On Campus: North Augusta Yellow Jackets Spring Game

NORTH AUGUSTA | The biggest goal for North Augusta's football team this offseason is to create depth everywhere within the program.   It's that depth that will keep the Jackets fresh throughout their non-region and Region V-4A schedules, and that depth will also be crucial to help overcome any potential injuries that may stand between them and another deep playoff run.   The returning stars are well known heading into year four under head coach Richard Bush, key players who have played a big role in back-to-back double-digit win seasons that have extended into late November and early December.   But it all comes back to that depth, and if Wednesday's spring game is any indication then it's fair to say North Augusta will have its fair share of choices - more than 100 of them in uniform, in fact - to make a play when called upon.   Those plays, at least on the offensive side of the ball, will now all start with [player_tooltip player_id='1819537' first='Collin' last='Tillman'] as he takes over as QB1 following the departure of [player_tooltip player_id='1827442' first='AJ' last='Hillary'] to Strom Thurmond. Tillman has played plenty of big snaps in big situations in four years on the varsity roster, but after backing up big brother Corey and splitting snaps with Hillary the new-look offense belongs to Tillman.   "I love it. I feel like I've got more of a voice, too," he said. "It's my team now. I get to have a voice and be the commander of the offense and lead everybody."   He showed plenty of signs of good things to come in the spring game, particularly his decisiveness with the ball in his hands. He eluded pressure and used both his eyes and legs to buy himself enough time to for one touchdown pass, bombed one deep for another score and threaded the needle for a third.   Though the Jackets graduated their top receivers from last season, the next guys up showed there won't be much, if any, drop-off from a year ago. [player_tooltip player_id='1819541' first='Ky'Dre' last='Wright'] has had a huge offseason and continues to grow and learn, [player_tooltip player_id='1839952' first='Zay' last='Harris'] is ready to make the leap from playing a key role on the junior varsity roster (while also starting at point guard for the state-championship basketball team), [player_tooltip player_id='1827469' first='DJ' last='Johnson'] gave a peek at how dynamic he can be with the ball in his hands, [player_tooltip player_id='1827479' first='Chase' last='McNair'] will see an increase in snaps, [player_tooltip player_id='1822103' first='Jeremiah' last='Brown'] finished off maybe the most improved spring of anyone after moving back to receiver from outside linebacker, Tristan Anderson has caught on quickly after getting a late start due to the basketball title run, and star corner [player_tooltip player_id='2209663' first='Dallas' last='Williams'] will get his fair share of reps at receiver, too.   That's a lot of options in the passing game for a team that has had one of the best rushing attacks in the state. Most programs would be in rebuilding mode in the run department after losing an 1,800-yard back like Michael Doe, but probably no program in the state had the luxury of having an RB2 like [player_tooltip player_id='1827481' first='Jayden' last='Hatcher'] to take over the top spot. Tillman and Hatcher will be full-time backfield mates like they were in middle school, and in their sophomore year when injuries pushed them to the forefront in an absolute slugfest they helped win over Strom Thurmond.   North Augusta will have to replace three starters on the offensive line, which is no small task. But the Jackets showed to close out the spring that they have plenty of options there, too, with rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1821856' first='Danny' last='Scurry'] emerging as a leader heading into the summer. And playing against one of the top defensive lines in the state every day in practice can certainly help them get acclimated in a hurry.   "It's going to help our O-line a lot. A lot. A lot, a lot. It's going to make them way better," Tillman said. "Seeing something like that every day will make it easier in games helping with reads, getting the ball out faster, going through progressions a little bit faster, trusting them and trusting the pocket, too."   The defensive line is only being mentioned so late because this is about the spring game, and quite frankly there's nothing for those guys to prove in that kind of setting. Stars like [player_tooltip player_id='1536398' first='Simeon' last='Jones'] [player_tooltip player_id='1839899' first='Dez' last='Davis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1811094' first='Josh' last='Simpkins'] (who also starts on the offensive line) understand the expectations their coaches have for them, and they've continued to push each other to get stronger, faster and smarter during the offseason.   That will only help the players behind them, not like tone-setting middle linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1811107' first='Javon' last='Ryans'] needs much help getting to the football. Dallas and [player_tooltip player_id='1822105' first='Akeam' last='Williams'] are primed to make sure the secondary remains a no-fly zone, and several others in the back seven showed during the spring game that they will be ready whenever their team needs them.   And it wouldn't be a North Augusta football breakdown without talking about kickers. The Jackets return both [player_tooltip player_id='1839889' first='Landon' last='Sweat'] and honorable mention All-State selection Jacob DeGennaro to put boot to ball, and both have proven they have the ability to be game-changers in that department.

NORTH AUGUSTA | The biggest goal for North Augusta's football team this offseason is to create depth everywhere within the program.