VALDOSTA — After a 1-9 season in 2006, there was much work to be done this offseason for Valdosta High’s football team.
After two weeks of spring practice, Valdosta head coach Rick Tomberlin isn’t ready to proclaim his team one of the state’s best just yet. But he says the Wildcats are on the right track.
“I thought the spring went real well,” Tomberlin said. “We got after it. It was a real aggressive spring. We’ve been more physical than we were last year. There were a lot of positives.
“There’s still a lot of work to do, and we still have to get better in some areas. But that will come.”
Spring practice ended for Valdosta with the annual spring game. The players and the coaching staff were split up into two teams, and those teams played to an 8-8 tie. Curtis Weatherspoon caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Tavaris Belcher, and Marcus McNair scored on a 25-yard run.
The team will take three weeks off, finish the semester, then begin summer workouts on June 11.
Tomberlin said one thing the Wildcats needed to do in the offseason was get in the weight room and get bigger, faster and stronger. Valdosta hit the weights, won the state weightlifting championship, and Tomberlin hopes that helps the team improve this season.
Tomberlin mentioned a number of players he thought had good springs.
“(Running back) David Arnold’s been looking real good,” Tomberlin said. “(Receiver) Pernell Bee looked good until he got hurt. (Linebacker) Young Roberson’s looked good on defense. (Defensive end) Chuckie Alford’s had a real good spring. (Defensive end) Jamaal Hunter has done well. (Safety) Mike Gilliard’s looking great. Marcus Ewings has played well at tight end, and we’re also working him at receiver. Three young running backs I like are Vashun Johnson, Brian Anderson and St. Gerard. (Running back) Marcus McNair is working hard, and we expect a lot out of him. Allen Scruggs is looking good at center. (Tight end) Jay Rome is an eighth grader that looks great for a player his age. A lot of people are battling and fighting, and being physical.
“One of the things we wanted to do is evaluate our players, and find out who our (better) players are. Who can block, who can tackle, who can run to the ball? Who can we count on to get out there and play? Who will the collision people be? We’re learning those things.”
Valdosta was also helped by adding transfers. Arnold, a two-time All-Region running back at Cook, found himself a Wildcat after he and his mother moved to Valdosta. St. Gerard, another running back, and Bee, a tall wide receiver, moved in from Florida.
“We have some move-ins that I think will help us,” Tomberlin said.
In the fall, Valdosta will return only four starters on offense, but will also bring back 10 of its top 12 defenders. Michael Turner will be only the second four-year starter at quarterback in the team’s history. On the other side of the ball, Hunter will be a third-year starter, as will linebacker Curtis Weatherspoon, who could also see time on offense.
The biggest question mark for the Wildcats will be the offensive line. They graduated four starters off the line, including South Florida signee Lawrence McCoy and All-Region center Alex Hall. Right guard Chris Daniels is the lone returning starter in the trenches.
“We’re going to be young on the offensive line,” Tomberlin admitted. “But I like this group that we’ve got. We’ve got a good group of kids. They are young, but they’re going to get better. They’re working, and they’re learning. There’s a lot of character there, and a lot of toughness.”
Another big question mark will be the kicking game. Last year’s kicker and punter are graduating, so Valdosta is trying to find their replacements. Newcomers Lawrence Claggett and Bryce France have joined holdovers John Mark Stephenson and Raphael Duncan in battling for the two positions.
“We’re working some kids there, and hopefully one will step forward and do the job for us,” Tomberlin said.
Tomberlin is also enthused about the number of players who came out for spring football. Including the rising freshmen and the 18 ineligible players in study hall, the Wildcats currently have 160 players on their roster.
Overall, Tomberlin is optimistic about the fall season.
“I think we’re going to be all right,” he said.
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