By Shawn Wansley, JCJC Sports Information Director
August 19, 2008 10:21 am
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It’s a given in junior college football circles a team will change its makeup each and ever year.
The Jones County Junior College Bobcats lost some talented defensive linemen off of last year’s 9-2 squad, but head coach Eddie Pierce is satisfied with the way this year’s group has performed in preseason workouts.
“I am really happy with the way all of the kids have been working,” said Pierce, who also serves as the JCJC defensive line coach. “I have no complaints. Now, we were a little sluggish in a scrimmage we had (Wednesday, Aug. 13), but they are doing quite well and they are working hard.
“They have no choice. They have to get after it.”
The Bobcats lost such stalwarts as defensive ends Jeremiah Price, who signed with Oklahoma State, and Eugene Sims, who inked with West Texas A&M, off of last year’s MACJC and South Division runnerup team.
But, they do return some experience.
Sophomore Riley Flowers (6-2, 270) out of Geneva, Ala., and sophomore Darrion Wilson (6-3, 212) out of Wakulla High School in Crawfordville, Fla., will be the starting ends, while sophomore Joshua Stephens (6-0, 284) out of Heidelberg will be at one tackle slot. The other tackle position will be manned by freshman Caleb McQueen (6-0, 280) out of St. Stanislaus High School in Bay St. Louis.
Wilson was in on 61 tackles, had three sacks and returned a pass interception for a touchdown last season. Flowers had 37 tackles and two sacks last year, while Stephens had 32 tackles. McQueen had a knee injury and sat out the entire 2007 season.
“Flowers and Stephens both played a lot and started at different times last year,” said Pierce. “McQueen was hurt and Wilson was at linebacker for us last year. We have moved him to an end and he is doing a pretty job with that.”
“I think we’ve got a solid core of guys who played last year and they are doing a pretty good job of leading this football team at this point.”
Inexperience in the backup slots does concern Pierce, as three of the four reserves are true freshmen.
Laurel sophomore William Veasley (6-1, 237) will be at an end slot and has the only experience of the backups. Freshman Tyrunn Walker (6-5, 270) out of Westgate High School in New Iberia, La., will be the other end. The reserve tackles are Laurel freshman Robbie Mayers (6-1, 295) and Collins’ freshman Paul Clark (5-11, 296).
“We are a little thin on the defensive front,” said Pierce. “We have those true freshmen and you never know what you have with those guys. But, I am excited about them. I think we can have a pretty good rotation out of those eight players.”
Quitman freshman Chris Walker (5-11, 298) is also a reserve lineman.
One thing that has impressed Pierce is the athleticism of his group.
“That front four is pretty athletic,” he said. “And Tyrunn was the (Louisiana) 5A Most Valuable Player of the Year in basketball. It’s just a matter of them getting in the games and making it happen.
“That defensive line we had last year was pretty good. We had one go to Oklahoma State and one go to West Texas A&M. They all could have gone somewhere if they wanted to go. So, these kids this year have some big shoes to fill, but I think they will fill them. I am proud of them.”
While Pierce deals mostly with the defensive line, he has high praise for the way the entire Bobcat team has practiced in preseason.
“I am proud of the way the whole group – offense and defense – has worked. They have tried to do what we have asked them to do and that’s all we can ask for at this point. I am very pleased with how they have been working.”
The Bobcats, ranked No. 7 in the NJCAA/JCfootball.com preseason poll, open the season at home at 7 p.m. on Aug. 28 against the No. 20 Itawamba Community College Indians. The game can be heard on WGDQ-FM 93.1 and on the internet at www.jcjc.edu
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