El Dorado coach has high hopes for 2021 season
El Dorado head coach Steven Jones said this is the best he’s felt about a Wildcat team as he enters his third year at the helm. With 28 seniors, including several two-year starters returning, it’s not a surprise he listed experience as the biggest different.
“We’re more experienced than last year’s team. A lot of the guys that are going to be on the field for us have had a good amount of playing time over the past two years. Going into the season, I feel this team is more experienced,” said Jones.
“As far as the system goes, it’s been in since the first season. But just the experience of playing in that system now, I think has more value to it. Having guys that know what’s going on after the third year is going to be an advantage.”
Overall team strengths for this season were summed up by the coach in three words - “speed, speed, speed.” Junior DeAndra Burns, Jr., and senior Jackie Washington lead one of the state’s deepest receiving groups. Both are Division I college prospects. Burns has an offer from Arkansas with Washington pocketing an offer from Pittsburgh, among others.
Quarterback Sharmon Rester will be one of the team’s speedier players. The senior was clocked in 4.39 in the 40 during a summer camp.
There’s also plenty speed on the defense, which switched to a 3-4 and brings back three starters at linebacker and another at cornerback.
With so much optimism surrounding the Wildcats’ skill positions, Jones said the key to the season will come up front.
“Consistency on the offensive and defensive lines, that is the key,” he answered. “It should be the key every year but especially this season, with all the buzz about the specialists on both sides of the ball. The response of the guys up front will be the key.”
Jones said his players produced gains in the weight room during the off-season, led by strength coach Kris Borosvskis.
“I think just the culture in our weight room is the biggest thing that’s stood out this off-season. There’s no doubt that the weight room is where it starts,” said Jones. “The way the kids have bought into that mindset and completely changed the culture of who we are. I’m excited to see that GAINZVILLE mentality that Kris Borosvskis has set into our kids. I’m ready to see that carry over to Friday night.”
Speed, improved strength, experience - those are all valid reasons for optimism in El Dorado. Intangibles are normally the difference between wins and losses, however. Jones has liked everything he’s seen this off-season.
“Going into this season, just because of the experience we have on both sides of the ball, so many starters back defensively and guys that have played valuable minutes for us on offense, yeah, this is the definitely the best I’ve felt going into a season,” he said. “I’ve been optimistic every year but the work ethic of the players and the team morale and the culture I see day-in and day-out, is what has me excited about this season.”
As for the team goals, El Dorado lost in the first round of last year’s COVID-19 season. The Wildcats lost two games Pine Bluff and Jonesboro - due to COVID. Still, the expectations don’t drop for the Wildcats.
“I don’t get to create the goal. The El Dorado football program sets those,” said Jones. “The expectation in the community is to compete for a state title year-in and year-out. So, that is the goal that I walked into. That’s the goal our team is going to try for every single year. That’s exactly what you want. You want a community and school and fan base to expect you to compete deep into the playoffs for a state championship. That’s what’s great about being the head coach at El Dorado.”