COMMERCE — For the first time since 2015 East Jackson football will sport the same head coach for a second consecutive season. Continuity has been an issue for the Eagles, as they have had five coaches going on their 12th season as a program.
Coach Scott Wilkins thinks his group may be ready to turn the corner, however, despite just seven senors on the roster. They went through some addition-by-subtraction since the beginning of the 2017 season and have a roster that is fully committed to what Wilkins' staff is trying to accomplish.
Despite the youth, many of those underclassmen have logged plenty of varsity minutes over the past two seasons and, according to Wilkins, have caught up to the speed and level of understanding how to be successful at the varsity level.
East Jackson has talent at the skilled positions on offense, led by three-year starter in senior running back Caleb Adair. Sophomore receiver R.J. White will give junior quarterback Hunter Hardwick a solid, speedy target. However, Hardwick, who is talented, has yet to play a varsity down. Hardwick was slated as the starter in 2017 but was injured before the opener and missed the entire season.
Good news is the strength of the team will be up front where the Eagles feature six returning linemen, led by seniors Dakota Norris and Collin Hatcher and junior Bradley Akin.
East Jackson faces a navigable non-region slate before beginning a tough path through Region 8-3A, including preseason favorites Jefferson and Monroe Area to open region play.
EAST JACKSON: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Eagles
- TEAM COLORS: Silver and Navy blue
- CURRENT REGION: 8-3A
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Scott Wilkins, second season, 1-8
- 2017 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 1-8
- KEY LOSSES: OL/DE Hunter Cronier, OL Jackson Patterson, OL/DE Steve Hill, LB Brandon Lumpkin, LB Derrick Valenzuela
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Pro spread -- The Eagles will look for balance and will have talented RB Caleb Adair running behind an experienced and deep OL.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 4 returning starters -- Sr. RB Caleb Adair, Jr. QB Hunter Hardwick, So. WR R.J. White, Sr. OL Dakota Norris, Jr. OL Bradley Akin, Sr. OL Collin Hatcher
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: 3-4 -- East Jackson will stay in its shade weak 50 base from last season, which should fit with its personnel.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 2 returning starters -- Jr. LB Jackson Nelms, Jr. DL Jarrett Pursley, Sr. DB Caleb Adair, So. CB R.J. White, Jr. DL Cole Dowdy, Sr. DB Josh Barnum,
- SPECIAL TEAMS: Sr. PK Andrew Bosqueac, Jr. KR/PR Caleb Adair, punting duties undecided as of publication time
- STRENGTH: Chemistry/OL -- This group has come through the changes of the last few years and has begun to gel despite just seven seniors on the roster. Coach Wilkins said it is the most tight-knit unit in his three seasons (he was an assistant before taking over as head coach) and also feels they have a better grasp of what he wants in their second year together. The Eagles also return six lettermen on the OL that are both experienced and talented as a group.
- QUESTION: Depth/overall inexperience -- The numbers actually dropped from last year, hurting their overall depth, but that was mainly due to weeding out players that did not buy into what Wilkins and the staff preached. Hardwick is talented and was slated as the starter at QB in 2017, but he did not play a varsity down after being injured before the season opener. Several other positions on the roster also will be inexperienced.
- KEY GAMES: Wilkins said getting off to a solid start in non-region play is important for moving the program forward. The Eagles have some winnable games early but also face Banks County (Sept. 7, away) and Madison County (Sept. 14, home) heading into region play. Three straight home region games in the midde of the season could be the key if East Jackson wants to make a run at the playoffs. However, the Eagles open 8-3A play against Jefferson (Sept. 21) and Monroe Area (Sept. 28), the two teams picked by many to win the region.
- TRENDING: The numbers are slightly down but Wilkins said things could be turning the corner nonetheless. Though only seven seniors are on the roster they have been solid leaders as the Eagles are still a very young team overall. Many current sophomores and juniors have logged plenty of varsity time over the last couple of seasons and may be ready to take that next step and buck a trend that has seen East Jackson produce just one winning season in its short history (2009).
2018 SCHEDULE
Aug. 17 vs. Lumpkin County
Aug. 31 at Oglethorpe County
Sept. 7 at Banks County
Sept. 14 vs. Madison County
Sept. 21 at *Jefferson
Sept. 28 vs. *Monroe Area
Oct. 12 vs. *Franklin County
Oct. 19 vs. *Hart County
Oct. 26 at. *Morgan County
Nov. 2 at *Jackson County
*- Indicates region game
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
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