Jays moving pieces around ahead of 2016 season

Coaches practice hand signals to Jays quarterbacks during Tuesday's practice at Adkins Stadium. Each hand signal signifies which play the players need to call.
Coaches practice hand signals to Jays quarterbacks during Tuesday's practice at Adkins Stadium. Each hand signal signifies which play the players need to call.

The Jefferson City Jays are finding ways to utilize as many players as they can. With certain spots already locked up by talented seniors, coach Ted LePage is shifting pieces to where they can fit on the field.

A quarterback is moving to receiver, a tight end could start at center and a first-time football player may fill a starting role on the offensive line, making for an interesting upcoming season for the Jays.

Add a couple linebackers taking over the kicking/punting duties for an all-state player, there's plenty of learning to do early in the 2016 season.

Starting with the offensive line, Remy Hanrahan and Kyle Mealy return to the left side as seniors. 

However, the remaining three slots have work ahead of them.

Ryan Denney, a junior, shifts from tight end to snapping the ball to senior quarterback Gunnar See.

With senior Allan Roettgen still holding down the tight end spot, LePage wanted to find a way to get Denney on the field.

"He has been doing a really good job," LePage said. " Having Allan on the field, we need to get Denney on the field and a good place to put him is center. We've had great snaps and he does a good job."

To the right of Denney, senior Kentrell Oliver is new to the team but his 250-pound frame adds size to a line that averages 238 pounds.

"He's a big, physical young man," LePage said. "He can move things. First time ever playing football, so he's still got some growing pains. You see some penetration, sometimes it's just his lack of playing time. That being said, when he knows what he's doing, he can do it."

Finally at right tackle, Davonta Finney has the physical tools to do the job.

"Long arms, 87-inch reach," LePage said. "The young man has got some skills that some people just aren't born with what he has. Didn't play a lot last year, played a lot of JV. But decided in the offseason he wanted to be a player. He's really coming along. I think early on we're going to see some growing pains, but (assistant) coach (Mike) Cook works with those guys day in and day out and they do a good job. If anybody falters we have Clayton Baker. Not real big, but the toughest son of a gun we can put on wheels."

Hanrahan said the offensive line is a close group and the newcomers are improving.

"They are picking it up really well," he said. "It just takes a certain amount of leadership to get them all molded together, but we'll be pretty good."

The line will hope it can protect See, who will have a target this season with a familiar name - junior Michael Ellinger, the younger brother of former Jay all-state receiver Daniel Ellinger.

Ellinger moved from quarterback to receiver, adding depth to a corps that could have rotating pieces.

"He's growing into it," LePage said. " I think he's still feeling his way through it. We're wanting to accelerate a little bit. He's got some really unique skill sets."

Ellinger, junior Davione Evans and sophomore Maleek Jackson will join seniors Adam Huff and Dennis Barnes in the mix.

Huff was the team's leading receiver last season, recording 31 catches for 731 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Barnes has primarily been a defensive back and return man, but is expected to add more offensive reps this season. He led the Jays with six interceptions last season and is looking for more.

"I want to get better on my ball skills," Barnes said. "I had six picks last year and I just want to come back and get at least 10 so I can just get at least the school record. I want to get all-state, too. That would also be a goal for me."

Barnes is part of a defensive unit that showed off its speed in last week's scrimmage at Adkins Stadium.

Rashaun Wood, a senior, will line up opposite Barnes in the secondary with junior Mason York joining returning senior safety Isaac Moreland on the back side. Josephus Edwards, a senior, will also be in the mix at cornerback.

"We've got five guys back there that have some really good experience, so it's kind of hard to throw at them sometimes," LePage said. "They really hawk the ball well."

On special teams, the Jays will be replacing J.T. Bohlken, a reliable leg the past three years. Bohlken made 5-of-10 field goals and all but two extra points last season. He also averaged 39 yards per punt, earning all-state honors.

"You're not going to replace J.T.," LePage said.

Linebacker Tate Borgmeyer, a senior, has taken over the kicking duties. It's still somewhat a work in progress.

"Tate Borgmeyer has a thumper leg," LePage said. "His leg is so strong, sometimes I don't think he knows where the ball is going. We're not letting him get a long run at the ball. We're kind of keeping him closer to the ball because he can three-step the ball and put it to the 5-yard line. He can kick a 42-yard field goal. So we know he's got the leg, but the big thing for Tate is making him slow down."

Fellow senior linebacker Gaven Strobel is the starting punter.

"In practice he's just been booming," LePage said. "He's got a thumper leg, too. And the really good thing about Gaven, he's a catcher (in baseball), so he can field about any snap that would come back. He's also one of the best athletes on the team, so from that position if it breaks down, don't be surprised if Gaven is breaking loose on some runs. We have the kicking game potential to be good."

And the potential is there for the team to be good this season.

The Jays are ranked fourth in Class 6 in the preseason media poll. They entered a district semifinal game against Blue Springs South with a 9-1 record, losing 48-21 to the eventual state champions.

"A loss is a loss no matter who it is," Hanrahan said. "We don't like losing."

The Jays haven't done much losing lately, going 8-4 and 9-2 the past two seasons after going 6-4 in 2013. Five of the Jays' six losses the past two seasons have been to teams that have made it to at least the state semifinals.

The Jays open the season at 7 p.m. today against McCluer North at Adkins Stadium. They'll play three teams either ranked or receiving votes in the Missouri preseason rankings: St. Louis University High (receiving votes), C.B.C. (No. 1) and Rockhurst (receiving votes). Har-Ber (Ark.) is also ranked No. 7 in the Gray Power Rankings at arkansasvarsity.com.

LePage said he's interested to see how the new additions fit with the returners.

"I think each week we're going to see a little different team because we've got a lot of experience back, but we've got a lot of guys that aren't," he said. "I think the growth mode for us is going to be very, very important."

Jefferson City hosts McCluer North 

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