Eagles secondary to feature multiple first-year varsity players

by Michael Smith, Grain Valley News
 
The Grain Valley football team had a strong defense in 2024.
 
It held opponents to just 15.5 points a year ago and was a big reason the Eagles finished with a 7-4 record.
 
The team returns some experience at linebacker and on the defensive line, but there will be several new faces in the secondary coming into the 2025 season.
 
Grain Valley lost starting safety Aaron Barr to graduation. In 2024, he had 61 tackles (42 solo), one tackle for loss, five interceptions, five pass breakups and three forced fumbles. Jordan Fuller, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound cornerback, also graduated.
 
That leaves the Eagles with one returning starter in safety Brody Jones, who had more than 100 tackles and four interceptions in 2024. Veteran head coach David Allie said the senior will be someone the team will be leaning on to lead a secondary that will have multiple new varsity starters.
 
Jones is a solid tackler and is someone who is considered a ball hawk as he’s been adept at getting interceptions.
 
“He had a great year for us,” Allie said of Jones. He’s a ball hawk. He’s the guy we are counting on to do a lot of good things and run things in the secondary.
 
“He can get to the ball but he can also come up and make a tackle when he has to. Brody’s intelligence and ball skills are great. He knows where the ball is and knows how to attach it. I think he’s going to be one of the best safeties in the conference.”
 
Jones said the biggest strength of the secondary is the collective work ethic and smarts of the group.
 
“I feel like we have a really smart secondary this year,” Jones said. “We have more brains than we have had most years. And this is a really hard-working secondary.”
 
Senior Jack Fuller also returns to the secondary with some varsity experience as he had some playing time last season. He is a candidate to earn one of the starting cornerback spots.
 
“I want to be one of the best corners out there,” Fuller said. “I am going to work on not getting beat deep. I am also working on my tackling and being more consistent. I am good at defending receivers on the shorter routes.”
 
Junior Owen Hames, who played at wide receiver and safety last year, is the top candidate to earn the other safety spot alongside Jones. Allie said Hames will likely focus more on the defensive side of the ball in 2025, but could see some snaps on offense.
 
Sophomore Dalton Burch is a versatile player, who could see time on defense. He’s someone who can play at safety or cornerback. Juniors Peyton Arndorfer and Azryel Walker are other candidates to play at cornerback. Senior Julian Bears, who is playing football for the first time, has impressed the Eagles’ coach staff over the summer with his athleticism and is competing for playing time.
 
This year’s secondary is a group that doesn’t have a lot of size in terms of height and weight, but the group’s knowledge and technique are things that Allie said could make it successful.
 
“We’re not going to win any height contests against tall receivers. That’s why we are working on our technique a little more. We are lucky we have some good coaches that can coach that up. What we lack in size, we will make up for it with technique and aggressiveness.
 
“We have a few kids who got some playing time in scrimmages and camps in the summer,” Allie said. “It’s still a work in progress back there. The defensive staff does a great job putting them in the right position. They have all been working hard and have been showing promise.”
 

Seniors Brody Jones, left, and Jack Fuller are two players that will help lead the secondary of the Grain Valley football team. Photo credit: Michael Smith, Grain Valley News
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