TYNER RAMS
Head coach: Wayne Turner (227-120 in 28 years here; 231-136 overall)
Returning starters: 7 offensive; 6 defensive
Key players: RB/LB Jeremiah Sawyer; RB/DB Melique Hambrick; WR/S Dre Ridley; WR/S Zashun Hubbard; QB/CB Amarioun McClain; FB/DE Anthony Bell; RB/LB Ben Blackburn; OT/DT Jailin Worthy; OL/DL Jamarion Varnell.
Team strengths: The offensive line returns intact, led by Worthy, and Coach Turner believes it could be one of the most talented groups up front the Rams have had in several years.
Team concerns: Whether it’s McClain, who is a senior, or sophomore Demetrii Lovick, there is very little experience among the quarterback candidates.
Breakout candidate: Jersey Chubb (6-1, 215) is a power back who’s going to be tough to stop. A cousin of former University of Georgia star Nick Chubb, he has a nice blend of speed to go with his powerful style, and Turner said the sophomore “brings a lot every time he’s got the ball.”
Staff photo by Robin Rudd / Wayner Turner has 227 wins in his time as Tyner’s head coach, and the Rams are on a strong run of region dominance entering this season.Season outlook: The combination of talent up front, a deep group of running backs and the inexperience at quarterback likely means the Rams will rely even more on their ground game than in the recent past.
“We’ve got pretty good depth, we’re solid up front and I really like our backs,” Turner said. “Some of those young guys are real anxious to show what they can do, too, and I really like that attitude.”
The Rams have won 14 consecutive region games, three straight region titles and averaged 10 wins over those three seasons.
Sawyer gives Tyner a bona fide leader on both sides of the ball. A three-year starter and all-region honoree, he rushed for more than 500 yards and scored 11 touchdowns last year, when he also made 69 tackles (10 for loss). He recently earned his first college scholarship offer, from Tennessee State, and with more chances to shoulder the offensive load, expect even bigger numbers.