that pressure’s a privilege,” Wall said.
“We’re embracing that because we know
everybody’s going to be gunning for us.
These guys have really tried to get better
each day.”
Competition at practices is at an all-time
high as JMA looks to carry a program-record
61 players on the roster. This marks
the second straight year a new standard
has been set as far as roster size goes. Wall
is using those numbers to his advantage
with what he refers to as a fluid depth
chart, pushing those established starters to
improve.
This year’s senior class is a special one
that has played for two state titles and won
one. They so far have gone 35-3 at the varsity
level and will look to finish out their high
school careers as back-to-back champs.
“It’s very tough to find a class that’s topto-bottom
as special as these guys on the
field, in the classroom and in the community,”
said Wall. “They’re great role models
to our young kids. We’ve got big freshman
and sophomore classes who we feel like are
going to benefit tremendously from having
this caliber of senior group ahead of them.”
Leading the way is senior running back
and University of Virginia commit Amaad
Foston, a two-time All-State and All-County
Offensive Player of the Year selection. His
work ethic is a big part of what has driven
John Milledge football to the success it has
achieved in recent years, and his production
speaks for itself. Foston has two 2,000-yard
seasons to his name having accumulated
2,349 yards last year as a junior. In 2019 he
scored 38 touchdowns, which bettered his
total from the two previous years combined.
He stepped out on the big stage at the
AAA state championship game at Mercer
University and ran for over 400 yards and
eight touchdowns in that game alone. He
committed to Virginia shortly after the 2019
campaign, and all that success and notoriety
has done nothing to decrease his drive.
“He practices every day like his position
isn’t safe, too,” Wall said. “That’s why he
is who he is and he’s done what he’s done.
He wants to get better and he wants the
guys around him to get better. Just when
you think he can’t get any better, he’s a lot
better. I’ve said it before, but when your
best player is your hardest worker, it makes
coaching these guys a whole lot easier.”
With over 5,000 yards to his name
already, Foston could crack the list of top
rushers in Georgia history with another big
season. With 75 touchdowns, he needs only
12 more on the ground to pass one Herschel
Walker, though Washaun Ealy’s state
record of 133 TDs looks to be safe.
While the running back position is pretty
well set, the quarterback forecast is a little
less certain. Now senior Patrick McDonel
had the job
at last year’s
outset, but
a broken
collarbone
sidelined him
from Week
5 into the
postseason.
Mid-year
transfer
Grayson
Hopkins
took
on the role
to finish out
the year and did well as he threw for nine
touchdowns against just one interception.
Wall said the competition between the two
seniors has been fun to watch this summer,
adding that they even tied for fifth in the
program’s Iron Trojan competition.
“These guys have been battling it out
all summer and they’re neck-and-neck,”
the head coach/playcaller said. “They both
bring something different to the table, but
also they can each do what the other can
adequately enough. It’s going to be special
to see this thing play out. It may be a
week-to-week deal, but it’s a good problem
to have. We learned last year that you can
never have too many quarterbacks.”
Whoever winds up taking the snaps will
be in a great position with Foston lining up
behind him and all of last year’s top receivers
returning. Two offensive linemen are
gone from last year’s undefeated run, but
every guy in the mix this year spent some
time down in a stance in ’19. The same can
be said along the defensive front who welcomes
back a big piece who was hurt much
of last year in senior Kevin Kitchens.
“He’s a big-time player for us,” Wall said.
“Having him back in the fold is huge. He’s a
security blanket for us on both sides of the
football.”
Kevin’s twin brother Devin was an All-
State player last year, as was Carson Dyer,
the team’s best tackle for loss guy with
12. They’ll head up an intact group that
absolutely terrorized opposing offenses a
season ago.
“We feel pretty good up front on both
sides of the ball,” said Wall. “It’s a matter of
finding that right mix, which may take a few
games. We didn’t find it until late last year.”
Moving away from the line of scrimmage
on defense, the linebacking corps lost two
“IT PUTS A LITTLE PRES-
SURE ON YOUR BACK, BUT
COACH KIRBY SMART SAYS
THAT PRESSURE’S A PRIVI-
LEGE. WE’RE EMBRACING
THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW
EVERYBODY’S GOING
TO BE GUNNING FOR US.
THESE GUYS HAVE REALLY
TRIED TO GET BETTER
EACH DAY.” - Coach Wall
Football Preview 2020 33