Find out what some of the top players in the state are saying about football and sports now!
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Q&A with Decatur defensive back Kaleb Lanier
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“Lately I’ve been focusing on getting stronger and faster getting into the weight room and getting field work in as much as I can.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“My technique at the Line of Scrimmage has improved the most since last year. I am more comfortable pressing and feel as if I’m doing a better job at the line of scrimmage.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I think we will be a good team this year. We have a veteran and fast defense that I believe will be one of the best in our classification. We also have a good offense that will be able to put points on the board.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“I think Woodward Academy will be our toughest opponent. Last year they made the state championship in 6a so I think that they will be tough again this year.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“I think the receiving duo at Woodward with Jerome Bettis Jr. and the Florida commit, Josiah I believe, will be the toughest competition for us. Gabe Daniels from GAC is also a good and fast receiver that will be tough for us.”
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Q&A with South Gwinnett safety/wide receiver Jaden Holder
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“The main thing I’ve been doing as of late with my off-season workouts is physical therapy. I received surgery in early November for my shoulder because of a torn labrum. So, I’ve been really attacking physical therapy so I can come back stronger and better than ever.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“The thing I feel like I have improved on the most since last football season is my mental edge and toughness. Having to have surgery and miss half of my junior football season was hard on me, having to come back from that and get ready for my senior season has helped me greatly in gaining a mental edge and increasing my mental toughness.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I feel like my team will do great this next football season! We’re transitioning to more of a player led team every day and that is what it takes to be a great football team.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“I feel like Grayson will be the toughest competition on my team’s schedule this year. As a team we love it though! The competition, being able to compete! That’s what we live for.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“To be honest there are a lot of great football players we will face off against this season. It’s hard to choose one. We play in the highest classification of Georgia football in a very competitive region. Every Friday night there will be great players lined up in front of us.”
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Q&A with Lakeside middle linebacker Jack Thexton
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“Speed and agility workouts, using the ladder, running hills, and of course lifting weights to get ready for the season.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“Route running and separation is something I’ve improved on a ton since last season, hand placement as well.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“We have enough talent to put together a great season.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“I believe Glynn Academy will be our toughest game because we had a hard time with them last year.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Mason Short because his impact on the line.”
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Q&A with Langston Hughes wide receiver Jovanni Mcgee
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“I have been focusing on my top end speed and also focusing on my upper body more.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“I feel like I have improved on being a better leader, I have also improved my running form.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I know my team this year will win a state championship and possibly playing in a national game, we have the guys and coaches to make it happen.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Our toughest competition in my eyes will be Douglas County, the rivalry with DC is now going on 3 years and the series is tied 1-1.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“I feel as if there isn’t just one player that can beat us, but someone who can cause problems is James Johnson from DC.”
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Q&A with Central Carrollton quarterback JR Harris
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“I have worked with my QB trainer and my Hustle Inc. 7v7 coach, Tony Ballard, on my development. I have enjoyed my time during the off season with Hustle Inc to help me in my passing game by reading and executing against several different defensive schemes.
I work with my Central WR’s on the weekends, and we work on our routes to help build our chemistry. I also run track and we have been working every day after school and I have a private speed and agility coach.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“Since I won the starting job my freshman year and started all 13 games, I feel like this attributed to greatly improving my understanding of pre-snap reads, having to make quick decisions, and my speed elevated.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I feel we have a great shot of making it to the state championship game. We all understand the power of agreement and that is our focus and goal. Our head coach, Umbrah Brown, and his coaching staff trusts the players and they let us go out there and have fun and execute the game plan.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Our AAAA Region has been reclassified so there are a lot of teams that we have not played before. If I had to pick, I would say that we are looking forward to playing Stars Mill.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Since our region has changed, I am not sure I can answer that because I have not had a chance to look at the other team’s players.”
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Q&A with Decatur defensive back Kaleb Lanier
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“Lately I’ve been focusing on getting stronger and faster getting into the weight room and getting field work in as much as I can.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“My technique at the Line of Scrimmage has improved the most since last year. I am more comfortable pressing and feel as if I’m doing a better job at the line of scrimmage.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I think we will be a good team this year. We have a veteran and fast defense that I believe will be one of the best in our classification. We also have a good offense that will be able to put points on the board.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“I think Woodward Academy will be our toughest opponent. Last year they made the state championship in 6a so I think that they will be tough again this year.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“I think the receiving duo at Woodward with Jerome Bettis Jr. and the Florida commit, Josiah I believe, will be the toughest competition for us. Gabe Daniels from GAC is also a good and fast receiver that will be tough for us.”
......................................................................................................
Q&A with South Gwinnett safety/wide receiver Jaden Holder
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“The main thing I’ve been doing as of late with my off-season workouts is physical therapy. I received surgery in early November for my shoulder because of a torn labrum. So, I’ve been really attacking physical therapy so I can come back stronger and better than ever.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“The thing I feel like I have improved on the most since last football season is my mental edge and toughness. Having to have surgery and miss half of my junior football season was hard on me, having to come back from that and get ready for my senior season has helped me greatly in gaining a mental edge and increasing my mental toughness.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I feel like my team will do great this next football season! We’re transitioning to more of a player led team every day and that is what it takes to be a great football team.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“I feel like Grayson will be the toughest competition on my team’s schedule this year. As a team we love it though! The competition, being able to compete! That’s what we live for.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“To be honest there are a lot of great football players we will face off against this season. It’s hard to choose one. We play in the highest classification of Georgia football in a very competitive region. Every Friday night there will be great players lined up in front of us.”
......................................................................................................
Q&A with Lakeside middle linebacker Jack Thexton
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“Speed and agility workouts, using the ladder, running hills, and of course lifting weights to get ready for the season.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“Route running and separation is something I’ve improved on a ton since last season, hand placement as well.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“We have enough talent to put together a great season.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“I believe Glynn Academy will be our toughest game because we had a hard time with them last year.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Mason Short because his impact on the line.”
......................................................................................................
Q&A with Langston Hughes wide receiver Jovanni Mcgee
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“I have been focusing on my top end speed and also focusing on my upper body more.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“I feel like I have improved on being a better leader, I have also improved my running form.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I know my team this year will win a state championship and possibly playing in a national game, we have the guys and coaches to make it happen.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Our toughest competition in my eyes will be Douglas County, the rivalry with DC is now going on 3 years and the series is tied 1-1.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“I feel as if there isn’t just one player that can beat us, but someone who can cause problems is James Johnson from DC.”
......................................................................................................
Q&A with Central Carrollton quarterback JR Harris
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“I have worked with my QB trainer and my Hustle Inc. 7v7 coach, Tony Ballard, on my development. I have enjoyed my time during the off season with Hustle Inc to help me in my passing game by reading and executing against several different defensive schemes.
I work with my Central WR’s on the weekends, and we work on our routes to help build our chemistry. I also run track and we have been working every day after school and I have a private speed and agility coach.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“Since I won the starting job my freshman year and started all 13 games, I feel like this attributed to greatly improving my understanding of pre-snap reads, having to make quick decisions, and my speed elevated.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I feel we have a great shot of making it to the state championship game. We all understand the power of agreement and that is our focus and goal. Our head coach, Umbrah Brown, and his coaching staff trusts the players and they let us go out there and have fun and execute the game plan.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Our AAAA Region has been reclassified so there are a lot of teams that we have not played before. If I had to pick, I would say that we are looking forward to playing Stars Mill.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Since our region has changed, I am not sure I can answer that because I have not had a chance to look at the other team’s players.”
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