New Commit?
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New Commit?
by Stallion » Tue Nov 21, 2006 8:26 pm
My e-mail says Scout has a new commitment for SMU but I can't access it. They are probably just late on posting an old commitment but someone with Scout could clear that up.
- Stallion
- Posts: 44302
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by PhirePhilBennett » Wed Nov 22, 2006 8:21 pm
http://texasprepxtra.rivals.com/viewpro ... _key=47482
Jamell Kennedy would never compare himself to predecessor Manuel Johnson, the former Gilmer all-state quarterback who now plays at Oklahoma.
Nor would he entertain the idea of predicting the outcome of a season. "You see teams that are supposed to win district and get beat by unlikely teams," he says.
Nor would he disclose to just anyone the name of his favorite receiving target for fear of opponents catching wind of the information and double-teaming the receiver. He just calls him "the kind of guy you need."
Humble, yet smart enough to handle situations in which his team's interests are concerned, Kennedy has learned quickly how to handle his role as starting quarterback at Gilmer.
That's because he began preparing for the job years ago.
"Jamell's been dreaming about this day ever since he was in fifth grade," said Buckeyes head coach Jeff Traylor. "We call him the field house rat, because he's been in our office every day since he was in elementary school."
Kennedy, a junior who lives across the street from Buckeye Stadium and has never missed a chance to soak in a little Gilmer football, waited in line behind highly successful quarterbacks for his chance.
He watched two years ago from the freshman team as Derek McKenzie led the Buckeyes to the Class 3A Division II quarterfinals. He then moved into the role of varsity backup last year as Johnson piloted the Buckeyes to the state championship. Both predecessors posted gaudy numbers.
Said Kennedy, excited about following their lead: "I was just going through the steps and watching. I've been waiting for it for a while."
The 6-0, 170-pounder has reacted well to the opportunity, having passed for 686 yards and eight touchdowns for the 3-0 Buckeyes, who face Paris on Friday night at Sam Parker Field in Mount Pleasant. In response to his 406 total yards - 268 passing and 138 rushing - and five touchdowns in last Friday's 42-16 win over Lindale, Texas Football this week nominated Kennedy for Campbell's Chunky Chili/Texas Football Player of Week.
So in what way does Kennedy, an A-B honor roll student, celebrate such a performance? On the Internet, digging up scores and other information about games from the night.
"He's a good ball player," Traylor said. "He's quick, he's fast, he's smart and he can throw. Those are pretty good qualities."
Traylor said the coaching staff planned for Kennedy to be the starter in 2004, but his size - or lack thereof - concerned them. Kennedy was only 5-9, 155 pounds back then, so Traylor went a safer route and made Johnson, a receiver by choice, the starting quarterback instead.
Kennedy now stands 6-0 and weighs 170 pounds.
"The quarterbacks are always important at Gilmer," Traylor said. "That's where it all starts. He distributes the ball to everybody so he's important every Friday night."
Kennedy saw his first action at quarterback in the seventh grade after moving from running back, which he played in the fifth and sixth grades on youth league teams. He made the switch while following San Francisco 49ers quarterback Ken Dorsey's All-American career at the University of Miami.
Said Kennedy: "I kept throwing and finally I got good. Ken Dorsey, he was just good as far as his footwork and timing on his ball, and he showed really good leadership. That made me want to be like him."
Although he won't make a prediction, Kennedy has high team and personal goals set for 2005, all of which concern team success.
"I just hope my guys and me can go 10-0 and get back to the state title," he said. "If all else fails, I hope we just get better as a squad. We knew we had to pick up where the (2004 team) left off, so we had to get better. We've come a long way."
Shane Stark covers sports. He can be reached at 903.596.6293. e-mail: [email protected]
Jamell Kennedy would never compare himself to predecessor Manuel Johnson, the former Gilmer all-state quarterback who now plays at Oklahoma.
Nor would he entertain the idea of predicting the outcome of a season. "You see teams that are supposed to win district and get beat by unlikely teams," he says.
Nor would he disclose to just anyone the name of his favorite receiving target for fear of opponents catching wind of the information and double-teaming the receiver. He just calls him "the kind of guy you need."
Humble, yet smart enough to handle situations in which his team's interests are concerned, Kennedy has learned quickly how to handle his role as starting quarterback at Gilmer.
That's because he began preparing for the job years ago.
"Jamell's been dreaming about this day ever since he was in fifth grade," said Buckeyes head coach Jeff Traylor. "We call him the field house rat, because he's been in our office every day since he was in elementary school."
Kennedy, a junior who lives across the street from Buckeye Stadium and has never missed a chance to soak in a little Gilmer football, waited in line behind highly successful quarterbacks for his chance.
He watched two years ago from the freshman team as Derek McKenzie led the Buckeyes to the Class 3A Division II quarterfinals. He then moved into the role of varsity backup last year as Johnson piloted the Buckeyes to the state championship. Both predecessors posted gaudy numbers.
Said Kennedy, excited about following their lead: "I was just going through the steps and watching. I've been waiting for it for a while."
The 6-0, 170-pounder has reacted well to the opportunity, having passed for 686 yards and eight touchdowns for the 3-0 Buckeyes, who face Paris on Friday night at Sam Parker Field in Mount Pleasant. In response to his 406 total yards - 268 passing and 138 rushing - and five touchdowns in last Friday's 42-16 win over Lindale, Texas Football this week nominated Kennedy for Campbell's Chunky Chili/Texas Football Player of Week.
So in what way does Kennedy, an A-B honor roll student, celebrate such a performance? On the Internet, digging up scores and other information about games from the night.
"He's a good ball player," Traylor said. "He's quick, he's fast, he's smart and he can throw. Those are pretty good qualities."
Traylor said the coaching staff planned for Kennedy to be the starter in 2004, but his size - or lack thereof - concerned them. Kennedy was only 5-9, 155 pounds back then, so Traylor went a safer route and made Johnson, a receiver by choice, the starting quarterback instead.
Kennedy now stands 6-0 and weighs 170 pounds.
"The quarterbacks are always important at Gilmer," Traylor said. "That's where it all starts. He distributes the ball to everybody so he's important every Friday night."
Kennedy saw his first action at quarterback in the seventh grade after moving from running back, which he played in the fifth and sixth grades on youth league teams. He made the switch while following San Francisco 49ers quarterback Ken Dorsey's All-American career at the University of Miami.
Said Kennedy: "I kept throwing and finally I got good. Ken Dorsey, he was just good as far as his footwork and timing on his ball, and he showed really good leadership. That made me want to be like him."
Although he won't make a prediction, Kennedy has high team and personal goals set for 2005, all of which concern team success.
"I just hope my guys and me can go 10-0 and get back to the state title," he said. "If all else fails, I hope we just get better as a squad. We knew we had to pick up where the (2004 team) left off, so we had to get better. We've come a long way."
Shane Stark covers sports. He can be reached at 903.596.6293. e-mail: [email protected]
- PhirePhilBennett
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