Shug Frazier (an FBS recruit). Shipman, Perlotte, Caleb Auer and Nauta will all play at defensive end.<br />
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Despite the graduation of Korie Rogers at linebacker, the Wolves are still well stocked at the position, with Tennessee commit Austin Smith, Konnor Houston (team-high 87 tackles in 2013) and Thomas. Meanwhile, safeties David Curry (Virginia commit) and Steven Reese lead the secondary.<br />
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"We've got some veterans and a whole lot of new too," Simpson said. "We're challenging them so much at practice and it's interesting to see which guys can handle it."<br />
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As Buford has shown in so many seasons, it can handle a lot.
