STARKVILLE — The memories of losing five of six games by a touchdown or less doesn”t go away easily.
Losing 23 seniors from a breakout season is another thing.
Starkville High School”s 2010 football team was arguably the most improved football team in the area, finishing 5-6 and beating West Point and Tupelo to start the season 5-2.
Three of the Yellow Jackets” four losses to end the season came by a combined seven points. Two losses came on the final play of the game. The other came in the final 30 seconds.
Older players might be able to handle the disappointment better and realize the team took a step forward under first-year coach Jamie Mitchell.
Younger players who watched the program go 4-8 and 3-8 in 2009 and ”08, respectively, might not channel it the same way.
That”s just one of the challenges Mitchell faces in spring practice, which opens Monday for area high schools.
“We were so competitive and in every one of our games except for the (South) Panola game,” Mitchell said. “That”s what we have to understand about where we are. Two or three years prior to that, it just got to where Starkville was getting beat soundly. I”ve always said, you got to learn how to be in games before you can learn how to win games. We accomplished that last year.
“I”ve always said this, kids” memories are a lot shorter than coaches, and they”re far more resilient than coaches. They get up the next day and are ready to move on.”
Starkville has just 13 seniors on its spring roster, but most of them weren”t starters last season.
The Yellow Jackets lose quarterback Jaquez Johnson, The Dispatch”s 2010 Large Schools All-Area Offensive Player of the Year. Johnson had the best season of his career last year, compiling more than 2,000 yards offense and 31 touchdowns. He even contributed on defense, with 40 tackles, three interceptions, and two sacks.
Starkville also loses starting offensive linemen Ben Newman, Jarrod Atterberry, and Chris Prater. Atterberry signed with East Mississippi Community College, while Prater signed with Louisiana-Lafayette this spring.
The Yellow Jackets” two top running backs, Garrett Smith and Jakarta Agnew, also will graduate in May.
Leading tackler DJ Jordan, who posted 88 tackles and nine for a loss, is graduating, too.
“I told somebody today, it”s probably the most important spring I think we”re gonna have and that I”ve had for a long time because of the number of players we”ve lost,” Mitchell said. “So many jobs are open and evaluation is going to be the key term for us. We”ve got to do an awesome job because there are jobs open on both sides of the ball.
“Hopefully we”ll get the pieces to fit and will know who those guys are in three weeks.”
Replacing Johnson at quarterback is a top priority. Mitchell said rising junior Gabe Myles is the front-runner entering the spring. Sophomore Preston Jones and senior Michael Newman also are in the mix, but Mitchell said Myles will receive the lion”s share of the repetitions this spring.
Myles, though, is coming off an injury-shortened season after breaking his collarbone against Meridian in Week 3. He is quicker to the perimeter than Johnson, who was a physical, inside runner.
Without many repetitions with the receivers, which include Eddie Brown and Kentrell Spencer, Myles” running ability will be even more valuable, Mitchell said.
“When he got hurt last year we were very, very high on him,” Mitchell said. “It was so disappointing because that was the third game of the year. Even though he was playing wideout, we just didn”t get the chance to see what we thought was there. Going into the spring, there”s still a lot of questions. Hopefully, we”re right in our early evaluation and he”ll come out this spring and be big.”
At linebacker, junior Devin Mitchell looks to step into the shoes Jordan filled the past two years. He was the second-leading tackler with 69 and two for a loss. He also split time with Agnew at fullback.
Coach Mitchell said he has to “be the man” this spring.
“He showed so much promise on both sides of the ball and is a phenomenal kid with a great attitude,” Mitchell said. “He”s played baseball, so we”ve missed him in the weight room the second part of the offseason. We”re hoping he”ll get back in here and be ready to have a great spring and summer.”
Offensive line is another concern considering the inexperience at quarterback.
Mitchell said upcoming senior Murphy Buckner is the leading candidate to take over at center, while sophomores Kyle Jones and Justin Ware should push for time at guard with returning senior Kelvin Young.
Returning starters Jawon Johnson and Eric Rogers are the most experienced returning linemen.
“Not a lot of seniors mentioned in that group, but the young guys, we”re excited about them,” Mitchell said.
Starkville plays its spring game at Columbus on May 12. A time has yet to be determined.
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