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Head Coach Will Young spoke with yellowjacketsports.net after the Black and Gold game and gave us his thoughts on spring practice on both sides of the football, as well as a breakdown at each position.

YJSN: Let’s start with a breakdown of the offensive line. Coming out of spring practice, how do you feel about the big guys up front?

Coach Young: The biggest thing out of the spring with this group is we have developed another center. We are probably still going to make some moves and put guys in different spots. Overall as a group, not bad at all, our left guard Justin McKittrick has tremendous speed and with all the pulling we do that helps a great deal. We are fortunate to have a couple veterans with Matthew Rochester playing his third year as a starter, Kenneth Ramey his fourth year and Josh Rumsey seeing a lot of playing time last year. Obviously we will mix in youth in positions, but we are continuing to work on our depth at each position.

YJSN: How is the wide receiver position looking after loss of 3 starters?

Coach Young: I feel pretty good about this group with Quadrick Mack being with us for a while. He has makes great plays and gives a lot of effort. Ricky Britt is a speed guy that can stretch the field and a threat to score with the ball in his hands. We seem to overall be more athletic, more size and quicker at this position. This is one position that is young but they are good athletes and working hard everyday.

YJSN: We know that Dominique Parks is the star in the back field at running back. Last season he had a couple of guys that would allow him to get a break and really played well…especially Jonathan Winter.

Coach Young: Dominique is the man and we do not think we have any questions there because we know what he brings to our football team offensively and how explosive he can be in the back field. Jonathan provided us with some great carries last year and continues to improve every day. We have some good looking young guys as well and looking forward to watching them improve as practice continues this summer.

YJSN: The biggest question coming in obviously is at the quarterback position after losing duel threat Efferlan Williams to graduation. What is the latest at quarterback?

Coach Young: Reese Hannon had a pretty good spring for a young guy. I feel pretty good about him at the moment along with Joey Russo. Both of these young men have shown tremendous effort and drive this spring.

YJSN: What are the biggest improvements that the team needs to make offensively before the season opener at Woodruff?

Coach Young: We have to continue getting better protecting the passer and this will happen with some of the moves we will make over the summer. The running back spot needs a little fine tuning and it is not bad but, we did not have a rushing touchdown in the spring game.

YJSN: Now, let’s talk defense. There are some holes to fill with the loss of a large number of starting seniors last season. How is the defensive line coming out of the spring?

Coach Young: It is probably the strongest point of our entire football team right now. They have four starters returning, have depth, and tremendous speed. This group could be the best I have seen in my six years at Greer. The defensive ends have a lot of speed and size with Williams Sales, Mario Sanders, Ezra Kelley and Troy Caldwell. Eric Campbell and Daris Murray have done a great job upfront and we need those young men to continue working hard and being leaders.

YJSN: How is the linebacker position shaping up for 2009?

Coach Young: Douglas Mack is returning from last year and has always made big plays for us. We are hoping to have Dakari Sitton back as the second outside linebacker position. At middle linebacker, Adam Ah-Ching had a pretty good spring but just needs to continue to develop and get better.

YJSN: The secondary was the biggest hit due to graduation, what young guys have stepped up there?

Coach Young: Our cornerbacks are playing much better, if you think about some of the games last year. This group (Jailon Greer, Byron Thompson and Shaq Mack) has been much improved during the spring practices and will continue to get better as they participate in 7 on 7 leagues over the summer. Our strong safety position is pretty solid with Jake McKown and we need to get someone to solidify the free safety position over the summer. A couple of guys have a chance to win the position but just need to continue working hard until fall practice begins.

YJSN: So how did the spring practice go overall for the Yellow Jackets?

Coach Young: I was very pleased with how the nine days ended and felt like the guys competed a great deal against each other. We threw a lot of things at all of them over those days and felt like they consumed it and were able to understand it.

YJSN: What happens now for the team until mid-August?

Coach Young: There will be conditioning, running, preparing them for two-a-days and continue building on the weight program. We will hit the field next time in late July to start preparing for Woodruff.

YJSN: How was it playing the Black and Gold game back at the original “Home of the Yellow Jackets’?

Coach Young: It is a neat place that’s for sure. The city has done a great job with the renovations and was a thrill to play here. It was good for the kids to play here and allow them to feel the tradition.

YJSN: Coach, thanks for your time and looking forward to kicking off the 2009 season for the Yellow Jackets!

Coach Young: Well we are looking forward to the year and making sure all of the Yellow Jacket fans have something to cheer for and be proud of. The coaches and guys have been working extremely hard since December and I’m very proud of all of them. We appreciate the fans support every year and looking forward to getting it started against Woodruff!


