COMMERCE — Scott Wilkins is no stranger to building a successful high school football program -- he won 108 games in 16 seasons at Cedar Shoals and reached the 1995 Class AAA championship game.
So despite recently becoming the third head coach in three seasons for East Jackson, Wilkins brushed off any suggestion that the Eagles will once again be in full-fledged rebuild mode. (Wilkins was an assistant for the Eagles last season under Christian Hunnicutt, who left to take the job at defending Class AAAAAAA state champion Grayson.)
The Eagles did graduate plenty of talent from last year's team that won more games than the previous three seasons combined, going 4-6 -- the 11-year-old program's best record since its sole state playoff berth in 2009.
In fact, East Jackson must replace its entire starting linebacker group, as well as two-year starting quarterback Josh Adair. But an experienced defensive line, led by seniors Steve Hill, Hunter Cronier, and Derrick Valenzuela and sophomore Xavier Melton, should help offset the Eagles' losses on that side of the ball.
Meanwhile, sophomore Hunter Hardwick will take the reins of the offense after taking just a handful of snaps in 2016. Another sophomore, Caleb Adair, and senior Kentay Rakestraw could provide a potent backfield combination. Hardwick will also have a pair of talented receivers in senior Kobe Haley -- who led Eagles basketball in scoring last season -- and junior Marcus Wingfield as targets.
"We'll be young at a lot of positions, but those guys saw a lot of action last year, and we have some other talented younger players ready to step up," Wilkins said. "The kids that are back tasted some success last year and they are eager to build on that. We're coming in with high expectations.
"Kobe Haley could be a guy that has breakout potential. He is a tremendous athlete. Kentay and Caleb both can do multiple things."
The Eagles open region play with three consecutive home dates, but that includes defending region champ Morgan County. They will finish with three straight road gmes, including region foes Jackson County and Hart County.
"The schedule is tough but if we continue to improve and play within ourselves and focus on what we do, I think we have the potential to challenge for a playoff spot," Wilkins said.
EAST JACKSON: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Eagles
- TEAM COLORS: Silver and Navy blue
- CURRENT REGION: 8-AAA
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Scott Wilkins, first season (108-68-1 in 16 years at Cedar Shoals)
- 2016 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 4-6
- KEY LOSSES: WR Sanquan Niles, QB Josh Adair, OL Conner Beauchamp, OL Jeremy Wilder, CB Zeke Upadyay, LB Cody Parr, LB Nathan Elrod, LB Conor Smith, PK/P Ronan Veal
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Spread -- The Eagles will look for balance but will dictate game plans based on what opposing defenses give them.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 5 returning starters -- Sr. OL Hunter Cronier, Sr. OL Jackson Patterson, Sr. OL Steve Hill, So. RB Caleb Adair, Sr. RB/WR Kentay Rakestraw, So. QB Hunter Hardwick, Sr. WR Kobe Haley, Jr. RB/WR Marcus Wingfield
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: 3-4 -- East Jackson is changing from the shade weak 50 base, which should fit with its personnel.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 2 returning starters -- Sr. LB Cody Robinson, Sr. LB Brandon Lumpkin, Sr. DE Steve Hill, Sr. DE Hunter Cronier, Fr. LB Asa Callow, So. DL Xavier Melton, Sr. DL Derrick Valenzuela, Sr. Saf Noah Murphy, Sr. LB Jacob Maxwell (moved from RB)
- SPECIAL TEAMS: Jr. PK Andrew Bosqueac, Sr. P Kobe Haley, Sr. KR/PR Kentay Rakestraw, Jr. KR/PR Marcus Wingfield, So. KR/PR Caleb Adair
- STRENGTH: Lines of scrimmage -- An experienced group on both sides of the trenches will need to lead a young crop of skilled players in the early going.
- QUESTION: Youth/inexperience -- How quickly the newcomers get up to the speed of the varsity game may determine the Eagles' success in 2017.
- KEY GAMES: Getting a quick start could be important, as the Eagles break in some new players and schemes against a mixed bag of opponents. Hebron Christian (Aug. 18, home) was a first round playoff team in Class A Public; Oglethorpe County (Sept. 8, home) went winless in 2016; Glynn Academy (Sept. 15, away) was a Class AAAAAA quarterfinalist. The Eagles do play five of their first seven at home, including their first three 8-AAA contests, and Wilkins said that could help build some confidence if they can secure some wins. However, they finish with three consecutve region road games.
- TRENDING: The Eagles put together one of the best turnarounds of any team in northeast Georgia in 2016 with more wins last year (4) than in their previous four seasons (3) combined. And you would think with their third head coach in three seasons they may in for another rebuild. Not so. Wilkins, who knows how to build a winning program, said he expected few transition issues and feels with some early success they could be ready to challenge for a playoff spot.They will be young but talented.
2017 SCHEDULE
Aug. 18 vs. Hebron Christian Academy
Aug. 25 at Lakeview Academy
Sept. 8 vs. Oglethorpe County
Sept. 15 at Glynn Academy
Sept. 29 vs. *Morgan County
Oct. 6 vs. *Monroe Area
Oct. 13 vs. *Franklin County
Oct. 20 at Haralson County
Oct. 27 at. *Jackson County
Nov. 3 at *Hart County
*- Indicates region game
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
