ELLISVILLE – MACCC spring football is different than most because of the lack of players.
That’s the case at Jones College where 30 players are out for spring practice, which began on April 19. Jones was scheduled to open practice on April 18, but it was pushed back one day because of wet grounds.
“We have about half of our roster here now, so we have in the neighborhood of 30 players,” seventh-year Bobcat head coach Steve Buckley said. “Basically, that puts us at one deep at every position. Obviously, spring football is different in junior college than it is in four-year programs or even high schools because you are limited on numbers.
“But we are fortunate enough to have a person at each position here as of right now.”
Buckley said the main goal is to come out of spring workouts healthy.
“That’s the number one goal,” he said. “You don’t want a crazy injury. We treat spring a little differently here. It’s more of a technique period and not a lot of installation because the kids that are returning in the program should know what we are doing as far as terminology and the Xs and Os.
“Another goal is to see how much improvement we’ve had since the last ballgame. The kids have been in the offseason program, they’ve gained weight and changed their bodies, which is what is supposed to happen during your offseason program. It’s been very successful.”
Buckley said Jones College expects numerous senior college coaches on campus to observe spring practice.
“We want to get our kids on recruiting boards across the country,” he said. “Let’s face it. We haven’t seen a lot of (senior college) coaches the last two years because of Covid. It’s probably going to be crazy around here the next three weeks because Division I coaches can hit the road staring Monday (April 18).
“We are preparing for that and we will be getting them all the information they need as far as graduation, height, weight and position so they can start checking their boxes on their needs as four-year programs.”
The Bobcats have 27 returning sophomores from last fall out for spring practice, along with three transfers.
The new players are wide receiver Tavion Smith, a Pearl River transfer; defensive tackle Durante Johnson, who comes in from Arkansas Baptist; and offensive lineman KJ Miller, who graduated early from Warren Central High School. Smith prepped at Oak Grove and Johnson is from Millry, Alabama.
The Bobcats are scheduled to only practice nine times this spring.
“We don’t take full advantage of the number of opportunities because we have a limited roster,” Buckley said. “We are going to try and go Monday, Tuesday and Thursday for three weeks and end up May 5. We feel like we can accomplish what we want to do with those nine days. We schedule it that way so the (senior) college coaches can get out here and see our kids move around.”
At the conclusion of spring practice, Buckley said the coaching staff will concentrate on recruiting and camps before beginning to prepare for the 2022 season in July.
“After spring ball is over, we hit the road recruiting for the remainder of May and then we have our camps on May 31and June 1,” he said. “Our kids leave here on May 20 for about six weeks then come back in July and get ready.”
The 2022 schedule has not been released.
Jones went 8-2 last season and won the MACCC South Division.
