Jeff Doke
Hope
By: Jeff Doke
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Hope springs eternal in the human breast.” “An Essay On Man”, Alexander Pope, 1732.
There’s a fun little recurring character in the “SEC Shorts” video series named Hope. She premiered before the 2021 Georgia championship season and spent most of the season hyping up the Dawgs’ national championship aspirations.
While it eventually turned out that those hopes were well-founded, Hope left at the end of the season for Texas A&M. While that seemed like the most likely fanbase in need of some hopefulness, there were several other destinations she could have landed – Tennessee, Kentucky, or Missouri for example.
Florida, however, was firmly not on that list.
Hope hasn’t dared to set foot in Gainesville for a while now. The Gators have not had bonafied National Championship aspirations since Urban Meyer’s alleged “cardiac incident.”
While Muschamp, McElwain, and Mullen managed to have more wins than losses in their alliterative runs in the swamp, Florida now finds Billy Napier at the helm.
O Hope, where art thou?
Not in Gainesville, that’s for sure. Although the 2024 Gators go into the WLOCP with a surprising 4-2 record (3 more wins at this point than I predicted in the preseason), the high point of the season may have already passed them by.
Consecutive matchups against UGA, Texas, LSU, and Ole Miss await the Gators in the month of November.
Granted their regular season wraps up against the even-bigger-dumpster-fire that is the 2024 FSU Seminoles, but it looks like once again the 2024 Florida gators Bowl Game t-shirts are gonna be plain white Fruit Of The Looms, straight out of the cellophane wrapper.
The future isn’t looking much brighter. The 2025 Gators recruiting class sits at 33rd in the nation, 15th in the SEC.
The 2026 class is better, clocking in at 11th nationally and 7th in the conference, but if Billy Napier somehow manages to avoid the axe this postseason, expect some of those commits to bail and those rankings to take a tumble.
For the moment, let’s look at the here and now. In this, the greatest of all border war matchup in CFB, it is well known that the records do not matter.
Upsets aplenty when these two teams mix it up on the banks of the St. John’s; Florida costing the Dawgs a shot at the National Championship in 2002, UGA knocking off #1 Florida in 1985, and the “unsportsmanlike conduct on the entire team” game all come to mind…but what about 2024?
Let’s be honest. This is a weird season. Army & Navy are both undefeated. Alabama has two losses. Vanderbilt made an appearance in the Top 25, for crying out loud. Would a Napier defeat of Kirby be too far out of the question?
To be blunt, yes.
The Dawgs are on the hunt after the Alabama loss. The defeat of top-ranked Texas shows that they are still an elite program. Above everything else, Kirby Smart’s hatred of all things blue & orange is well documented. I’m not a betting man, but if I were, I’d be selling off a few semi-vital organs on the black market just to put more down on the Dawgs to walk away from EverBank Stadium with the W.
Yes, hope springs eternal, but if you’re looking for Hope in Florida this weekend, I’d try Mons Venus in Tampa, maybe the pickleball courts in The Villages.
Not Jacksonville, though. Hope doesn’t live there for the Gators.
Frederica Academy Knights Coach’s Show w Brandon Derrick October 2 2024
Frederica Academy Knights Coach’s Show w Brandon Derrick September 18 2024
Frederica Academy Knights Coach’s Show w Brandon Derrick September 4 2024
Frederica Academy Knights Coach’s Show w Brandon Derrick August 28 2024
Frederica Academy Knights Coach’s Show w Brandon Derrick August 21
Plain Improvement?
By: Jeff Doke
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
There’s an old adage in the SEC that talks about head coach expectations and the overabundance of patience granted to new coaches in their first year or so.
That leeway can be limited however when the new hire is a marquee name, and the school underperforms fan expectations in the first year and postseason.
Thus, we find Hugh Freeze in his second year at Auburn.
After taking the Head Coach position from fan-favorite Interim boss Cadillac WIlliams, many of the Plainsmen faithful were already looking sideways at the former Ole Miss coach.
Losing to New Mexico State in the final weeks of the season as well as a loss in the Music City Bowl to a thoroughly mid Maryland squad didn’t win any favors, either.
Combine that with the retirement of the legendary Nick Saban and expectations are for a vastly improved record from the 6-7 totals that were put up in his first year.
This might be the year that happens.
The Tigers offense looks to be speedy to say the least.
