VALDOSTA WILDCATS
Region 1-7A
SCOUTING REPORT : words and photos by Shane Thomas
Felton , ‘ Cats face new challenges with move to Region 1-7A
Valdosta wide receiver ( 82 ) makes a leaping catch over defensive back Corey Williams
( 32 ) during the Black-Gold spring game Friday , May 13 at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium .
VALDOSTA — Without the cloud of a postseason ban hanging overhead , the Valdosta High football program is more than ready to turn the page and get back to building a state title contender .
Despite the challenges of trying to keep a team motivated with no chance to play for a state title , first year head coach Shelton Felton and his staff still managed to put a formidable Wildcats team on the field .
The ‘ Cats went 4-6 in 2021 , finishing with a 1-2 mark in Region 1-6A .
The scars left behind by the Rush Propst era were thick as three-star quarterback Amari Jones and four-star wide receiver Tajh Sanders were among five players ruled ineligible for the 2021 season by the GHSA .
Without a legitimate quarterback , the ‘ Cats were forced to get creative to find ways to produce offense . The answer was to lean on its senior-laden offensive line to create holes for the team ’ s bevy of talented running backs to make things happen .
The results weren ’ t always pretty , but the ‘ Cats had one of the most productive rushing attacks in the state . In an October non-region game against Westside , Valdosta threw just two passes the entire game , opting for a groundand-pound style of offense . The ‘ Cats ran the ball 48 times for 365 yards and blew out the Wolverines 48-6 .
The team lost some key pieces of the offensive line , most notably 6-foot-7 , 310-pound NC State commit Jacarrius Peak .
One of the biggest question marks coming into the year is the quarterback position . Jo Jo Gardner opened the season as the team ’ s starter , but eventually left the team after the team ’ s non-region win over Tift County last October .
With Gardner ’ s backup , freshman Todd Robinson , not quite ready to contribute , the team found ways to work around their glaring hole at quarterback by adopting wildcat sets , running more run-pass option plays and practically abandoning the passing game entirely .
Gardner is back in the fold this season , along with newcomers Zane Smith and Ansel Clark to give the ‘ Cats several options to look at throughout the spring and into the summer .
According to Felton , Robinson will serve as the team ’ s starting quarterback heading into the preseason .
“ Right now , we ’ ve got a slew of guys playing quarterback ,” Felton said . “ Right now , we ’ re going with Todd Robinson – the young guy , a freshman about to be a sophomore . Very athletic . He ’ s been really good in the pocket , controlling the offense . We ’ ve still got Jo Jo ( Gardner ); he does a great job . We ’ ve got Zane Smith and one of our most impressive guys , our eighth-grade quarterback Ansel Clark – he ’ s got great composure , he ’ s the future . But right now , we ’ re putting the ball in Todd ’ s hands and going with it .”
Robinson looked much more confident with his reps in the spring , making quick reads and finding receivers as well as showcasing surprising speed to break a long touchdown run around the edge untouched .
Felton believes Robinson getting a full offseason and weightlifting program under his belt heading into his sophomore year has paid dividends .
26 2022 SOUTH GEORGIA FOOTBALL