Emmanuel Kelly, playing defense, jams a wide receiver during practice. Kelly was called into action to prevent the receiver from running downfield unchecked.
Alex Waters (72) gets a visit from Luke Howell (center) and Derrick Davis, last year seniors.
Brook Chapman (25) and Quez Nesbitt (20), starters in the offensive backfield, will participate in their first spring practice Monday. They are members of Greer's relay team competing in the state track and field championships Saturday in Columbia.
Players await their cue to get into some contact during spring practice at Greer High School.
“Every day this week has been great and the intensity high,” Connor Merrell offensive lineman, said. “We’re looking to do the same next week and keep improving.”
As seniors depart, teams take on a new personality in spring practice. The 2012 edition of the Greer Yellow Jackets have stamped intensity as their signature character trait. “This is the last day of the last day (May 10) of spring practice we will ever have,” John Hicks, senior linebacker, said. “I have noticed more intensity and a difference from last year.”
“It’s different this year because we know what we have to do and we’ve put so much into this season already in the weight room,” Alex Waters, offensive lineman, said. “We (seniors) have talked about what we have to do this year and we think we can be a pretty good team and have a great season.”
As Waters and Hicks were sitting outside, waiting for the locker room to clear before they entered this evening, they talked about the difference this team has in developing leadership. “Last year Reese (quarterback Reese Hannon) was the leader and did a great job,” Waters said.
“We’ve got to be aggressive and show the new kids what to do to play Greer football,” senior linebacker John Hicks said.
“When you lose a guy like Reese (the leadership) has to come from somewhere else,” Greer Head Coach Will Young said. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be a senior. It can be anybody.”
Young has enjoyed the practices, so much so that he is all but an extra lineman wanting in on the action during contact drills. Three times Thursday Young fell or was shrugged to the ground by the momentum of the players he was trying to grab.
“I think the players really look forward to (practice). I know I do. They have given good effort, enthusiasm and intensity,” Young said.
Waters saw some playing time on defense today giving Young an opportunity to tease him. “We teach him everything he knows and then the defense takes him away from us,” Young chided Waters.
Waters, a quiet person with an intimidating physique, smiled amusingly at Young’s remarks.
The intensity has captured the enthusiasm of the young players, too. “It’s a lot of fun at practice,” said Jackson Tipton, a rising sophomore playing in the secondary. Scratch marks on Tipton’s neck, bruises and a new jersey already torn at the shoulders, was evidence of the physical nature of the practices.
THE BIG E: Emmanuel Kelly, a rising junior, wasn’t even on the varsity roster early last year. The defensive/offensive back virtually took over jayvee games running the ball last year. Kelly is one of the premier athletes on the team. During Thursday’s contact drills he was almost unstoppable running through and around his teammates. “I always try to be physical,” Kelly said.
Kelly’s value is multi-faceted. He can play all backfield positions and has run some plays at quarterback this spring. He also plays in the defensive secondary.
SPEAKING OF QUARTERBACK: Replacing Reese Hannon at quarterback has led to one of the more interesting battles this spring. Josh Gentry, Jonathan Atkins and Kelly are getting snaps. Gentry also played at wide receiver last year, Atkins saw sporadic action backing up Gentry and Kelly adds an interesting dimension.
FULL HOUSE: As interesting as practice was this week, the return of what teammates call “The Speed Squad” will practice Monday. Brook Chapman (running back) and Quez Nesbitt (running back), both scheduled starters, are participating in the state track meet finals today. Chapman’s power and speed will complement the speedy Nesbitt who gained over 1,000 yard last year as a sophomore.
STAR GAZING: There was a who’s who of former Greer football players watching the first day of contact Thursday. Josh Rumsey, Derrick Davis, Luke Howell, Jon Redmon and Reese Hannon played last year. Matt Rochester (2011) a rising sophomore at North Greenville University and Mario Sanders (2010), a redshirt sophomore at Duke attended.
SPRING GAME: The spring game is next Friday, May 18, at 6 p.m. at Dooley Field. Senior captains held a draft to choose teams in the past.
GREER-BYRNES ALUMNI GAME CANCELLED: The alumni game between Greer and Byrnes, played last year a day after the spring game, has been cancelled. Greer won last year’s game led by Greer coaches Mazzie Drummond and Erie Williams.