Maupin has revitalized Maumelle football program poised for banner 2024 campaign
BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON
There is no doubt whatsoever Maumelle head football coach Brian Maupin expects for the continued ascension of his gridiron program this season.
After a successful career as an assistant at Joe T. Robinson, Maupin took over at Maumelle in 2022 and watched his team won four games that season before pushing that to seven in 2023.
He’s got 6 starters back on both offense and defense from a team that won its last four regular season games and made the Class 5A playoffs last season before falling to Valley View.
“We are just excited about the year,” Maupin said. “I think it has kind of been a process since I got over here at Maumelle. We are excited about the work we have put in and the district has done a really good job of coming along side us and provided us with the weight equipment we need, the indoor training facilities we need to be the team that we can be.
“We just try to be the fosters of the good grace that we are given and honor God with way we prepare and play.”
“…We took our lumps that first year as sophomores, but I think we are a better for it and I think the growth last year show what kind of trajectory that we are on.”
Maupin, whose team opens the season by hosting Sylvan Hills on Aug. 29, lauded the locale and feeling of the community of Maumelle, just a short drive away from metropolitan Little Rock.
“…The beautiful thing about Maumelle is that we are our own small community right in the middle of the metro. That is really unique and really exciting. I am just glad that God has entrusted me with the keys to try and drive this thing in the right direction.”
Maupin knew he was stepping into a good situation, especially after getting to spend some time with his new roster, one that now should compete for a 7-5A conference title.
“It’s something that we are about,” Maupin said. “I want to win and when I got to Maumelle, the kids wanted to win. I was very successful in my last stop. We did some really good things over there.
“When I got to Maumelle, the kids were really hungry for how I could help initiate that process over there. And it’s not a Brian Maupin thing, it’s about these young men their will to be successful.
“… We went from 3-7 to 7-3 and it’s nothing to put down in the record books, but we are pretty proud of it. But it’s only proud because it is a stepping stone to where we want to be.”
The Hornets try to put as much fun as they can into both the season and off season.
“We got a lot of talent, we got a lot of guys doing the right things and working really hard and so we are extremely excited about what we can accomplish this year,” Maupin said.
“You know when you put in the work, Friday nights are fun. So for us, we are just excited that 10, 11, hopefully 14 times we can go out there and just play the game of football.
“Because no matter who you are, your snaps are limited and so we try to impart on these guys all the time to just enjoy the game. We work so hard and you only get to a couple of games. So go have fun.
“And when the expectations are high, it is easy to get caught up in that stuff, but for us we just want to enjoy playing the game of football.”
Maupin feels he has two good quarterback options in junior Andrew Bjork (6-0, 210) – also a talented linebacker – and sophomore Levi Warrior (6-0, 180), who also shined for the school’s baseball and basketball teams last season.
There’s also a plethora of talented running backs and wide receivers dubbed as playmakers per Maupin.
They will be protected up front by an experienced offensive line, which returns four starters and added in a talented transfer.
“I am a firm believer that it starts and ends up front and I think we have one of the best fronts in the whole state,” Maupin said. “These guys have been starting since they were 10th graders and they have a lot of snaps, a lot of games under their belt and I think for whoever is taking the snaps that’s a real luxury.
“If we can protect, there is no doubt in my mind that our receivers can get open…We are fully confident no matter who takes the snaps that the ball is going to be delivered well on time.”
Maupin is equally excited about the defense, which adds in a highly-recruited defensive tackle in junior tackle Anthony Kennedy (6-6, 270), who already has offers from Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Miami.
He joins defensive end BJ Beets (6-0, 255), who had 4 sacks among his 42 tackles last season.
“I am really excited about the defense and again it starts up front,” Maupin said. “Last year I was really pleased with our defensive line, but we were almost too aggressive trying to make plays that we got ourselves in trouble upfield.
“This year I think we are a lot more discipline, but the size up front is phenomenal and really exciting. And if you watched football for any amount of time, you know when you can impose your will up front then you set yourself up for success.”
Photo by John D. James
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