Fourth-year RB Jarquez Hunter looks to improve his numbers and a pair of transfer WRs, Robert Lewis (Georgia State) and KeAndre Lambert-Smith (Penn State), should pair well with incoming true freshman WR Cam Coleman and TE Rivaldo Fairweather in his final year of eligibility.
Their only limitation could prove to be returning signal caller Payton Thorne. While the fifth-year QB looked pretty nimble running the ball last year, he didn’t have nearly the vertical game that he did while at Michigan State. He’ll need to improve on his 2023 ranking of 101st in the nation if Auburn plans to make any noise on offense.
The offensive line should give them plenty of time to cook. Tackle Percy Lewis comes to the squad from Mississippi State, and should pair well with returning Center Connor Lew. Some speculation coming into camp suggests that Tackle Dillon Wade might be better suited as a guard, but regardless they, along with 300lb+ Guard Jeremiah Wright should gel as a unit, if not in fall camp then definitely during the five-game home stand that Auburn starts the season with in 2024.
The bellwether of this year’s team may prove to be the defense.
DJ Durkin makes a lateral move in the SEC, coming into the same position he held at Texas A&M last year.
The biggest concern is the interior, where the loss to the draft of notable pass rusher Marcus Harris and 350lb DT Justin Rogers could prove to be significant, considering transfer replacements Trill Carter (Texas) and Gage Keys (Kansas) aren’t quite in their league.
The secondary gives pause as well. They’re an inexperienced squad, which is understandable considering the loss of Nehemiah Pritchett, DJ James, and Frederica Academy alum Jaylin Simpson.
True, Jerrin Thompson should be a more-than-workable starter at Safety after jumping from the Longhorns, and Keionte Scott should be as serviceable at CB as he was at Safety last year. All in all, this particular room on the team will need to grow up quickly if it wants to avoid being the weak link.
Linebackers should be the strong point of this year’s defensive squad. Don’t be surprised if Jalen McLeod doesn’t lead the league in several statistical categories, and DO be surprised if Eugene Asante doesn’t make his presence known after taking the portal from the Tarheels. He’s quick, nimble, and (as one scout praised him) “disruptive.”
All-in-all, this season could really go either way. The first five games of the season should set them up well for the tough middle stretch of @Georgia, @Mizzou, and @Kentucky.
Once the Iron Bowl concludes on November 30th, expect this squad to be either 9-3 or 5-7. Neither outcome would be surprising.
Frederica Academy Knights Coach’s Show w Brandon Derrick August 14
What’s Next?
By: Jeff Doke
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
When Frederica Academy fell to the eventual State Champion Valwood Valiants in the semifinals last year, the mood was still celebratory.
Jordan Triplett had set numerous state records for both the season and his career. His high school football career, however, was over, and the question started to get asked. It’s a question that Coach Brandon Derrick is used to hearing. ”What is next year going to be like?”
“Well, we’re going to be young, very, very young,” Coach Derrick told me recently. “You know, I think that’s our biggest thing is youth.”
And as usual, he’s not kidding. Heading into final preseason practices, the Frederica roster consists of four seniors, three juniors, 12 or 13 sophomores, and 8 or 9 freshmen.
For those of you scoring at home, that’s a best-case scenario roster size of 29 players. Another season of being David to everyone else’s Goliath seems to be on tap.
“Well, the way it’s set up right now offensively, we’re going to have to have multiple people,” Coach Derrick explained.
“(QB/DB) Jaylin Baldwin’s going to have to be a big-time player. He’s got to make big plays. (WR/DB) Jayden Gibson’s got to make big plays. He’s got to be very productive, and he’s worked on it. He’s really worked on being a bigger part of the offense because he was just really focused on defense a lot last year as a freshman. So, he’s focused this year on the offensive side of things.”
One new face on the offense that should make some noise is rising Sophomore WR Jordyn Rollins, a transfer from Brunswick High.
According to Coach Derrick, “he’s pretty athletic and could be a really, really good player. He’s just got to get in there and get in the weight room and be physical and learn what we’re doing.”
Rounding out what Coach Derrick refers to as the “4 Js” is 6’4” 200 lb freshman JC Wessel. The Coach explains that “he hasn’t played football in a while, but he’s a guy that could be a big-time player.”
And then of course Hayes Carter. “He’s played the sniper back and blocked for Jordan Triplett the last two or three years, but he’s got to be able to run the ball some, and he’s going to be moving to different spots on offense,” Derrick says. “But we’ve got to keep him healthy, too, because he and Gavin Grantham are the two anchors on the defensive side, too. We’ve got to be very good at what we do.”
