Coach Wayne Turner
Q. How would you characterize this year’s team?
A. We have a lot of talented young players with a lot of experience from last year. Expectations are high at this point.
Q. What will be the keys to your success?
A. The development of depth on the offensive line and the ability to stay healthy in some other areas.
Q. Who will be your key leaders on the team?
A. Martavius Ryals (Jr., QB/OLB), Jeremiah Batiste (Jr., WR/S), Anthony Goodwin (Sr., OT/DT), Tyon Young (Sr., FB/DE), Jermaine Borders (Sr., C/DT), Ronald Neal (Jr., WR/CB), Kamden Edwards (Jr., RB/MLB), Solomon Bridgeman (Sr., QB/MLB), and KeShawn Brown (So., OG/DT).
Q. What are your biggest reasons for optimism?
A. The number of returning players who know what it takes to have a successful season.
Q. What will keep you up at night?
A. We cannot afford to have injuries to key players.
Q. What can you build on from last year?
A. Hopefully the work ethic and commitment that we had last year will carry over.
Q. Any lessons learned from last year?
A. If you can make fewer mistakes than your opponents, you will have the opportunity to be successful.
Q. Will we see anything different this year?
A. No, we will stay the same in all phases of the game.
Coach’s View
We have enough starters back from last year’s team who know what it takes for us to be successful. They should provide the positive leadership that we need for the younger players to develop a good work ethic and commitment to the program so that they will be able to step in and contribute. If we can remember how great it felt to put together an outstanding run like we did last year, I think that will provide us with the fuel needed to be successful this year as well.
Photos by Andy Mitchell
Tyon Young
Jerome Stoudemire
Martavius Ryals
Jermaine Borders
Kamden Edwards
Jeremiah Batiste
Luke Qualey
Zavier Favors
