Dillon football having to build up lines despite having top offensive tackle in country
South Carolina commitment Josiah "Big Cat" Thompson back to lead offensive line
Dillon – Dillon High School has a player considered by many high school football recruiters to be the top offensive tackle in the country. Yet for Wildcats head coach Kelvin Roller, rebuilding both sides of the line was a major focus in spring practice.
“We had a good spring,” Roller said. “We’re trying to learn some players, see what they got out of last year and how thy developed. The key for us is how the line of scrimmage develops on both sides.”
“We’ve just got to get some depth with the kids up front,” Roller added. “We lost Chris McCollum and Anthony Grant, two 3-year starters. We’ve got some athletic kids with strong motors.”
DHS is having tyo replace three starters on the offensive line, but it has left tackle Josiah “Big Cat” Thompson returning for his senior season. The 6-foot-7-inch, 280-pounder is committed to the University of South Carolina after being on everyone’s recruiting list. He plans to enroll at USC in December.
As good as Thompson was as a junior, Roller said he has gotten even better as Dillon is now in summer workouts.
“He's doing great,” Roller said. “A couple of years ago, he was still growing into his body. He had issues running for long periods of time. Now he’s like a gazelle running out there. He’s in great shape, he’s stronger.
“He’s one of the best tackles in the country. In fact, offensive line coaches at several SEC (Southeastern Conference) schools have told me they think he is the best tackle in the country. That will cause you to open your eyes a little bit when one of the players they think so highly of is one of the guys you’re coaching. He’s 6-7, he bends well, he moves great, he’s physical, he’s smart, he has a great work ethic.”
The Wildcats also have another Josiah returning, this one sophomore quarterback Josiah Oxendine. He led DHS to a 13-1 record last season, losing to eventual state champion Beaufort 30-21 in the AAA lower state championship game.
“He did an awfully good job running our offense as a freshman,” Roller said. “He has worked his tail off in the weight room. He bench presses 250 (pounds), cleans 240, squats 400. He's a worker who leads by example. He loves football, a good team leader, a great teammate.
“He has gotten better. This summer I can see that he got better. This summer I can see that. He is way better than he was at this time last year.”
Oxendine and several of his teammates just returned from a 7-on-7 tournament at the University of North Carolina. Roller doesn’t put a lot of stock in the results of 7-on-7 games, but he believes it plays an important role in developing the passing game needed for the regular season.
“In our passing game, our guys have concepts to learn,” Roller said. “We’re not looking for one guy to throw to. We want the quarterback to go through a progression of reads, and this aids in that. This helps to learn concepts on timing and learning reads. It just helps develop a core rapport with the receivers. when you’re supposed to hit and where you’re supposed to hit.
“It also aids in the competitive aspect, helping you see the competitiveness within yourself. It’s not real football, but it helps you develop in a lot of ways.”
Dillon will not have 2-000-yard rusher Ty Martin back, but that will not deter its running game. Jamarion Fling will be a key cog in the running game after seeing limited action last season while starting in the secondary.
“He's just a natural athlete,” Roller said of Fling. “He’s strong and he continues to improve as a back. He has excellent speed.”
Roller said the goal for the team every year is to be as even offensively as possible.
“It depends on how defenses play us,” Roller said as to what the Wildcats will do offensively. “We were pretty balanced at the end of the year. We were a little more heavy in the run game early in the season, but what the defense does will dictate whether we do this or do that. We practice on executing depending on how they play us and we take what they give.”
The Wildcats open their season on August 25 on the road against Lamar.
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