Grundy County
Team strengths: The offensive backfield has a good blend of size and athletic ability. Ethan Nunley is versatile and the dual threat has several quality weapons to get the ball to.
Team concerns: Although the younger players have shown flashes of talent, having such a large number of underclassmen who will be counted on may make the Yellow Jackets more prone to mistakes as they adjust to the size and speed at the varsity level.
“We’ve got a lot of raw talent at several positions, so there is a lot that they will still have to learn,” Hayworth said. “Some of them have never been in a varsity battle yet.”
Newcomer to watch: Freshman running back Gavin Tate (5-11, 200) was a middle school star who is already making a nice transition to earn the trust of his coaches, and they admit he will get significant action.
“In our first couple of scrimmages you could tell people got tired of hitting him,” Hayworth said. “He’s a physical runner who has speed and just runs really hard. He’s a freshman who’s built and runs more like a senior.”
Season outlook: Having to make a head coaching change just one month from the season opener is not ideal, but Hayworth said the team has been resilient. Its starting lineup is mostly underclassmen.
“The great thing about having so many young players is that they are willing to listen and learn and do what their coaches are trying to teach them,” Hayworth said. “It’s easier to teach the young kids, before they get into bad habits.
“There’s some real talent here — it’s just a matter of putting it together. Then, as the season goes, we’ll get better. We’ll need to be patient, but by next year we’ll be pretty tough to deal with.”
The Nunley brothers, Tate and Hackworth are all capable runners but Hayworth wants to develop balance, which is where Coffelt could step up as a big target.
“The kids are hungry and ready to win,” Hayworth said. “I’m the eighth coach the program has had since 2004, so the kids wanted leadership and discipline. They’ve bought in and are ready to turn the corner.
“We haven’t had a lot of time to get ready for the season, and I’m still learning some names, but I do recognize that there’s talent and a willingness to listen and work. You can build with that.”