Why Cole Troutman, Dawson Gaillot will be key to Freeport’s stingy defense
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The Freeport varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Freeport varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Freeport varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Freeport varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Freeport varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Dawson Gaillot works on his footwork during football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Dawson Gaillot works on his footwork during football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Freeport varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Freeport varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Coach John Gaillot guides players during football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Quarterback Drew Ross gives a low five to Edan Henderson, 4, during football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Quarterback Drew Ross during 7-on-7 during football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Cole Troutman during 7-on-7 during football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Dawson Gaillot during 7-on-7 during football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Dawson Gaillot during 7-on-7 during football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Cole Troutman works on his blocking during football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Cole Troutman works on his blocking during football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Freeport varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Freeport varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Freeport varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Coach John Gaillot talks to a player during football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Quarterback Drew Ross during 7-on-7 during football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Freeport’s Anthony O’Donnell during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Freeport’s Anthony O’Donnell during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Freeport’s Owen Neistein during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Freeport’s Owen Neistein during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Preseason hopes for any team often rely on players moving into starting roles reaching or even exceeding expectations.
In the case of Freeport football, the Yellowjackets know exactly what they have in seniors Dawson Gaillot and Cole Troutman, two keystones in their base 3-4 defense who bolster the team’s chances in 2025.
Troutman tallied 107 tackles as a junior, seven coming behind the line of scrimmage, six sacks and a pair of fumble recoveries. Gaillot made 120 stops, with 65 of them solo. He added four sacks and an interception. Those efforts helped Freeport go 8-4 last year.
“We plan to line up in multiple defensive formations, but whatever we go with, those two are great leaders with how they play the game,” Freeport defensive coordinator Todd Durand said.
Troutman served as the team’s placekicker in 2023 before moving into a starting role on the line and flourishing last year.
“It was just a matter of gaining confidence and strength,” he said. “I have faith that whoever is lining up across from me, I’m stronger than he is.”
Durand said Troutman’s attitude on the field serves as motivation for the entire defense.
“He has a high motor, doesn’t take a back seat to anybody,” he said. “He’s big, but also quick. He’s strong enough to beat a guy one-on-one, but we like it when he shoots the gap, and he’s quick enough to do that.”
Sean Selinger and Gaillot split time making defensive calls on the field last year. Selinger graduated in the spring, and Gaillot will now have more responsibility in that area.
“He will be the one to make sure we’re in the right defense and it’s a lot to put on a kid’s shoulders, but Dawson works his tail off and has an incredible work ethic,” Durand said. “He is a force on defense.”
“It’s not new to me, and I like having that responsibility,” said Gaillot, who said he watches film of Freeport’s upcoming opponent every day leading up to the game.
“I pay a lot of attention to the guards,” he said. “You can tell a lot of what a team is trying to do by what their guards do at the start of a play.”
Troutman and Gaillot are leaders of a unit that will have no shortage of playmakers at all three levels.
“I think we’re going to be better on defense than we were last year,” Troutman said. “I think defense will be the strongest aspect of our team.”
That’s a bold statement, considering the offense returns stars Drew Ross at quarterback and Amos Glenn at running back.
“Our motto is ‘Eleven to the ball,’” Troutman said. ”The closer you are to the ball when the play ends shows how dedicated you are.“
