By Leland Burch
Some things never change, even after 87-years. Those are the questions to be answered in pre-season drills about Greer High’s latest football team.
When the 2008 model ramps up to full production later this week, Coach Will Young will begin to get some answers, including which senior will grab the key position on the team, quarterback. “One of those two kids, Josh Wilson or Efferlan Williams (a transfer from Maryland), has got to step up”, Young declares.
Another area of concern is the offensive line which, at times, gave Taylor Johnson precious little time to throw the ball last season. “This is where we need to make our greatest improvement. We’ve got to get better blocking”, Young insists.
This responsibility will rest squarely with Young who returns to coaching the offensive line after coordinating the defense last season. Andrew Yarborough and Kenneth Ramey have switched roles, from center to guard, and an impressive off-season by Brett Claycamp gives the Jackets three senior veterans on the forward wall. “All these kids took their lumps last year, but I think we’re starting out with five pretty good ones”, Young says.
Former head coach Travis Perry returns as defensive coordinator, and Young believes “the defense will be in good shape. Although we graduated one linebacker in Todd Samuel, we have three returning in Douglas Mack, Zach Shaffer, and William Sells.”, he notes.
The Jackets also graduated their top defensive back, Timmey Massey, at safety, but Young points out that Denario Johnson is our most improved player overall and should step right into the position.”
Another loss was Brian Meadows at defensive end. But Dennis Kiff returns along with Brian Boustemonte and Mario Sanders who are in the mix for a starting slot.
“We expect our defensive line to be a little bigger with the addition of
Darius Murray and Eric Campbell who both had a good off season”, he says.
The Jackets capped summer work with a three-day mini camp last week, “and it went really well”, Young said. “Most of the kids got in their assigned number of workouts over the summer.
The only downer was the final seven-on-seven passing scrimmage on Thursday with Pickens that did not materialize, Young said, “ because of miss communication”.
Young expects 78 candidates for the varsity and jayvees to report Thursday at 7 p.m. for a team meeting.
Rebuilding last year, there were a number of freshmen on the roster but only four have been invited to compete at the jayvee-varsity level this season. They are center Josh Rumsey, quarterback Reese Hannon, linebacker Adam Aching and wide receiver Josh Roland.
The first pre-season practice is set for Friday from 7 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. “That may appear to be a long time, but there will be a lot of breaks mixed in”, he notes.
After three days in light gear, the Jackets will begin hitting in full pads next Tuesday. Concluding the first week of full drills will be a scrimmage at 4-A powerhouse Gaffney next Friday, August 8th. at 6 p.m.
About 65-70 players are expected to try out for the C team beginning the week of August 11-15.
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