The Hartsville Red Fox varsity football team has begun training for the 2009 season.
Players and coaches have been sweating through the May heat in preparation for the upcoming season, and the Foxes are using the spring practice season to fine tune the team.
The core of the offense will return for the Foxes. Running backs Eric Williams, Ronnie Jackson, Dre Scott and Jeremy Abraham all return from the 2008 season. Quarterback Shawn Smith will also be under center for Hartsville again. Tight end Will Lucas will also rejoin the team.
The offensive line and the defense will see quite a few changes, however.
Last year’s center Daniel Easterling is moving to tackle, while last year’s tackle, Luke Hudson, is making the move to center.
On defense, however, the Foxes will see more changes.
The team is installing a new defense it believes will open up some opportunities as well as adding some new players to the mix.
Victor Vincent will fight for a spot in the secondary, and head coach Jeff Calabrese believes Vincent has the potential to be a good addition.
Dylan Usher, who did not play last year, will be a cornerback, and Ryan Simon, who was a linebacker last year, will move to corner as well. This is a combination Calabrese believes will be strong.
“We have a lot of new faces in new places,” the head coach said. “Even though they have experience, their position has changed.”
Calabrese said spring practices allow coaches to move players around and find the position they fit into. Just because a kid played linebacker last year, doesn’t mean he will this year, Calabrese said.
A kid’s skill set changes sometimes, Calabrese said, and they may be a better fit in a new position. “We’re all about getting better,” he said. “We take chances on that. If we see a kid has changed, we’ll look at it.”
The coach said he has noticed something special about this team already, however. “This group works extremely hard,” he said. “Practices have been lively and with great effort. I feel like there’s a special bond between these kids.”
Some of the kids will also be playing on both offense and defense this season, Calabrese said, to provide depth.
But they aren’t alone. The coaches are also coaching on both sides of the ball.
Calabrese said players in the past have said they regretted they only got to work with certain coaches. Now, coaches will coach in different areas to allow them access to players more often.
Although it is only spring, Calabrese said he has seen progress. “In a few days,” he said, “we’ve made progress, but we’re a ways away from where we need to be.”
The Foxes were 6-5 last season and narrowly missed the playoffs.
The team will have its spring game on Friday, May 29, beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Hartsville High will also host “Catch the Red Fox Spirit” with food prepared by several chefs.
The event will benefit all of Hartsville High’s athletic programs.
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