Whitehaven Football 2017

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Whitehaven football credits dominance to hard work, 'sense of community'

John Varlas, USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee Published 8:00 a.m. CT Aug. 18, 2017

At Whitehaven, football success is all part of the process John Varlass / USA Today Network - Tennessee

(Photo: Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

Rayshad Williams doesn't have to look to hard to find an unfamiliar face.

Mr. Football winner Aubrey Miller is now at Missouri. Star running back Kylan Watkins is getting ready for his freshman season at Tennessee-Martin. Most of the big uglies on both sides of the line have scattered as well.

There will be a lot of new faces in key roles for the defending Class 6A state champions,  but Williams — who has committed to Vanderbilt — is sure of one thing.

No one is going to outwork the champs.

"I've never seen anything like this group of guys," Williams said. "They're out here to work. They don't complain; they don't say much. Whatever they're told to do, they just do it.

Whitehaven Coach Rodney Saulsberry work with the team at practice Wednesday evening. The Tigers lost 35 seniors from last year's championship team but are still ranked No.1 in the preseason Dandy Dozen this year. (Photo: Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

 

"We've got some new kids, but they know what it takes. They all want to get back to the state championship."

It's all part of the process.

Under coach Rodney Saulsberry, the Tigers have established themselves as not just the dominant program in the city but one of the top programs in Tennessee. Last year's championship was their second since 2012, which was also the last time they finished 15-0.

Heading into his 14th season, Saulsberry's teams have a record of 136-30, a winning percentage of .819. Whitehaven is 90-9 since 2010 and has won 10 or more games in nine of the last 10 seasons.

Whitehaven's Devon Robinson runs agility drills during practice Wednesday evening. The Tigers lost 35 seniors from last year's championship team but are still ranked No.1 in the preseason Dandy Dozen this year. (Photo: Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

 

You can't put up numbers like that without players, which Whitehaven always has. Devon Robinson, a 6-6, 260-pound defensive lineman, has committed to Mississippi State and by the time Signing Day is over the Tigers will have sent their customary 15 or so players on to the next level.

But you also need a game plan, which Whitehaven also always has.

"The approach is the same," Saulsberry said. "The process is the process. You have to make adjustments sometimes ... but the process is proven. If you put in the work and learn the fundamentals of football and do the basics, the foundation is built and it grows from there.

"(The process) is ingrained in us ... but we adjust. The reason you do something shouldn't be because it's always been done that way. The reason you do it is because it works. You may have to adjust the methods but the process doesn't change."

Whitehavenn High School head football coach talks to the students about perseverance after bringing home the state championship. Tom Charlier/The Commercial Appeal

 

One of the biggest parts of the process is the Whitehaven community itself. Middle-schoolers from Havenview, which feeds into Whitehaven, practice at the same time as the varsity. And on game nights, there will always be youth players present, dreaming of one day donning the black and gold themselves.

School principal Vincent Hunter is a former Whitehaven coach himself and is probably the school's biggest fan.

All that matters, said Saulsberry.

"We have belief in our community and belief in our school and what we do," he said. "It's a program you have pride in. We trust each other, with the majority of my coaching staff being former players.

"With one of our feeder schools practicing up here with us every day on the same field ... it just builds that sense of community. We hope that's an advantage that we have, that our community bleeds into our team and these kids have something to play for more than just the name on the jersey.

Whitehaven senior Rayshad Williams calls encouragement to his team to keep the energy high during drills on Aug. 16, 2017. (Photo: Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

"They're playing for everyone around them."

The Whitehaven community came together in celebration last December after the Tigers defeated Oakland 12-9 to bring home the gold ball for the second time.

The aftermath, said Williams, was "like an amusement park without the rides."

The Tigers lost 35 seniors from that team and have put together a rugged schedule that begins with a game against neighborhood rival Mitchell on Saturday in the final game of the Whitehaven Classic at approximately 8:30 p.m.

For many programs, those two factors would mean a rebuilding season. For Whitehaven, it means a challenge.

Whitehaven's Rayshad Williams (left) and Bryson Eason watch drills on the field during practice on Aug. 16, 2017. (Photo: Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

How will new starting quarterback Vincent Guy fare? Will Chris Witherspoon and  transfer Cameron Sneed be able to duplicate Watkins' big season? Will linebackers Bryson Eason, Martavius French and newcomer Marquis Traylor deliver like the Tigers expect them to?

If so, chalk up another victory for the Whitehaven Way.

"Winning state just brought tears to our eyes," said Robinson. "We had just worked so hard ... we just wanted to be the best. We lost some good players but we've got a lot of good players coming back.

"We're going to come ready to play this year. And bring a lot of force."

Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @johnvarlas.

Edited August 18, 2017 by kwc

[kwc]

Congrats to Whitehaven's Patrick Smith (TSU, Whitehaven 2012 Class 6A State Championship team) for being put on the watch list for the 2017 Deacon Jones Award for the top rated HBCU player of the 2017-2018 season.

Edited August 18, 2017 by kwc

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Congrats to Whitehaven's Darrius Sims (Vandy, Whitehaven 2012 Class 6A State Champion team) for signing a contract with the Tennessee Titans.

Edited August 18, 2017 by kwc