Nevada freshman football has high hopes for 2013 season

By Floyd Jernigan

Nevada Daily Mail

Potential and grooming -- two words often synonymous with freshman football.

Coaches greet players with the promise of potential and hope to groom that potential, so it blossoms at the varsity level.

Coaches Jerrod Alexander and Josh Smith found themselves in that position as they greeted this year's frosh Tigers. Alexander is handling the offense and Smith, the defense.

For Alexander, this is his first official year of coaching. His father is a long-time assistant coach for Nevada, so Jerrod has been around the program since he graduated from Nevada High School.

For Smith, this is his fourth year of coaching.

He spent his first two years on the varsity staff and then, last year, was the seventh-grade head coach.

"Coach Alexander and I are very excited about this year's freshman team and all of our players," said Smith. "They have been working hard and are getting better each day at practice to become better players and eventually be successful on Friday nights.

"We believe in getting everyone as much playing time as possible at this level. Kids must experience the game on the field to develop and reach their potential.

"All of our players know each one is very important to the success of the team and that each will be involved each and every game.

This year's team has 23 players, including Jeremiah McElroy, Jacob Hammontree, Cameron Diaz, Jordon Cole, Payton Bright, Blake Majors, Coy Starlin, Jacob Johnson, Blake Young, Treyton Kimberlin, Trenton Sanderson, Robert Hoskins, Dalton Bitner, Bryce Greer, Cayne McVay, Devon Hardraker, Rush Wilson, Trenton Johnson, Robert Bures, Jeff Westerhold, Cristian Aguilar, Trevor Pettibon, and Will Regan.

"Coach Alexander and I are already very proud of these young men," summed up Coach Smith. "We are very excited about what the future holds, not only this year, but the next four years as this group continues to work and get better.

"We hope you come out and watch us play Carthage, at 5:30 p.m., on Tuesday, Sept. 3, at Logan Field."