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BYRDS -- Four years ago, Reed Charpia walked onto the practice field at Woodland High School and took account of what he had to work with as the new head football coach of the Wolverines.

It didn’t take long. Back then, the Wolverines were bad and the numbers were low, and so the coach set about building a program with just 17 players that year. Last week, Charpia stepped onto the same field for spring practice with 75 players, grades 10-12, at his disposal. The best season in school history -- a 7-4 record and playoff appearance -- will do that.

“It’s not only good for the coaching staff to see that, but it’s good for the school and the community to see the interest of being successful,” Charpia said. “What it has done for our school and community and students...it really makes me feel good. It gives us something to sort of rally around. The kids have bought into the system. They don’t mind working hard. I don’t see any reason why we can’t be successful year in and year out.”

It’s a safe bet Woodland will be good the next couple of seasons because they have quarterback Robert Smith running the show. As a freshman last year, Smith stepped into the Wolverines’ spread-passing attack and threw for 2,310 yards and 24 touchdowns. This spring, a bigger, better Smith has showed up for the Wolverines.

“He has put on about 10 or 15 pounds and is up to 185 pounds,” Charpia said. “He’s right at 6-foot, and his bench has gone from 185 to 235. He was timed up in Charlotte at an ‘Elite’ camp at 4.67, and his vertical jump was 36 inches. He has come a long way, and he can’t do anything but get better.

“Robert is Robert,” he added. “He is a good athlete. He’s got a good attitude. He’s a good student. He does everything we ask him to do. He’s not one of those people that says, ‘Awe we gotta do this or I have done that before.’ He’s eager to learn and lead by example.”

While the team loses the 47 receptions of receiver A.J. Johnson, Smith figures to have a strong group of receivers to throw to. He will have three tall targets in DeKendal Carn (6-3), Gabriel Brown (6-2) and Marquis Carson (6-1). The trio all ran between 4.6 and 4.8 in the 40 at a recent Shrine Bowl Combine at Airport High School. Dondrell Folk (5-9) also figures to be a top target in the Wolverines offense this season. Also, B.J. Mazyck and Nagui Wright, both starters a season ago, are scheduled to return in the backfield, and there are several returners along the offensive line.

“We’ve got a chance to have a pretty good squad,” Charpia said. “There is a long time between now and the last of August. It’s about how hard our kids are willing to work.

“We have had some pretty good practices,” he continued. “We took most of last week to install our offense and defense. I say install it, but we just took our time to go back over what we will be doing. Basically, it’s the same, and we just wanted to let our younger guys try to grasp it. Our older guys are falling into place.”

As Woodland’s spring practice nears its end, Charpia said the team will be busy with passing tournaments and leagues through the summer.

“We are going to be at Carolina’s 7-on-7 on June 7, and we will be at Clemson June 14,” he said. “We have a passing league down at Fort (Dorchester) on Thursdays. We will be throwing and catching a good bit. We can’t go but so many times, but we are going to take the maximum we can get out of it.”

T&D Sports Editor Brian Linder can be reached via phone at 803-533-5553. Check out his blog, Welcome to Linderland, at www.thetandd.com.

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