After watching another couple of practices I just can't help but be excited about the talent and depth at the all skill positions. Everybody knows about the returning starters, quarterback Kevin Shelton and split end Trevin Parks. As a passer, Shelton's final stats in 2007 are second only to Tim Swanson's in 1998 for underclassmen. As I've stated before I believe that he could easily eclipse the 2,000-yard mark this season if given a chance. That would be something no Tornado quarterback has ever accomplished in the traditional run-oriented sets that Hickory uses. Shelton has the size and arm strength to play on the next level.
Parks is a returning All-CVAC performer at both split end and cornerback. The rockstar of the basketball team (he's the point guard for those unfamiliar with Tornado basketball), Parks is a savvy player who was the homerun threat for Hickory last season. His running mate, senior David Dula, is also an All-CVAC cornerback who functions as the 3rd-team quarterback and all-around utility player. He can be effective as a thrower, runner or receiver. Dula will always be a hero in my book simply for the game-winning touchdown bomb he threw in 2006 to beat the Hibriten JV up in Lenoir. It was a thing of beauty. Parks and Dula are without a doubt two of the team's fastest players. And they are good communicators.
Other returning lettermen among the receivers are seniors Step Banner, Reggie Robinson and Brad Ansley. Jaquan Wilson, a junior, adds quality depth at split end. D.J. Holloway, also a junior, should dominate at tight end, combining excellent size with good hands.
The 2nd-team quarterback is talented junior Tyler Barnette, who in 2007 joined the small but growing fraternity of Tornado JV quarterbacks who have led their squads to 10-0 records in recent years. The other members of the club are Chris Rogers (2001), Patrick Shelton (2003), Michael Cook (2004), Jordan Wilson (2005) and Kevin Shelton (2006). Barnette, who is also a top pitcher for Coach David Craft's Diamond Tornadoes, is a great athlete and a tough competitor. He is so tough that a collarbone injury early in the pre-season last year barely slowed him down. He missed only one game.
While he waits his turn to get under center Barnette will probably be a starter at outside linebacker. This is reminiscent of Chris Rogers who started at strong safety his junior year while backing up Cole Kenworthy at quarterback in 2002. Rogers, who went on to play at Furman, started at quarterback for Hickory in 2003 and led the Tornadoes to a 10-3 record.
Yet another key member of the skills team is senior Mikey Shook who can simply and accurately be described as a football player. An All-CVAC selection last year at safety he will see extended duty on both sides of the ball this season. The player who saved the day with his interception against Bandys in overtime last season sucks up whatever footballs are thrown in his vicinity - whether by his quarterback or theirs! He is one of those tough-as-nails kids who will fool you with his size and speed and then flat-out take care of business. Look for the offensive coaches to invent new ways to get him the ball.
I have also touted the abilities of senior fullback Rakim Barrett. In limited action (playing behind current Tennessee Volunteer Bruiser Johnson) all Barrett did was to rack up 504 yards and 5 touchdowns on 52 carries. That's a healthy 9.6 yards per carry, which led the CVAC. For the record, Darrien Burch led the conference in total yards with 2,208 on 237 carries for an average of 9.3.
As the off-season has progressed into the pre-season future stars have emerged. Junior Anthony Wilson was half of a potent 1-2 punch in the JV receiving corps last season and has performed well during the summer 7-on-7s. The other half of the tandem, junior Fearious Anderson, has a lot of upside to him. He is one of those tall receivers I mentioned last week. Wilson and Anderson are also good on the defensive side of the ball.
There have been a couple of pleasant surprises this pre-season, namely the emergence of junior Jason Hill as a strong candidate for tailback or wingback. According to the most recent 40 times turned in he may be the fastest of the fast for Hickory. He is also a good receiver. Another newcomer who was impressive in middle school but did not play football for Hickory last year is Montavious Sims, another of the tall, lanky receivers that I think are so important to an offense. It will be tough for CVAC cornerbacks to deal with the likes of Fearious Anderson and Montavious Sims simply because of their height and reach.
There is also a ton of talent at the tailback position. The first option is senior Kyshell Geter who has gotten better and better each year. He had many shining moments last season but perhaps the most memorable was his performance in the crucial game at Hibriten. With Burch suspended for the game Geter stepped in and rushed for 168 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries (7.3 yards per carry) to help lead the Tornadoes to an impressive 28-7 victory. For the season he accumulated 612 yards and three touchdowns on 95 carries (6.4 yards per carry).
Geter has also been playing well on defense and may spend more time on that side of the ball in 2008. How can the Red Tornadoes afford to move him to defense? Depth and talent. The JV had a quartet of talented running backs in 2007: Marcus Mayfield, Tyree Rhinehardt, T.J. Wimbush and Tyshon Chisholm. Look for at least one or two of them to make the varsity in 2008 and see extensive playing time. In the end we may see more of a "committee" approach to the tailback spot this season. There is no doubt that Hickory has the players to fill the hole left by Darrien Burch's graduation. It will be exciting to see how it all plays out.
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