James Clemens Football 2017
MADISON- In 2016, the James Clemens Jets posted an overall record of 8-4 and a second-round playoff appearance. The team showed true character after losing its first two games of the season and roaring back to the playoffs. Head coach Wade Waldrop sees the same type of team in 2017. He added, “We’ve been down this road before. With the return of Devon Atkinson at running back and making a couple key personnel moves along with utilizing the experience we do have returning, I look to this team to carry on our standards.”
Entering his fifth season as head coach, Waldrop is looking to replace three major players of a year ago in LaBryan Ray, Kyriq McDonald and Monty Rice, all major SEC recruits, and seven of eight in the front line. He and his coaching staff have been down this road before and the work the coaches and players have put in has not changed the expectations of this year’s team.
“Our program has standards we expect our entire team to adhere to and those expectations,” said Waldrop.
Despite losses to graduation, the Jets return five starters on both offense and defense. The one major factor of concern who will be the starting quarterback after returning starter Jamil Muhammad went down with a season-ending knee injury during the off-season. The battle for the position is between Chris Baker (So., 5-9, 175), Connor Cantrell (Fr., 5-9, 170) and Jackson Reese (Jr., 6-1, 175). The offense will have lots of experience returning in other positions including running back Devon Atkinson (Sr., 5-9, 185) who did not play a season ago due to a knee injury of his own. The super-talented running back was an All-State selection as a sophomore and looks to be back to his old form. He’ll have help from Cameron Cassidy (Sr., 5-8, 150), Austin McGhee (Jr., 5-10, 170) and an array of wide receivers of Kylen Swoope (Sr., 5-9, 165), Nolan Smith (Sr., 6-1, 175) and Trevor Hunziker (Jr., 6-5, 185). Waldrop said, “We have eight guys who can do the same thing for us at wide out.”
“It’s looking as though we will have a good shot at being successful offensively as we have the same mentality, same intensity no matter who our quarterback is,” said Cameron Farley, center (Sr., 5-9, 230). “We have a new offensive coordinator, which will mean new opportunities to spread out the offense and give new guys the ball and making things happen.”
The James Clemens defense will be anchored by the player many consider to be the best player on the field who has enormous talent and has been offered scholarships from a bevy of colleges including most schools from the Southeastern Conference. Defensive tackle Daevion Davis, who, at 6-2, 185, will certainly draw the attention of many would-be blockers.
“I think the confidence level left over from last season is higher,” said Davis. “Our tempo has been up and I feel we’ve sort of set the expectations higher than in the past. A state championship is our goal. We also look forward to beating Bob Jones for the first time.”
One area Waldrop said must improve is the kicking game, particularly field goal kicking. “We must be able to make some kicks especially against the schedule we are facing,” added Waldrop. The kicking duties will be handled by 2016 All-State punter selection Brody Droppleman (Sr., 5-9, 170). He also will take the responsibilities of all place kicking. Waldrop said Droppleman has a Division I leg and great work ethic, but needs to give the team a boost with plenty of leg in field goal attempts.
