Every year, the Plant City Times & Observer asks the head coaches which three players will make a big, positive impact for their teams. For 2017, Strawberry Crest head coach James Booth chose linebacker Amir Abdullah, quarterback Braxton Plunk and defensive back Cody Cribbs.
Amir Abdullah
What do you bring to this team?
Physicality. Effort from sideline to sideline, physically.
How do you feel about the season?
I feel good. I feel like we’re underrated because it’s only about, what, 10 of us are seniors? Last year there was a lot of them, so I just feel like we’re underrated.
What about Plant City football will surprise people?
How physical we are. We’re a small team. Last year we had way bigger people, this year we’re smaller. But more physical.
What are your goals?
I want to lead the county in forced fumbles and tackles … try to be on every tackle.
Which game are you most looking forward to?
Durant and Armwood.
Braxton Plunk
New year, new team. How are you feeling out here?
I love Plant City. They take football serious. They brought coach Booth in, he’s helped me out a lot with progression and learning new pass concepts.
Where have you improved the most from last season?
Just being more comfortable in an offense. How to run an offense. Coach Booth’s helped me with, like I said, progressions and just learning how to read a defense.
What do you bring to the table?
I hope, just being athletic and being a leader for this team, to help them do the best they can.
What are your goals?
Lead the county in yards and completion rate, and less turnovers. Can’t turn the ball over.
What’s something people don’t know about Plant City football that they should?
We’ve got the best field house manager in the county. Coach Schmiddy (Roy Schmidberger). He just takes it seriously to take care of us. Especially the quarterbacks.
Cody Cribbs
You’re leading the secondary for one last year. What are you excited about?
I’m excited about starting the season, going through it and playing the best we can.
What are your goals?
My personal goal is I’m trying to get eight picks. I had five last year, trying to get eight this year. And I’m trying to lead this team as best as I can to set an example for the next coming years.
What advice do you give to the younger guys?
They’ve got to realize that senior year comes quick. That’s what you hear every year, that it’s coming up and it’s gonna be your last year, but you don’t ever realize it until it’s actually your last year. They’ve got to realize, every single practice they go through, that’s one less practice that they have.
What’s something about Plant City football that people should know?
It’s a journey. It’s a new journey that’s about to begin, right here, and it starts with us.
Which game are you looking forward to?
Durant. We’re taking back that cup, the Redman Cup.