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'They're unreal:' Highland Springs' roster is poised to be one of its best ever
Springers workout drills on Monday, Aug. 19, 2019.
DB David Laney (7) is one of the key returning players to the defending state champions Highland Springs Springers.
https://www.richmond.com/sports/hig...Daily Sports&utm_campaign=_RTD Daily Sports#7
TOP: Junior quarterback Jamareeh Jones (4) says the Springers have a “nice team bond.” BOTTOM: Key Springers this season include (from left) David Laney, Malcolm Greene, Evan Robinson, Suirad Ware and LaQuan Veney. They’re led by coach Loren Johnson.
Athletic talent at most public schools tends to by cyclical. Without the ability to recruit, coaches often must rebuild rather than reload. After years of building the Highland Springs program into a local dynasty, Springers coach Loren Johnson doesn’t appear to have that problem.
Despite losing key players such as Tremayne Talbert, D’Vonte Waller, Ali Jennings and Christian White to graduation following a fourth consecutive VHSL Class 5 title, the Springers are still dangerous. With a solid group of returning players, combined with a bevy of talent from a dominant junior varsity squad, the 2019 Springers are considered to be contenders for a fifth straight title. Despite the success of its predecessors, there are whispers inside and outside the program that the 2019 team could be the best team in school history.
“I know we can get the job done. We’ve got a nice team bond,” junior quarterback Jamareeh Jones said.
“Highland Springs [this year] might be the best team to ever play in the Richmond area. They’re unreal,” Goochland athletics director and former head coach Joe Fowler said.
Johnson doesn’t deny Fowler’s assertion. Asked what could keep this year’s team from being the greatest, Johnson didn’t mention a positional weakness but the team’s mental toughness.
“Probably execution, being greedy, complacency. Those things can hurt anybody at any time. I think they’ll hurt us if we don’t do what we’re supposed to do throughout the season,” Johnson said. “The complacency part is two-fold. The kids have to be concerned about it, but we as coaches cannot allow it either. We have to work at it on a regular basis, keep the kids at bay and do what they’re supposed to do.”
Highland Springs boasts at least a half-dozen players with Division I offers, and others with Division II offers. Senior defensive backs Malcolm Greene and David Laney have been on the college radar for a long time. Greene is a national recruit with offers from college powers such as Clemson, Notre Dame, LSU and Michigan. Laney is committed to play at East Carolina. Junior defensive end Kelvin Gilliam boasts offers from Michigan, Michigan State and a number of ACC schools.
Other players, however, are popping up with Division I offers before making a significant varsity impact. Jones, defensive back Damond Harmon (both juniors) and sophomore wide receiver Michael Hodge all played extensively on last year’s JV team. Jones and Harmon earned call-ups to the varsity during the playoffs. All three have major Division I offers before starting their first varsity game.
Assistant coach Keylon Mayo, who is a recruiting guru for Johnson, said the opportunity for players to be seen by schools at an earlier age has increased.
“I would say now, because of social media, because of media and press, the kids’ names are getting out there earlier now,” Mayo said. “A lot of guys when they go to camps, 7-on-7, that’s where a lot of the buzz comes from as well.”
While the young athletes at the skill positions have the buzz from summer camps, Johnson points to the trenches as the key to his team’s success. Some of the team’s most experienced players can be found along the offensive and defensive lines, and they play well as units. Gilliam has the hot name and offers after the summer circuit, but upperclassmen such as Suirad Ware, Payton Jackson, Jay Wright, Evan Robinson, Jestdon McKenzie and D’onte Griggs have the potential to maul opponents on both sides of the ball. All have the ability to play on the collegiate level.
After his team recently scrimmaged Highland Springs, Thomas Dale coach Kevin Tucker said the defensive line had the makings to push the Springers to greatness.
“When you can dominate the trenches like [Highland Springs’] front four, the rest of your defense can fly around and make plays. It will take most teams five to six guys to block those four,” he said.
Regardless of talent level, the Springers have a tall task ahead to match the dominance of their predecessor. Greene called last year’s squad — which averaged just over 49 points per game while pitching seven shutouts and allowing more than a touchdown just once during the regular season — “ridiculous.” They’ll get their first chance to prove themselves against the Avalon School, a private school in Wheaton, Md., on Aug. 30.
