Eagleville’s Witt vocal leader on line

EAGLEVILLE – James Witt knew a year ago that Eagleville’s football program was about to go through a reloading phase.

Witt and former teammate James Merritt talked about it during the 2014 season. Witt was going to have to be a leader on the line with a large influx of freshmen and sophomores on this year’s roster.

“Merritt and I talked about it a lot last year,” said Witt, a two-way starter for the Eagles. “I have to make sure they know what they are doing.

“They need to know if they don’t know what to do then come to me. I pretty much will tell them what to do.”

Of Eagleville’s 56 players on its roster, 42 (75 percent) are freshmen or sophomores. That will equate to a quick learning process for the Eagles, who are 24-12 with three Class 2A playoff appearances — including two trips to the quarterfinals — over the past three years.

“Anything can happen at any moment,” Witt said. “(The underclassmen) have to learn quick. I learned quick. And they are under the same coaching staff that I am too. So they can learn quick too.”

Witt, a 5-foot-10, 255-pound lineman, will start at center on offense and at noseguard on defense.

“I like playing center,” Witt said. “It’s my main thing. I play better on offense. I’d rather be blocking.”

Witt has already displayed that leadership in the preseason.

Against Huntland in a preseason scrimmage earlier this month, when some on the offensive line froze up, Witt took command and yelled out the call.

“He understands the importance of his role,” Eagleville coach Steve Carson said. “He’s a three-year starter, and he even played a lot as a freshman. He understands that he has to not only lead by actions, but be more vocal.

“He’s learning how to do that. He’s doing a good job.”

That new leadership role is something assistant coach Tom Fiveash, the Eagles’ offensive and defensive line coach, has insisted of Witt up front. Fiveash is a former MTSU assistant.

Witt is a veteran on the line, and Fiveash expects him to be a leader for his linemen.

“He wants me to help them,” Witt said. “He expects me to help them. I like doing that. If I have to do it, I’ll do it.”

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or on Twitter @Kreager.

COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF

This marks the third of a daily high school football series leading up to the start of the high school football season on Aug. 20.