Growth Opportunity: Foundation Academy's defensive line setting the tone early on

Any football team would be happy to have one or two good defensive linemen who can get pressure on quarterbacks and stop the run. 

Foundation Academy has four. 

Leading the hunting pack for the defense are seniors Donovan Branch, Bryan Thomas Jr. and Reggie Jean. The fourth member, and only junior, on the line is Edward Byrd. 

The four of them have been lightning rods for the defense to start the season. The Lions defense has only given up six points through two games as they begin 2-0. The defense has 40 tackles for loss; Branch, Thomas, Jean and Byrd account for 27 of those, with Thomas leading the way with 10. They also have 12 of Foundation’s 13 sacks; Thomas leads with five. 

For opposing teams, it is a deadly game of pick your poison. 

Branch, Thomas and Jean already have committed to NCAA Power 5 conference schools, which consist of the major conferences in the country: the SEC, ACC, Pac-12, Big 12 and Big 10. Branch and Jean have committed to play for the University of Connecticut; Thomas announced his commitment to the University of South Carolina on Sept. 10. 

Even though they have committed, that has not stopped the offers coming for Jean and Branch. Head coach Andre Walker said the University of Illinois also has been looking to see if it still has a chance for their services. 

“We’ll have to see what ends up happening before Signing Day,” Walker said. “But even now, I’m still getting many calls from coaches.” 

With so much success at the start of the season, what has been the key to this fast start? 

Hard work and repetition. 

“I tell them all the time (that) learning how to have proper technique, it’ll take you much further than you need to be in addition to the skillset you are God-gifted with...It's doing things over and over again." 

– Bryan Thomas Sr., Foundation Academy defensive line coach 

“They’re creatures of habit and are very big on creating good habits,” Walker said. “Doing things over and over again to the point where you go to sleep and you’re dreaming of this stuff.” 

It also helps when your defensive line coach is a former NFL defensive lineman. Bryan Thomas Sr. is in his first year as an assistant coach at Foundation, but already, he is making his mark on the team. 

Thomas played for the New York Jets from 2002 to 2012. He compiled 33.5 sacks over his career and led the Jets to back-to-back AFC Championship games in 2009 and 2010. 

His status as a former NFL player commands respect from his players.  

“I tell them all the time (that) learning how to have proper technique, it’ll take you much further than you need to be in addition to the skillset you are God-gifted with,” Thomas said. “It’s doing things over and over again. 

“Sometimes I can look at them in practice, and I can see them go, ‘Oh, Coach is doing this again,’” Thomas said. “They pick it up, and once they pick it up … it makes me proud.” 

Thomas’ presence has inspired a strong work ethic, which translates into extra work after practice. Thomas calls it “opportunity.” At first, he only got a couple members on the line to do it and had to coax more to join. Now, the whole group comes out for it. 

“They’re asking, ‘Hey Coach, can I get more technique work? Can I get extra hand work in?’ That’s what makes me proud,” Thomas said. “We don’t even say it. They’re asking ‘Where are we doing our opportunity at?’ And I say, ‘Over in the corner right there.’” 

A group of players this dominant usually would have a bit of an ego to them — and deservedly so, in many cases. Walker and Thomas, however, see a humble group ready to do anything asked of them for the betterment of the team. 

“They understand that it’s a team game,” Walker said. “I have no ego trips in the locker room among them. They’re willing to do whatever it takes for the team to have success. I ask them to play on the offensive line … they do it.” 

Walker also did not hesitate to say this group was perhaps the best he has ever coached in his time at Foundation and as far back as when he coached at Lakeland High School. 

“This group in particular, not sugarcoating it, they stand alone,” Walker said. “They’re the best I’ve encountered as a unit.” 

After an unexpected week off, Foundation gets set to play Lakeland Christian in its first home game of the season Sept. 17. All four of them will be set to go, with Jean emerging out of quarantine on Friday. 

Walker did not mince words when talking about the game ahead. 

“That’s going to be a good test,” Walker said. “It’s definitely going to tell us where we’re at — whether we can compete with the big boys or not.”