Growing Pains Won’t Stop Palatka

If you are a Palatka Panther football fan, nobody has to tell you a thing about 2020. While we all know that Covid and this pandemic stood in the way of many athletes from getting the attention needed, the 1-10 season was certainly not what fans, players, coaches and administration had planned on. But instead of dwelling, this program is too rich in tradition and history to stay down. Enter head coach <strong>Patrick Turner</strong>, who was the athletic director at Menendez High in St. Augustine. He had spent the last eight years at the southern St. Johns County school as either football coach or athletic director after arriving in March 2013. He had previously coached at Harnett Central (N.C.), where he went 15-18 with two playoff appearances, 31-24 at Menendez - 46-42 overall. He replaces popular <strong>Willie Fells</strong>, who was not retained following last year’s dismal season. Fells, a former Palatka and Purdue University linebacker who took the post in December 2017, compiled a 6-24 record in three seasons. What Coach Turner brings to the Palatka program is something that is much needed, especially with a number of players coming back. Turner knows that this is a program that has plenty of student/athletes, and while last year’s schedule was stacked with state championship game qualifiers in Hawthorne (1A) and Jacksonville Bolles (4A), it also included emerging programs such as Fleming Island, Ponte Vedra, Tarpon Springs East Lake, Live Oak Suwannee, area powerhouse St. Augustine, West Nassau and Bradford County, so they did face a gauntlet during a tough year. Now, the attention is squarely on the future – with a solid rising senior (2022) class and some impressive young players in the Class of 2023. <strong>COUNTING ON THE SENIORS</strong> When spring gets started, you can almost guarantee that the spotlight will be directly on this rising senior class. The athletes who come back from last year – with more experience and developing leadership qualities, which will be needed this coming season. Among the Class of 2022 prospects to keep an eye on include <strong>Kamari Betts</strong> (FS, 5-11, 165 ), <strong>Cody Brown</strong> (DL, 6-2, 260 – 3.0 GPA), <strong>Jamal Bryant</strong> (WR/DB, 6-1, 180 – 3.1 GPA), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50158" first="Matthew" last="Lands"]</strong> (QB, 5-9, 155 – 2.83 GPA), <strong>Tyler McInnis</strong> (OL, 6-5, 260 (22 ACT, 3.76 GPA), <strong>Q’Juan Nelson</strong> (Slot, 5-6, 140 – 2.93 GPA), <strong>Roderris Passmore</strong> (DB, 6-0, 145 – 2.68 GPA) and running back <strong>Leetrez Smith</strong> (5-10, 180 – 2.5 GPA). There is also linebacker <strong>Blake Symonds</strong> (6-0, 170 – 2.9 GPA), versatile <strong>Jack Tilton</strong> (OL/FB, 5-10, 220 – 3.1 GPA), student/athlete <strong>Derrick Washington</strong> (DL, 6-2, 245 – 900 SAT, 3.19 GPA), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="126602" first="[player_tooltip player_id="126602" first="[player_tooltip player_id="126602" first="[player_tooltip player_id="126602" first="[player_tooltip player_id="126602" first="Luke" last=""]" last=""]" last=""]" last=""]" last=""] Wilhite</strong> (OL, 5-11, 217 – 2.9 GPA) and qualified offensive lineman <strong>Daunte Wilkerson</strong> (OL, 6-1, 320 – 980 SAT, 3.55 GPA). <strong>THE FUTURE WILL BE ENTERTAINING</strong> One look at the Class of 2023, and you can see how the Panthers feel about the coming years. With athletes like <strong>Mario Bryant </strong>(WR, 5-11, 165 – 2.57 GPA), <strong>Tyshawn Castor</strong> (LB, 6-0, 210 – 2.6 GPA), <strong>Nolan Faircloth</strong> (OL, 6-2, 265 – 3.3 GPA), <strong>Jacques Fenderson</strong> (DL/FB, 5-11, 245 – 2.7 GPA), <strong>Kriston Mack</strong> (RB/DB, 5-10, 170 ) and quarterback <strong>Jamarrie McKinnon</strong> (5-11, 165 – 3.3 GPA), you can see the talent. But there’s more. Versatile <strong>Jason Purcell</strong> (OLB/SS, 6-0, 180 – 2.85 GPA), <strong>Tommy Robinson</strong> (DB, 5-8, 155- 3.52 GPA), <strong>Lane Sheffield</strong> (WR, 5-10, 180 – 3.1 GPA), <strong>Lorenzo Smith</strong> (DB, 5-10, 140 – 3.6 GPA), <strong>Stefan Smith</strong> (LB, 6-0, 180 – 2.6 GPA) and offensive lineman <strong>Carson Tibbs</strong> (6-0, 280 – 3.1 GPA), also have what it takes to help get this program back on track. <strong> PHOTO COURTESY OF PALATKA HIGH FOOTBALL<em> </em></strong> <strong><em>You Can Contact [player_tooltip player_id="111610" first="Larry" last="Blustein"] with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com. We are also on Social Media on @PrepRedzonefl.</em></strong>