Injury concerns for James Clemens and Bob Jones as practice starts
James Clemens Brody Collier, Head Coach Wade Waldrop, Jeremy Garth at FCS Media Day (Record Photo/Lindsay Vaught)
MADISON- This isn’t the way James Clemens Head Football Coach Wade Waldrop wanted to begin the season, talking about a major injury before the first practice even happened.
Sunday at FCA Media Days, he revealed that returning running back Devon Atkinson is lost for the season with a knee injury suffered while practicing for a 7 on 7 passing tournament. Atkinson, a junior, was a large part of the Jets offense last season with 1,360 rushing yards on 212 carries and 10 touchdowns.
“Devon suffered an ACL injury about 3 weeks ago. He was playing pickup 7 on 7 and tore his knee. He had surgery two weeks ago and should be ready to go in January. He ran hard and got tough yards. We are going to miss his experience. It’s like we are starting out again.”
Tenth grader Austin McGee will pick up the load. Waldrop said he has two other guys he wants to evaluate.
The quarterback position is still undecided between Jackson Nowlin and Jamil Muhammed. The only thing certain about it is whoever gets the nod will be starting his first varsity football game.
Waldrop still has plenty of talent to lean on as he begins his fourth season. The Jets will get about two and half weeks of practice before a jamboree game at Decatur on August 18, then they open at Gardendale on August 26.
“I love it when our players get after each other,” Waldrop said. “There comes a point when you have competitive players banging on each other it gets old. The way the practice rules are set up now with alternating days of contact you blink and we’ll be playing Decatur. We don’t have a lot of time to get some questions answered.”
James Clemens had Spain Park on the ropes last year in a second round playoff game but could not close it out and Spain Park scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to come back and win.
“I like the mentality of this team because they have been in big games the last three years. I have a confidence and calmness about how they will handle the big moments.”
Meanwhile over at Bob Jones, head coach Kevin Rose has injury concerns of his own. Starting left tackle Kendall Randolph has not been cleared for contact after a four wheeler accident this summer left him with a injured wrist. He is still wearing a soft cast.
Rose said he may not be cleared until the week of the first game against Dorman HS on August 19.
Randolph can go through non-contact drills but he has not been able to lift weights. He injured his shoulder labrum in the spring and has recovered from that.
“We just got to get him healthy,” Rose said.
