Apollo RB Adam Mohammed ready to build on success behind big duo up front

Adam Mohammed skipped basketball this year mainly because he no longer had his brother as a teammate.

But the fast, elusive running back has never been more than ready for Glendale Apollo football, flanked by two of his biggest friends, 6-foot-6, 260-pound tackle Matthew Lado and 6-3, 290-pound guard Michael Watkins.

They open the holes. Mohammed bursts through them on the field.

There likely will be a lot of big plays and touchdowns by Mohammed next season, and a chance for Apollo to make some noise in the playoffs.

This is the first spring football season in which the Hawks are practicing on their new synthetic turf. They played on it last fall, but last spring, it still had yet to be installed.

Mohammed took full advantage of the new field last season.

"I would challenge anybody if there is a bigger offensive weapon in the state," coach Aaron Walls said. "He scores touchowns running, throwing, receiving, returning. We love him."

Apollo went 6-4 last season but missed out on the playoffs, even though Mohammed ran for 1,341 yards and 30 touchdowns on 178 carries, and caught 20 passes for 190 yards and two scores. He also passed for 218 yards when the Hawks were without a quarterback. He averaged 176 all-purpose yards a game last season.

It helps to have the two big tanks blocking for him. Both Lado and Watkins have picked up Power 5 college recruiting interest.

"Obviously, you're blessed to have one, but to have two of them, you're very blessed," Walls said about Lado and Watkins. "Now the obiective is to find some guys to put in between them to make sure that we have a solid line."

Mohammed said he missed playing basketball with his brother, Ahamed Mohammed, who scored 61 points in a game last year for Apollo and averaged 18 minutes and five points as a freshman this season on a 27-win West Texas A&M team last season.

Adam Mohammed, 6-foot, 185 pounds, has eight Division I football offers, including California, Boston College and Utah State.

"Really it's just balling out now," Mohammed said. "Those guys (up front) are great."

Mohammed said he's up for the task of playing quarterback again if called on.

"Wherever you need me," he said.

Lado and Watkins calls it a brotherhood on the Apollo team.

"We have a hard working mentality," Watkins said. "We all want to go places."

They know they don't need to make much room for Mohammed to make plays, but they still do. Both linemen have picked up offers from Arizona.

"He has the acceleration and speed," Lado said of Mohammed. "We want to go to state."

Watkins likes the makeup of the team, which will be fast and physical.

"They're going to see us," Watkins said. "We had an unacceptable season last year, missing the playoffs. They're going to see us in big games. They're going to keep underrating us, but we'll show them."

Walls expects big things.

Those three are surrounded by talent, including cornerback Trey Smith (5-9, 165), who was among the 5A leaders in interceptions last year but will find an expanded role on offense with his hands and speed.

Defensive back/receiver Kamarion Bell (5-7, 135) is another big-play guy, and tight end/defensive end Joseph Sumpter (6-4, 225) should have a breakout year.

"This is the first time since I took over, without COVID, we had the field redone last year, so they didn't have a place to practice last spring," Walls said. "This is the first time since I took over that they've had a place. The kids have been able to lift. We're excited about that."

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Apollo football's Adam Mohammed ready to build on success behind big duo up front