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	*2009 Spring Wrap-up with Coach Young...* Head Coach Will Young spoke with *yellowjacketsports.net* after the Black and Gold game and gave us his thoughts on spring practice on both sides of the football, as well as a breakdown at each position. *YJSN: Let’s start with a breakdown of the offensive line. Coming out of spring practice, how do you feel about the big guys up front?* Coach Young: The biggest thing out of the spring with this group is we have developed another center. We are probably still going to make some moves and put guys in different spots. Overall as a group, not bad at all, our left guard Justin McKittrick has tremendous speed and with all the pulling we do that helps a great deal. We are fortunate to have a couple veterans with Matthew Rochester playing his third year as a starter, Kenneth Ramey his fourth year and Josh Rumsey seeing a lot of playing time last year. Obviously we will mix in youth in positions, but we are continuing to work on our depth at each position. *YJSN: How is the wide receiver position looking after loss of 3 starters?* Coach Young: I feel pretty good about this group with Quadrick Mack being with us for a while. He has makes great plays and gives a lot of effort. Ricky Britt is a speed guy that can stretch the field and a threat to score with the ball in his hands. We seem to overall be more athletic, more size and quicker at this position. This is one position that is young but they are good athletes and working hard everyday. YJSN: We know that Dominique Parks is the star in the back field at running back. Last season he had a couple of guys that would allow him to get a break and really played well…especially Jonathan Winter. Coach Young: Dominique is the man and we do not think we have any questions there because we know what he brings to our football team offensively and how explosive he can be in the back field. Jonathan provided us with some great carries last year and continues to improve every day. We have some good looking young guys as well and looking forward to watching them improve as practice continues this summer. *YJSN: The biggest question coming in obviously is at the quarterback position after losing duel threat Efferlan Williams to graduation. What is the latest at quarterback?* Coach Young: Reese Hannon had a pretty good spring for a young guy. I feel pretty good about him at the moment along with Joey Russo. Both of these young men have shown tremendous effort and drive this spring. *YJSN: What are the biggest improvements that the team needs to make offensively before the season opener at Woodruff?* Coach Young: We have to continue getting better protecting the passer and this will happen with some of the moves we will make over the summer. The running back spot needs a little fine tuning and it is not bad but, we did not have a rushing touchdown in the spring game. *YJSN: Now, let’s talk defense. There are some holes to fill with the loss of a large number of starting seniors last season. How is the defensive line coming out of the spring?* Coach Young: It is probably the strongest point of our entire football team right now. They have four starters returning, have depth, and tremendous speed. This group could be the best I have seen in my six years at Greer. The defensive ends have a lot of speed and size with Williams Sales, Mario Sanders, Ezra Kelley and Troy Caldwell. Eric Campbell and Daris Murray have done a great job upfront and we need those young men to continue working hard and being leaders. *YJSN: How is the linebacker position shaping up for 2009?* Coach Young: Douglas Mack is returning from last year and has always made big plays for us. We are hoping to have Dakari Sitton back as the second outside linebacker position. At middle linebacker, Adam Ah-Ching had a pretty good spring but just needs to continue to develop and get better. *YJSN: The secondary was the biggest hit due to graduation, what young guys have stepped up there?* Coach Young: Our cornerbacks are playing much better, if you think about some of the games last year. This group (Jailon Greer, Byron Thompson and Shaq Mack) has been much improved during the spring practices and will continue to get better as they participate in 7 on 7 leagues over the summer. Our strong safety position is pretty solid with Jake McKown and we need to get someone to solidify the free safety position over the summer. A couple of guys have a chance to win the position but just need to continue working hard until fall practice begins. *YJSN: So how did the spring practice go overall for the Yellow Jackets?* Coach Young: I was very pleased with how the nine days ended and felt like the guys competed a great deal against each other. We threw a lot of things at all of them over those days and felt like they consumed it and were able to understand it. *YJSN: What happens now for the team until mid-August?* Coach Young: There will be conditioning, running, preparing them for two-a-days and continue building on the weight program. We will hit the field next time in late July to start preparing for Woodruff. *YJSN: How was it playing the Black and Gold game back at the original “Home of the Yellow Jackets’?* Coach Young: It is a neat place that’s for sure. The city has done a great job with the renovations and was a thrill to play here. It was good for the kids to play here and allow them to feel the tradition. *YJSN: Coach, thanks for your time and looking forward to kicking off the 2009 season for the Yellow Jackets!* Coach Young: Well we are looking forward to the year and making sure all of the Yellow Jacket fans have something to cheer for and be proud of. The coaches and guys have been working extremely hard since December and I’m very proud of all of them. We appreciate the fans support every year and looking forward to getting it started against Woodruff! \| JV & C Team Football \| 2002 Season \| 2003 Football Season \| 2003 Football Game Stats \| Dooley Field \| Interviews \| 2004 Football Season \| 2005 Schedule \| 2005 Football Season \| 2006 Football Season \| 2007 Football Season \| 2008 Football Season \| 2009 Football Season \| \| Return Home \| Yellow Jacket Sports Network \| History, Hall of Fame, & More \| Great Links \| Contact Us \| Region III AAA Conference \| GHS Basketball \| Greer Yellow Jacket Football \| Audio and Video Page \| 2009 Preview Page \|