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| Leesburg High School Head Football Coach Randy Trivers. |
By Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
April 30, 2012
LEESBURG - Tomorrow is the official first day of FHSAA Spring Football practice for High Schools in the state of Florida. The Fightin' Yellow Jackets of Leesburg High School will begin their spring football practice under second year head coach Randy Trivers in the next few days.
Key Losses: D'Mauri Jones (2012 University of Miami, FL signee), Noor Davis (2011 Butkus Award winner, 2012 Stanford University signee), Juilliard Roberts, Emanuel Nelson, Trey Perry (Carson Newman College), Diontre Cornish (2012 Thiel College signee), Chase O'Donnell (2012 Thiel College signee), Jalen Dozier, Zac Mahan, Max Green, Brandon Foor, Flint Hicks, Anthony Harris, Garrett Nelson, Austin Thomas, Braxton Bennett and Jeremiah Miller.
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| The Jackets will have to deal with the loss of D'Mauri Jones (Left 2012 University of Miami, FL signee) and (Right Noor Davis 2012 Under Armour High School All-American, 2012 Stanford University signee) this season. Davis and Jones led Leesburg to a 8-2 (2-2) in 2011 barely missing the playoffs. |
Key Returnees: Jermaine Gasden, Jeremy Jones, Austin Walker, Lee Bennett, Anthony Miller, Bryant Benton, Demitric Blue, James Eldridge, Jordan Tucker, Chris Smith, Adriel Handsborough, Devonte Williams, Undra Mitchem Jr, Estader Maurepas, Cameron Jackson and Tyler Reed.
The Yellow Jackets return 30 lettermen off a squad that went 8-2 (2-2) in its first year of Class 7A football competition. Even with the loss of Davis and Jones the Jackets are expected to make a strong push at its first District title since 2007 and its third since 1969.
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| Leesburg High School #31 LB/TE Jordan Tucker |
Leesburg's defense will be led by LB/TE Jordan Tucker who is being coveted by the University of Florida, University of Central Florida, University of Miami (FL), University of South Florida, Florida State University, and University of South Florida too name a few. Tucker is a big play linebacker that will find his way to the end zone on the defensive side of the football. With a strong spring game performance, Tucker will see his list of choices of schools expand rapidly. Don't be surprised if you see him slip into the ESPNU150 list before seasons end.
The offense will be led by Undra Mitchem, Jr. who along with Tucker is listed on the Orlando Sentinel Super 60 watchlist. Mitchem will enter this season with two years of starting experience at quarterback on the varsity level under his belt.
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| Leesburg High School #23 DB Bryant "Mr. No" Benton |
Demitric Blue, Bryant Benton, Lee Bennett and James Eldridge all sophomores last season saw extensive playing time in the 2011 campaign and will benefit from that in the upcoming season. Look for all four of these youngsters to have breakout seasons in 2012.
The offense will miss Jones big play ability and someone will have to step up to replace him and Roberts at wide receiver. Anthony Miller will be looked upon to lead the running game with the loss of Emanuel Nelson to graduation. When healthy he has shown the ability to be a big time playmaker in Trivers I formation offense.
Estader Maurepas and Chris Smith will help anchor a solid offensive line unit.
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| Leesburg High School #5 DB Jermaine Gasden, Jr. |
DB Jermaine Gasden is becoming one of the best defensive backs in Central Florida. Look for him to have a outstanding spring and have a big impact in the 2012 season.
Tyler Reed will be bigger and stronger this spring and will anchor the defensive line for the Jackets with a strong spring and summer this guy will no longer fly up under the radar of college recruiters this upcoming season.
Austin Walker was a big factor in the 2011 campaign with his punting, special teams play and big play ability on defense. He should have no problem taking his game to the next level this season. Walker and James Eldrigde will keep the Yellow Jackets kicking game strong again this season.
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| Leesburg High School #9 P/LB Austin Walker |
"We need to step it up." said Trivers in a interview with Frank Jolley on the Daily Commercial Friday Nights Lights. "We are the smallest
school in our district that might apply a little bit but there are only
eleven guys playing on the field at the same time. So regardless of how
many thousands of kids that you got or hundreds of kids you have, all
that stuff. I mean you only field eleven so they are going to have
eleven and we are going to have eleven."
"So the whole 6A, 7A, 8A all of that
stuff, we really don't think about all that stuff," said Trivers.
We just need to go out there and execute the plan that we put in place.
Hopefully our coaches will coach well and our kids will play well"
The Jackets had no problem handling its Lake and Sumter County opponents going 5-1 in 2011. The Jackets have had the past two seasons to learn Trivers college style system and he is hopeful that the Jacket Nation will see the results on the field this upcoming season.
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