Memphis-area high school football teams strap on the pads

Memphis Commercial Appeal

It took only about 10 minutes into practice at Germantown High for one of the players to fully realize what's in store for the next several months.

Germantown High School's Jaylin Williams slips out of a tackle during the Red Devil's first practice of the season in full pads Monday morning. Despite the hot day, Germantown ran plays and scrimmaged taking frequent water breaks.

"Dang it!" he exclaimed. "We're in full pads!"

Monday indeed was the first day for the Red Devils and every other team in the state to don full pads for the first official day of high school football season. And — like St. George's assistant coach Aaron Hayden Tweeted out early in the day — it's a chance to start separating the grinders from the slackers.

Based on early results at least, this year's Red Devils team has quite a few grinders.

"I think it's a really big day," said Chris Smith, heading into his third season as coach of one of the area's traditional powers.

Germantown High School coach Chris Smith directs his team during their first practice of the season in full pads at their practice field behind thew school. Despite the hot day, Germantown ran plays and scrimmaged taking frequent water breaks.

"They've worked hard all offseason. They've put in a lot of work, a lot of investment. Today's really the start of the new journey, the 2017 football season. A lot of these guys have worked hard the three years I've been here ... they're really looking forward to the season and (to) making their mark as to who we're going to be at Germantown."

Added standout senior defensive back Jaylin Williams, "It was physical. I think at some point the heat got to us ... but I feel good about the season based on how the first day in pads went.

"It shows who's working and who wasn't."

Gone are the days when the first day of practice meant handing out pads, getting acquainted with the coaching staff and learning a few basic plays. Germantown's coaches threw a lot at their players on Day One and, for the most part, they responded.

Senior linebacker/fullback Ted Lyons said days like Monday are where the separation begins.

"This is where we find out if you really want to play football at this high school level," he said. "It wasn't even that hot today but the heat still got to us ... It's about who really wants it."

Germantown High School players try to cool down during the Red Devil's first practice of the season in full pads Monday morning. Despite the hot day, Germantown ran plays and scrimmaged taking frequent water breaks.

In a related development, Williams confirmed to The Commercial Appeal that he has de-committed from Ole Miss in the wake of Hugh Freeze's resignation last week. The 5-11, 170-pound defensive back was quoted last week as saying that he planned to stick with the Rebels before opting to re-open his recruitment over the weekend.

Arkansas State, Ball State, Colorado State, Louisiana-Monroe, Memphis, Middle Tennessee State, Mississippi State, Tennessee-Martin, Toledo, UMass, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Washington State and Wake Forest are the schools that have offered Williams, according to 24/7 Sports.

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