JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – High school football season is on the clock.
Baker’s Sports high school football media day was in full swing Friday at EverBank Stadium, the annual de facto launch point as teams prepare for the regular season.
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Most programs have been in the weightroom — or the “lab” as many players refer to it — since the season ended last November. Only one local team reached the state championship game last year (Raines), but no team from the News4JAX Florida coverage region has won a title since Trinity Christian in 2021.
“It takes what it takes,” said Creekside head coach Sean McIntyre. “You got to do the work, but you want that work to pay off. It’s an exciting time of year. Summer went fast and here we are, let’s go.”
Practices kicked off at midnight Monday and teams could put on full pads Friday. Some teams have gotten work in during the morning hours to dodge the crushing heat and afternoon thunderstorms. Others have worked in the late afternoon, watching the wet bulb thermometer and trying to avoid being wiped out by high temperatures.
And some like Jackson and Fletcher and University Christian have squeezed in a midnight practice here and there. As if coaches needed any reminder, the summer break is done.
“It’s flown by. It seems like yesterday we were just finishing up our season, which was very successful for us and now were building and now getting ready for a new launch into a new season,” said Providence head coach Maurice Williams. “Being as a head coach it’s kind of cool you’re going to miss the old guys but you’re kind of interested … what will this new class what will be the changes in what we have but as a dad … man, this summer’s gone.”
Preseason classics are two weeks away, followed by the start of the regular season on Aug. 22. Teams in Georgia kick their regular seasons off a week earlier, as well as some programs in the Sunshine State Athletic Association.
“We started our offseason back in November. We didn’t make the playoffs, so the guys wanted to get to work right away,” said Fletcher head coach Ciatrick Fason. “We’ve been having between 50 and 60 players at each workout, so I’d say that’s a great offseason.”
Now, it’s time to see just how well that offseason work has paid off. And it’s time to see how the impact transfers fit with their new programs.
Ex-Mandarin edge Brian Harris (Creekside), linebacker Kameron Mills (Columbia) and defensive back Shareef Jackson (Raines); quarterback Jaden Weatherly (Bartram Trail to Bolles); receiver Kelvin Brown (from Baldwin to Raines); quarterback Tony Kennedy Jr. (Parker to First Coast) and receiver Trace Burney (Fleming Island to Oakleaf) lead the headliners with new teams.
The doubting angle is always a major talking point in the leadup to the season. Brunswick athlete Heze Kent, a University of Florida commit, said that’s one of the most gratifying things for players to look forward to at this time of year.
“We got a young team and everybody doubting us so we get to prove them wrong,” he said.
Media day is also something else — it’s the countdown to the finish. For seniors in the area, time at media day, typically reserved for upperclassmen, means the finish line is rounding into focus. Most players who have committed to college programs and plan to sign in December, have just five months left before they’re done with high school.
“Yeah, it’s crazy. It feels like I was just a freshman,” said Oakleaf defensive back Jordin Price.
Added linebacker Jermaine Robinson: “Same thing, feel like I was just a freshman. It flies by fast, really fast.”
