GAINESVILLE -- There's no use in dancing around it -- Deshaun Watson is gone.<br />
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But Gainesville is just itching to show that the record-setting quarterback didn't take the program's winning ways with him.<br />
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In fact, the Red Elephants feel pretty confident about the group of players set to take the field in 2014, including Watson's replacement in senior signal-caller Mikey Gonzalez.<br />
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"Mikey really has shown he's our man this offseason," Gainesville coach Bruce Miller said. <br />
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After biding his time behind Watson, Gonzalez -- who got plenty of game-time in Gainesville's big wins of the last three years (he threw for 686 yards and 10 TDs against just 1 interception, while completing 68 percent of his passes in 2013) -- will now take the helm. <br />
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"You can't replace Deshaun, but Mikey does a great job getting the ball where it needs to go and seeing where our playmakers are, and everyone believes in him and respects him," Miller said.<br />
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Gonzalez will have plenty of game-breakers flanking him this season.<br />
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Despite graduating standouts Jay Gaudlock (94 receptions in 2013) and Chastin Newman (44 receptions), the Red Elephants still possess speedy and athletic pass catchers in Rodney Lackey (59 receptions, 807 yards, 12 TDs), Chris Williamson (24 receptions, 341 yards, 6 TDs), Mesiah Dorsey and Toddrick Turner. Meanwhile, senior running back Michael Byrd (1,003 yards rushing, 13 TDs/627 yards receiving, 4 TDs) is capable of dominant performances.<br />
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Gainesville also returns three of five starters on the offensive line, which should only help Gonzalez settle in as the man at quarterback.<br />
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The defense also lost its signal caller of sorts from last season, as standout linebacker Devan Stringer (152 tackles) graduated, along with the playmaking Dukes brothers (Brenquese and Brenquez). Yet the cupboard is far from bare at the position this season, with leading tackler JD Sosebee (179 tackles) returning for his senior season, along with versatile junior Chris Byrd moving to linebacker from the secondary.<br />
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"We could play Chris anywhere on the field; he's just a pure football player," Miller said.<br />
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Three-year starter Lewis Cousins will lead the secondary in 2014, while Kash Jones and Jamel Dabney anchor a defensive line that will be just as active as in years past -- if not more so under new defensive coordinator Wayne Jones.<br />
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A longtime assistant promoted to the role after highly-regarded coordinator Jim Pavao left to take the head coaching job at Fannin County, Jones will continue to bring the heat on opposing quarterbacks. Former Gainesville player and head coach Steve Wilson also re-joined the program in the offseason to take over coaching linebackers.<br />
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Special teams will also feature some new faces, including at placekicker, where Gainesville will replace a true weapon in Gage Turner -- a battle which could last into the opening game.<br />
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"The kids just adjust and go on," Miller said. "Part of high school football is plugging new people in, and these kids show up to practice every day and may be the hardest working group we've had."<br />
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Certainly they are a group used to winning. In fact, the Red Elephants are coming off the most successful six-year period in program history, including 72 wins, a state championship, state runner-up and two more state semifinal appearances.<br />
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"They know what it is to be successful; they know what it takes," Miller said. "And that's big. In fact it's gotten to the point where our kids only want to play in big games -- and the bigger the game, the better they play."<br />
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That could prove key in a Region 8-AAAAA that added an athletic and talented Lanier program to a line-up that already included arch-rival Flowery Branch, always-talented Clarke Central and a fast-improving Heritage (Conyers). <br />
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"We've just got to stay healthy," Miller said. "We're asking some kids to play both ways for the first time in a few years this season, so depth could be key for us."<br />
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As for those starters, however -- Gainesville feels they will be more than fine.
