The Daleville Warhawks began spring practice last week after productive winter workouts in their revamped weight room. New paint and updated weights, as well as an upcoming new look to their lockerroom in the next few weeks, have the players excited about their program. There are also plans to make a junior high weight room.
“It gives our kids something to have pride in,” said Daleville head coach Will Garner. “You’ve got to look good to play good. You’ve still got to put the work in but it’s the mentality that people do care.”
The Warhawks were a young team last year with only one senior and will continue to have a lot of youth this year with five seniors. “We’re still a younger football team but it’s a team that everybody has been through the fire a little bit and it’s definitely translated to the first two days of spring,” said Garner. “You can tell it doesn’t surprise them anymore. They know what we’re about, they know what the drills are, they know what it feels like so we’ve definitely had a different vibe. We’re bigger, we’re stronger, we’re older and it will pay off.”
Between the JV and varsity, the team is currently just under a 60-man roster. “Last year the varsity offense was getting work but I was having to take seventh and eighth graders to play on the scout team because we just didn’t have the numbers,” Garner said. “Now I have enough true varsity guys so that it’s varsity on varsity and JV on JV. It makes a huge difference.”
Omarion Pinckney will return as the starting quarterback. At running back, Jeremiah Moore will return with newcomers Anthony Wynn, a transfer from Enterprise, and Rolando Roman. Jeremy Barber will line up at the H-back position again.
The offensive line will be much bigger this year weighing anywhere from 260-300 lbs. across the line. T.J. Waller, Zacorey Culver are returning starters and will be joined by Chris Page and Moore on the line. Waller and Culver started every game last year on both sides of the ball. Marcus Smith will be the returning slot receiver and Caden Elmore is a returner that has moved over to tight end from the offensive line last year.
On defense, some 10th graders have stepped up which will allow there to be more depth and some of the bigger guys to get some rest and recover. Demarion Gray, Smith and Jeremiah Walters will all return.
“We didn’t get any breaks last year,” Garner said. “We just didn’t have enough older kids but we won’t have that problem anymore.”
The Warhawks will end spring training with a game on the road against Geneva County on May 13. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. in Hartford.
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