Jackson State soccer coach T.C. Taylor will put quite a lot of focus within the passing offense in 2024. In his first season, the deep go usually was lacking.
To get again to being an offense as difficult to defend because it was in 2022, when Taylor was the receivers coach and the Tigers gained their second consecutive Southwestern Athletic Convention championship, the offense must be extra explosive on the surface.
In 2022, Jackson State had six wideouts with not less than 18 receptions, they usually had a mixed 229 receptions for two,789 yards with 31 touchdowns. Total, the Tigers accomplished 359 passes for 3,892 with 42 touchdowns.
In 2023, the JSU passing sport fell off a cliff. The Tigers accomplished 237 passes for two,503 yards for 21 touchdowns. The highest six vast receivers accrued 157 catches for 1,812 yards with 13 TDs.
The important thing returning receivers are Fabian McCray (41 receptions, 584 yards, 4 touchdowns), Rico Powers (25-385-2), Seven McGee (19-136-4), Duke Miller (27-241-0), Kobe Paul (21-259-0) and Isaiah Spencer (24-207-1). Tight finish Jency Riley (7-89-1 in six video games) has the velocity to get deep and could possibly be a difference-maker.
Forward of his second season, Taylor took steps towards having an explosive passing sport with the signing of 4 receivers on Nationwide Signing Day Recruit Reveal on Feb. 7. Here is a have a look at the newcomers becoming a member of the Tigers’ vast receiver room in 2024, together with key returning gamers.
Jackson State soccer’s recruiting class at vast receiver
Jameel Gardner: Gardner is a 6-foot-1, 172-pound switch from Kent State. The e-book on Gardner is that he has a fast twitch and an important burst of velocity to create separation, in keeping with Jackson State assistant Rip Kirk.
Richard Mays: Mays, a 6-1, 200-pounder from Copiah-Lincoln Neighborhood School, is a “very explosive” receiver in keeping with former JSU co-offensive coordinator Maurice Harris.
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Travis Terrell: Terrell, a 5-10, 165-pounder from Creekside Excessive College, performs with quite a lot of moxie and has a excessive soccer IQ and glorious imaginative and prescient. He has a burst with a really feel for the sport, in keeping with JSU assistant Otis Riddley.
Ja’Naylon Dupree: Dupree (5-9, 160), a switch from Mississippi Gulf Coast Neighborhood School, has the power to make a defender miss and the velocity to take it the gap in keeping with Harris.
Grading the recruiting class at vast receiver
The vast receiver class has youth in a excessive schooler who can be taught and develop into the JSU and HBCU approach. It’s going to have expertise in two junior faculty gamers who can contribute immediately. And Gardner has Division I expertise.
Primarily based on Taylor’s observe file of getting performed receiver and coached receivers, this class will get a B+ till sport time.
This text initially appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson State soccer: Early grade for WR recruiting class