Thankfully, one of the strong points of the ’24 Frederica squad will be the lines. “Our biggest area that we have depth is the offensive and defensive line, which is helpful” according to Coach Derrick.
“That’s where our most experience is going to be. We’ve got three of our seniors that are offensive and defensive line, and so, that’s big for us. But, you know, those young kids have been working pretty hard. So, I feel pretty good about playing some of those sophomores in their offensive line right now as well. They’ve done a good job this off-season. The ones that have been here really have focused on what they need to do.”
Coming into the final weeks of the offseason, the main person they’ll be protecting is still up in the air.
“Right now, it’s a three-dog race for QB – Jaylin (Baldwin), Davis Durkin, and Braxton Sykes.”
On special teams, Mary Ford Fitzjurls should be returning if her national soccer team responsibilities don’t overwhelm (they shouldn’t), and A.J. Manning has been working on punting duties as well.
The schedule will be your typical Frederica buzzsaw lineup. The Knights will have scrimmages against Bethesda and Brantley. And then, Savannah High’s going to come in and West Nassau’s going to be big and athletic. Frederica also has Valwood, who’s the state champ. Not to mention games against Pinewood and Bulloch Academy.
In short, expect more fun, Frederica style football from the boys (and girl) in green and grey.
Dreamers
By: Jeff Doke
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Summer is the time of dreams for NFL fans.
Dreams of the upcoming season, of brilliant rookie performances, of notable veteran development, of free agent deals justified by on-field production. And if the fans truly dare to dream, there are dreams of championships.
Fans of the Jacksonville Jaguars are used to dreaming, and yes, having those dreams shattered.
For the 2024 season, there’s lots for DUUVAL Nation to ponder. Quite possibly the biggest item on the list is the recent multi-million-dollar contract extension for quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
This year was to be his last of his rookie contract, and the steps backwards he took last season had a growing minority of pundits questioning whether or not #16 truly is the “generational talent” we’ve been told that he is. General Manager Trent Baalke disagreed and rewarded Lawrence with the T-1st largest QB contract in the league.
I, like many Jags fans, have given Trevor a pass in the previous years due to his disastrous rookie year under Urban Meyer, but as the seasons mount, it becomes harder and harder to use that excuse. A healthy, productive, not-turnover-riddled season would be just what the doctor ordered.
Improved performance from the offensive line would help that tremendously. Cam Robinson, Brandon Scherff, and Anton Harrison are all returning, as is Ezra Cleveland, who re-signed with the team after coming over from the Vikings in a late-season trade.
The lone OL free-agent signing is ex-Bills center Mitch Morse, which means the pieces should be in place for a squad that needs to reduce the number of sacks allowed from last year (35) as well as improving run lanes for 1000-yard rusher RB Travis Etienne.
The flashiest additions come from the receivers. With Calvin Ridley putting up a less-than-expected one-and-done season, the Jags went heavy on the upgrades to the wideouts.
After signing field-stretching veteran Gabe Davis and using the 23rd overall pick in the draft to select LSU speedster Brian Thomas, Jr, the core starters (with returning WR Christian Kirk and TE Evan Engram) seem to be in place for a much more explosive air assault.
While many put a lot of the blame for the 2023 late-season collapse on the offense, the defense was greatly responsible as well, if not more so.
The front office saw that, overhauling most of the defensive coaching staff in the offseason, starting with bringing in former Falcons DC Ryan Nielsen. His four-man rush and press coverage heavy style will suit Josh Allen and Travon Walker well.
Adding former ‘Niners DT Arik Armstead in free agency will help the lackluster run defense of last season.
One area of concern on the defensive side is the secondary. CB Tyson Campbell spent most of last season battling a hamstring injury, and Coach Nielsen’s defensive style will expect a lot out of him as well as newly acquired undrafted free agent Ronald Darby.
While it’s true that last year’s squad continued to be among the best at forcing turnovers, the run defense has to get better in order to avoid the kind of collapse suffered in 2023.
Special teams are rarely a concern with the Jaguars, but that’s not the case this time around. After the PR disaster that is the Brandon McManus saga, Jacksonville decided to take the rookie route for their PK, selecting Razorback alum Cam Little in the 6th round of the draft.
All in all, the upcoming season is one of promise for the teal and black.
How the team delivers on those promises might mean it will be a season of dreams come true for a fan base far more familiar with nightmares over the last 20 seasons.
