Kelly, Aggies kick-off spring football practice
By Chris Sherman SA Sports Writer

Aggie coach Jeff Kelly watches closely as quarterback Corey Besteda goes through his reads.

Jackson High School kicked off the start of a new beginning Monday, May 5, when the Aggies buckled up their chinstraps and threw on their shoulder pads for the first day of spring football practice. There is a different feel around the practice field this year, mainly because of the excitement new coach Jeff Kelly has brought to the program.

"I think as a coaching staff we are pleased with the way we practiced with it being just the first day," Kelly said.

The Aggies went in full pads for about two and a half hours under perfect weather conditions. While some players are still not out in pads right now because of the baseball playoffs, a majority of the team, around 60 players, were available.

One thing immediately noticeable was the pace of the Aggies' practice under Kelly.

There was never a time where a player on the field was not taking part in some sort of drill or being coached on how do all the little things including tackling.

New Aggie offensive line coach Rotch Dungan watches on as Gabriel Mass (left) goes through tackling drills with another player.

"We had a lot of kids out there today but I think our coaching staff did a good job communicating with the players before we ever stepped on the field. We let them know what to expect and how the pace of practice would be. We go full speed in between drills. They did a good job of handling it for the first day but we are not anywhere near where we need to be," Kelly said.

The quarterback position has been on the minds of the Aggie fans since the end of last season. With LaDarius Austin and Broderick Washington both lost to graduation, the Aggies are searching for a new signalcaller.

Corey Besteda, Ranse Hare, Kevin Fairley and Robert Pritchett handled the QB duties in Monday's practice. Besteda appears to be the front runner but when Anfernee Crayton and Josh Kimbell join the team from baseball they could also factor in.

At running back, returning Damion Bracy and Isiah Boykin looked sharp along with a new face, Shontavious Simms. Simms, a starter on defense last year, looks the part and could be a player to keep an eye on for the upcoming season.

Aggie offensive linemen hit the sleds. (All practice photos by Chris Sherman)

Laprintess Morris, Fred Hunt, W. Fox, Tyler Wallace, Jacoby Robinson and Kemone Moore took most of the snaps at wide out. William Taylor and Crayton are two key contributors who are still with the baseball team.

The offensive line looks as if it may be a force with Brandon Hunt, Dezmond Dickinson, Royce Tarleton, Lincoln Reeves, Cody Rodgers and Phillip Gilchrist leading the way.

Returning starter Jeremy Armstead is still with the baseball team.

On the defensive line, Gabriel Mass was clearly the most dominate player on the field. With a huge frame and good speed, he has turned into a legit D-1 prospect.

Jimmy Martin, Tony Ivory, Kawon Washington, Anzale Jenkins and Fred Hunt are other guys who should play key roles. Jenkins may have been one of the most pleasant surprises of the day according to the coaches.

At linebacker, Boykin, Simms, Decatur Goodwin, Jenkins, Bracy, Gabriel Watkins and Andre Clarke saw a lot of action.

In the defensive backfield, Jerrious Pringle, Gavin Bendolph, Morris, Tyrell Kender, Scooter McCaster and Jamarkian Frowner received the most reps.

"We are doing a lot of evaluating right now and not really working on schemes. Our main goal is to find out who the guys are that we need to get on the field somewhere. Just because someone is working somewhere now doesn't mean that is where they will stay," Jones said.

"We are looking for the guys that are going to compete and play hard. A lot of them are working at a lot of different spots right now. But the attitudes and work ethics have been really good."

Kelly said he expects about 10 players to join the squad following baseball season. The Aggies are allowed 10 practices with a scrimmage scheduled for next Thursday. Aggie Day is scheduled for May 23 at 5 p.m. at Legion Field. Kelly said those times could be adjusted, depending on what happens with the baseball team this weekend.

"If we are playing baseball next week, and hopefully we are, we are going to move some things around," Kelly said.

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