The Gridiron Warrior Podcast | “Return to Play Inside Practice, Not Away From It” with Coach Logan Tomlinson

In this episode, I sit down with Coach Logan Tomlinson from Carson-Newman University to break down how he handles return-to-play when you don’t have a massive staff.

We talk what to do with injured athletes during practice, how to rebuild confidence instead of just tissue, and why total volume, time on feet, and progressive exposure matter more than sitting guys on the sideline doing nothing.

If you’re a high school or small-college coach wearing multiple hats, this one is extremely practical.

👇 Timestamps

00:00 – What the Gridiron Warrior Podcast is about

03:30 – Introducing Coach Logan Tomlinson

05:30 – Why return-to-play should happen during practice

07:45 – Building simple RTP systems when staff is limited

10:15 – Walk–jog circuits and rebuilding time on feet

11:45 – The stoplight system (red, yellow, green) explained

14:45 – Using total distance and sprint volume to guide RTP

18:15 – Why doing nothing is the worst rehab plan

22:45 – Layering speed, cuts, and reactivity back in

26:15 – Confidence as the real limiter in late-stage rehab

27:30 – End-stage hamstring rehab and fly sprint progressions

33:00 – What high school coaches can do when they’re alone

38:30 – Recovery myths that grind Logan’s gears

42:30 – Why Logan loves coaching and the profession

47:30 – Where to find Coach Tomlinson

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