'They're unreal:' Highland Springs' roster is poised to be one of its best ever
- By JONATHAN HOWARD Special correspondent
- 13 hrs ago
Springers workout drills on Monday, Aug. 19, 2019.
- JOE MAHONEY
DB David Laney (7) is one of the key returning players to the defending state champions Highland Springs Springers.
https://www.richmond.com/sports/hig...Daily Sports&utm_campaign=_RTD Daily Sports#7
TOP: Junior quarterback Jamareeh Jones (4) says the Springers have a “nice team bond.” BOTTOM: Key Springers this season include (from left) David Laney, Malcolm Greene, Evan Robinson, Suirad Ware and LaQuan Veney. They’re led by coach Loren Johnson.
Athletic talent at most public schools tends to by cyclical. Without the ability to recruit, coaches often must rebuild rather than reload. After years of building the Highland Springs program into a local dynasty, Springers coach Loren Johnson doesn’t appear to have that problem.
Despite losing key players such as Tremayne Talbert, D’Vonte Waller, Ali Jennings and Christian White to graduation following a fourth consecutive VHSL Class 5 title, the Springers are still dangerous. With a solid group of returning players, combined with a bevy of talent from a dominant junior varsity squad, the 2019 Springers are considered to be contenders for a fifth straight title. Despite the success of its predecessors, there are whispers inside and outside the program that the 2019 team could be the best team in school history.
“I know we can get the job done. We’ve got a nice team bond,” junior quarterback Jamareeh Jones said.
“Highland Springs [this year] might be the best team to ever play in the Richmond area. They’re unreal,” Goochland athletics director and former head coach Joe Fowler said.
Johnson doesn’t deny Fowler’s assertion. Asked what could keep this year’s team from being the greatest, Johnson didn’t mention a positional weakness but the team’s mental toughness.
“Probably execution, being greedy, complacency. Those things can hurt anybody at any time. I think they’ll hurt us if we don’t do what we’re supposed to do throughout the season,” Johnson said. “The complacency part is two-fold. The kids have to be concerned about it, but we as coaches cannot allow it either. We have to work at it on a regular basis, keep the kids at bay and do what they’re supposed to do.”
Highland Springs boasts at least a half-dozen players with Division I offers, and others with Division II offers. Senior defensive backs Malcolm Greene and David Laney have been on the college radar for a long time. Greene is a national recruit with offers from college powers such as Clemson, Notre Dame, LSU and Michigan. Laney is committed to play at East Carolina. Junior defensive end Kelvin Gilliam boasts offers from Michigan, Michigan State and a number of ACC schools.
Other players, however, are popping up with Division I offers before making a significant varsity impact. Jones, defensive back Damond Harmon (both juniors) and sophomore wide receiver Michael Hodge all played extensively on last year’s JV team. Jones and Harmon earned call-ups to the varsity during the playoffs. All three have major Division I offers before starting their first varsity game.
Assistant coach Keylon Mayo, who is a recruiting guru for Johnson, said the opportunity for players to be seen by schools at an earlier age has increased.
“I would say now, because of social media, because of media and press, the kids’ names are getting out there earlier now,” Mayo said. “A lot of guys when they go to camps, 7-on-7, that’s where a lot of the buzz comes from as well.”
While the young athletes at the skill positions have the buzz from summer camps, Johnson points to the trenches as the key to his team’s success. Some of the team’s most experienced players can be found along the offensive and defensive lines, and they play well as units. Gilliam has the hot name and offers after the summer circuit, but upperclassmen such as Suirad Ware, Payton Jackson, Jay Wright, Evan Robinson, Jestdon McKenzie and D’onte Griggs have the potential to maul opponents on both sides of the ball. All have the ability to play on the collegiate level.
After his team recently scrimmaged Highland Springs, Thomas Dale coach Kevin Tucker said the defensive line had the makings to push the Springers to greatness.
“When you can dominate the trenches like [Highland Springs’] front four, the rest of your defense can fly around and make plays. It will take most teams five to six guys to block those four,” he said.
Regardless of talent level, the Springers have a tall task ahead to match the dominance of their predecessor. Greene called last year’s squad — which averaged just over 49 points per game while pitching seven shutouts and allowing more than a touchdown just once during the regular season — “ridiculous.” They’ll get their first chance to prove themselves against the Avalon School, a private school in Wheaton, Md., on Aug. 30.
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