Why Caleb Floyd, Keilan Harris are key cogs in maintaining Stewarts Creek football's identity

Stewarts Creek football has hung its hat on a strong running game and defense during fifth-year coach Ben Caudill's tenure.

Seniors Caleb Floyd and Keilan Harris will be integral parts of that identity for the 2024 Red Hawks. The two represented Stewarts Creek in a recent media day hosted by the Tennessee Titans.

Floyd has waited his turn at running back, stepping up in limited roles during his sophomore and junior seasons and battling back from an ACL injury he suffered at the end of his sophomore year.

Now a senior, Floyd is expected to be a focal point of the Red Hawks' offense, and the veteran is ready for his chance.

"I would say I will take most of the responsibility on offense," said Floyd, who has started a handful of games during his career, mostly as an injury replacement, as he played behind standouts Javarian Otey and Kenny Jordan. "I can't wait. I've been waiting for this since I started playing my freshman year."

The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Floyd rushed 86 times for 319 yards with two touchdowns and was second on the team with 254 receiving yards last season despite a bulk of the offense running through Otey and Jordan, who combined for almost 2,000 total yards.

He also stepped in as a sophomore after an injury to Otey, and his contributions included a 204-yard, four-TD rushing performance against Wilson Central late in the season.

"Caleb has played a lot of football," Stewarts Creek coach Ben Caudill said. "Whenever you lose three Division I football players, I think people are going to focus on that but we bring back some blue collar guys, and Caleb is one of those guys who has a lot of playing experience. He's equally talented on both sides of the ball."

Floyd, who has an offer from UT Martin, Harris and junior Jerry Taylor, who is competing at the quarterback position, should get a bulk of carries.

"We're going to have the same identity," said Floyd, of Stewarts Creek's run-heavy offensive scheme. "We have players that can fill the same positions that seniors were playing last year."

Keilan Harris will headline 'tougher' Stewarts Creek defense

Stewarts Creek, which finished 7-4 after a 28-14 loss to Ravenwood in the first round of the 6A playoffs last year, has emphasized strong, physical defense under Caudill.

Harris is arguably the team's top returning defensive player at linebacker for a unit that held three opponents to less than 10 points and five to two touchdowns or fewer last season.

"He's had a really good offseason," Caudill said. "He's put on some great weight, and he's definitely a tough kid that will do a lot for us on both sides of the ball."

The 6-foot, 200-pound Harris, who has offers from Arkansas State and Eastern Kentucky, believes the defense will be improved and more consistent after Stewarts Creek allowed a combined 115 points in its four losses in 2023.

"I would say the difference in this year and last is our focus is a lot better," said Harris, who was second on the team with 40 solo tackles, three fumble recoveries and two blocked kicks (one returned for a TD). "We're tougher on the defensive side. There's still some kinks we have to get out, but it's early. I like the way we're looking right now.

"Our defense is the backbone of the team. A couple of times last year we slipped up and made it hard for our offense to come back and win games."

Floyd should also be a factor as a rotational linebacker after not logging any time on defense last season.

Stewarts Creek opens the season Aug. 23 at home vs. Tullahoma.