Recently I got a
chance to sit down with a handful of this year’s impact players (Luke Nitowski,
Reilly Pettit, Anthony Smoot, Jordan Barnett) for the Osbourn Park Yellow
Jackets to see their progress in the offseason, find out their goals and what
the mindset is like before their season opener versus TC Williams.
1.
How has your summer been?
Barnett: I went to Jamaica. A
different experience, a different culture. For the team we would go to Buffalo
Wild Wings, Preston’s Pub and we’d hang out. We also built a lot of chemistry
in the 7-on-7’s.
Pettit: It’s been good, but I
have done nothing but workout and go to football practice. We had a dead week
so I went to the beach. Even then I was still working out at the beach:
running, swimming. Does eating count?
Smoot: My summer has been
pretty good. I’ve been focusing on football and building connections with my
teammates to make sure everyone in on the same page this year and is ready for
the season.
Nitowski: Going to Shenandoah
Valley to practice together for three or four days really brought the team
closer together. I feel this year’s team
has a lot more talent and we are bonding better and ready to surprise everyone
this year.
2.
Did you do anything football-related on
your own?
Pettit: I wanted to be in the
best shape for the season mentally and physically. I watched a lot of film and
studying plays. I’ll watch other teams to get better. The best way is to watch
those better than you and what they are doing. I try to incorporate new things.
Barnett: I worked on my
footwork a lot. Last year was not good enough. I worked with my trainer and
watched a lot of film on our opponents, too. I’ve also been running a lot so I
can improve my endurance. Last year I wasn’t in the best shape.
Smoot: The biggest thing I
have done to prepare for this season is making sure I am better than I was
before I got hurt. I have been in the weight room a lot this offseason to get
stronger and going to camps to play with the best competition. I’ve been doing
speed training and I have been studying the game and watching film to be the
best player I am capable of being.
Nitowski: I’ve been watching
film all summer with my dad to break down my opponents. This week it was TC.
That really helps and very excited to play them. My dad gives me technique tips
and who I have to read to make the play as a linebacker since he was one. Mentally
you need to know all the plays and where the running back is going to go, how I
will react. Physically I want to get stronger and faster and feel I have done
that.
3.
Do you feel more pressure to be a
leader or does it come naturally?
Smoot: I feel it comes
naturally. All my senior friends last year were leaders and they helped me out
last season. This season I feel it’s my job to help the underclassmen.
Pettit: I’m used to leading
from last year. I don’t want to have an iron grip. I let the team lead itself
and I give it a push every once in a while. I don’t have the biggest voice. I speak for
the team.
Barnett: There’s more pressure
but I am willing to deal with it.
Nitowski: As a senior it’s on
my shoulders- but whether we win or lose we are all together. If we lose I’ll
work to get better and make sure we are all on track.
4.
Off the field, what is the biggest
difference?
Smoot: The biggest difference
this year is that players come to me for advice and I do my best to assist
them.
Pettit: Other than that I am a
senior and not a junior- not much.
Barnett: Grade-wise…last year
was difficult as a freshman, but I look to have my feet under me this year and
do better.
5.
Biggest takeaway from offseason
workouts, practices?
Smoot: You only get one senior
year and you have to make the best of it. You never know when a play will
impact the game, so go one-hundred percent on each play.
Pettit: If you’re going to be
in- all in. You can’t be on the edge or halfway. You need to commit yourself.
Our coaching staff preaches that- they’re a bunch of characters. We have a lot
of changes with a whole new range of people and it’s an interesting time.
Barnett: ALL IN. Go a hundred
percent every play. Give in to the program.
Nitowski: We have a whole new defensive
coaching staff. I love them. They know everything and teach us so well. Coach
Johnson is with us every day. We have a pre-practice and I feel prepared every
time I step on the field. Coach Evans is a lot more focused on both sides of
the ball. We are looking great with a new QB. He’s looking to win as are we.
6.
Goals for the season?
Smoot: I want us to have a
winning record and make the playoffs. My academic goal is to have a 4.0 GPA.
Personally, I would like to have 1,000 yards receiving with at least 15
touchdowns and 7 interceptions.
Pettit: I want to stay above a
3.5 so I can get into a good college, even if not for football. I want to have
a winning season and go to the playoffs. I want to get better than last year.
Barnett: I want to average a
3.0 and to make the honor roll. I also want to run for 1,000 yards and 15
touchdowns.
Nitowski: I need to make the
best of it in the classroom. Education first- do well there and move on to
sports and make it the best year I’ve had.
7.
Schools of interest?
Smoot: The school I go to does
not really matter to me. As long as I get the chance to play at the next level,
I am extremely blessed.
Pettit: For academics, not
really. But I have been looking at UVA, Richmond, Lafayette, Bucknell.
Barnett: I talk to Virginia
Tech a lot. That’s my favorite school so far. I would want to be a lawyer.
Nitowski: CNU, Shippensburg,
Hampton-Sydney. I’d like to study business and finance.
8.
Team goals?
Smoot: We want to go 1-0 every
single week with a winning season and make the playoffs.
Pettit: We want a winning
record at home.
Barnett: We want to have a
winning record at home and beat Colgan. That’s a big one.
Nitowski: What they all said,
plus win a playoff game.
9.
Mindset heading into Friday versus TC Williams?
Pettit: You got to hit them
hard and hit them fast. If you don’t- they’ll put you in the ground. I want the
fans to come out and cheer us on and we’ll be trying our hardest.
Barnett: Win. The fans need to
come out and watch us beat TC.
Nitowski: We are going to win.
It won’t be easy and we’ll put in all we have with 110% on each play. GO OP!
Keep it tuned to yellowjacketathletics.org for more on this year’s team
including scores, game recaps, player profiles, players of the week and more.
Follow
Sean at @SeanNeutron.
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