On Campus: North Augusta Yellow Jackets

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NORTH AUGUSTA | </strong>The spring is always a fun time for North Augusta head football coach Richard Bush and his Yellow Jackets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's a time to get back out on the field for organized team activities, a time to see the guys run around and show their growth over the offseason, a time to get back out there on the turf and compete.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's also a time for Bush to look at where North Augusta is as a program, and how these Jackets are growing to move from a highly-ranked Class 4A program to one ready to bring home a long-awaited state championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And the coach thinks they're still heading in the right direction.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For proof? Maybe look no further than what rising junior defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1827469' first='DJ' last='Johnson'] - a key member of the boys' basketball program - asked Bush while in the midst of a successful state championship run on the hardwood.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"When basketball's over, how quick are we going to get out there?" Johnson asked prior to joining the March open sessions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> It's a North Augusta football team that's going to be counting on a lot of younger guys growing up this year, so this offseason stretch - and returning leadership from last year - will go a long way toward making sure the Jackets stay ready so they don't have to get ready.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One headliner takes over for another in the offensive backfield, as running back [player_tooltip player_id='1827481' first='Jayden' last='Hatcher'] has had a tremendous offseason as he prepares to be the team's No. 1 back. He's been the No. 1A back the last two seasons, but that's only because the Jackets had a No. 1 in [player_tooltip player_id='402503' first='Mike' last='Doe'] who is already at least halfway chiseled into the program's Mount Rushmore of running backs. Hatcher has already proven what he can do with the ball in his hands, and Bush has seen him come out of his shell and become more vocal as a leader.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The same goes for [player_tooltip player_id='1811107' first='Javon' last='Ryans'] at linebacker, who has proven himself by earning All-State honors last season, but the way he leads and challenges all of his teammates will do even more to make North Augusta better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1536398' first='Simeon' last='Jones'] has had a productive offseason after making the All-State team and [player_tooltip player_id='1819540' first='Joshua' last='Simpkins'] is ready to help lead the way up front following the departure of [player_tooltip player_id='1214944' first='Davion' last='McKinnis'] to the college ranks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Those are names everyone already had eyes on after last season ended. One that's really impressed Bush has been quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1827442' first='AJ' last='Hillary'] in terms of how he's continued to grow and mold himself physically and as a leader in addition to the hard work he's put in on his own to be ready for this spring stretch and beyond.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1827479' first='Chase' last='McNair'] continues to grow at the wide receiver position, as does a rising star in [player_tooltip player_id='1819541' first='Ky'Dre' last='Wright'] who's starting to receive some major college attention. Both will be counted on to have increased roles after a senior-heavy receiving corps graduated.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tristan Anderson</strong> could be a wildcard to join that receiver group. He had a starring role at combo guard for the basketball team, and immediately after hanging up his high-tops he told Bush he was coming to play football. He got in some quality reps right away, and at 6-foot-3 he could grow into a serious weapon on the outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another who played a key role for the basketball team was [player_tooltip player_id='1839952' first='Zay' last='Harris'] as a starting point guard. Harris was dominant for North Augusta's junior varsity football team last year, and now is the time for him to make the leap toward having that same impact on Friday nights.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->