Hey, Coach Rodgers, you're heading into your second season as the head coach of the Yellowjackets.

You made it to the quarterfinals last year, the first time.

The program has done that since 2009.

What did you learn last year about your team?

Biggest thing is we had really good leaders.

We had a lot of just dynamic leadership.

We were truly player led.

When you have those years, then you know, you got a chance to be really good and that's what we have.

That that'll be a big thing to replace this year.

The leadership now obviously we had good players, but that leadership was a special group with that.

So then when you look at the the leaders that are there this year, how have spring and summer gone to get those new leaders into those leadership positions?

House to House practice gone so far?

Practices went great.

The kids are working extremely hard.

The great kids and all.

And they did.

They put in the work.

They're doing things right.

But that's the problem, is in our society, we think lead by example is leadership.

Well, that's not leadership.

I mean, that's just doing what you're supposed to do.

And and our kids are doing that.

I mean, they're killing it.

But leadership is, you know, your influence.

All others, you know, not your influence on yourself.

So we still have to get better at being vocal, you know, to be able to communicate in a positive way to influence others, to get better.

That's something that this generation always struggles with, is is using your words, right.

Hey, we can't even text in words now.

We have to do code for that, you know, God knows.

So, yeah, understanding the power of voice, the power of touch, the power of, you know, that that they have on each other.

That's the deal.

So, you know, is, is going great.

You, you asked me how spring summer band is being ran Our kids are working here great kids are working their tails off and that's doing what you're supposed to do.

But leadership to me is a little different.

Well, you're already doing great things for that program.

And one I'm sure is getting these kids in front of college coaches.

Tell me about some of your players that are getting looks and then a kid who deserves looks.

Yeah, we've been very fortunate.

Yeah, we've got quite a few guys that have been able to get opportunities so far early and that's a tough deal nowadays.

You know, recruiting has changed so much.

You know, So, you know, our major recruit, you know, our power, five recruits, he got Malachi Thomas, who was a tight end that got quite a few offers from from different leagues, you know, whether it be a mid-major or a group of five.

And then you've got Kam Brooks, who is a underclassman that's been offered by a lot, our defensive man, a lot of power five offers there, or safety.

Dee Reddick or with a lot of offers there.

Then you have some guys that are FCS type offers and top on Christopher, our star linebacker of Walter Reddick, defensive end, another defensive man and then running back Trey Brandon, you know, he's been going through those those offers as well as well as a corner Devin Rolls and then we have a couple others that are in that division, two range of getting all four.

So we've got a good mixture of kids, which has been great for all our kids because you get a lot of schools coming through here because you're hitting all your levels.

You've got somebody at every level.

Sleeper For me, you asked, you know, who's a sleeper that that I think you know one that can that can sneak into a power five be the top one Christopher kid that's a group of five right now Star And the other will be Walter Reddick that defensively and everyone will respond to him I think I think Walter's go have a great year right now he's in that D2 range.

I think he can slot it to an FCC.

I mean, he's a he's a really good player.

I will say this.

My mom's an English major, and if I texted in anything other than complete sentences and subject verb agreement, she would really come after me.

So I'm I'm that's how I handle things when it comes to texting.

I don't even know how to do symbols.

Question My next question for you has to do with the schedule and you're in one six day.

It's you, it's Northside, it's Lee, it's an up and coming house and county program.

It's veterans, it's tit, but that's only half your schedule.

War of the Roses is on there as well.

When you look at your 2023 season and schedule, what do you see?

Oh, I see a tough schedule.

I mean, this may run out the gate.

You play Cairo, you know, which is a tough team.

I mean, the teams we play down here in the South, you know, that's the my non region, you know, that's Cairo, that's Thomasville as Bainbridge and that's Brooks County.

You know, I always tell them it's people in Atlanta know who the program here is.

It's pretty freaking good.

And I think everybody in the state knows those four programs.

And so and I got to go to all of those other in Thomasville.

Now, the good thing, they're all real close.

I mean, it's within 30 minute drops.

But those are tough games.

You know, like I said, we had Charles drop us this year out of Florida.

And so we get to pick up Morris Freeman's Trojans at their place.

They've got a great pick of it, but is good for me in the fight.

You know, if you can survive that kind of like last year, you know, we survived our first five games and and played well and how success where you start playing with a lot of confidence going into the region and by God you better have some confidence going into the region because like you said, you're playing League county, you're playing a house to county team, a freakin firecracker, a red hot right now, and you buy a blue blooded northside water out of.

And so, you know, you better you better be prepared.

So it's good.

It's good if you win.

Yeah, not good.

I'll say it is if I come out on a losing in a bunch.

But if you win, it's good, you know.

You know all about that there in South Georgia.

Well, after your first year hit Dixie, what have you learned about football and what it means to the community?

Albert Is this place right here is as advertised.

It's it's everything.

I thought it was a more I mean, it's just just a great place.

It's the community here loves their football.

And again, they love their football red or blue.

Now, they don't necessarily love both.

Correct.

But they love their football.

You know, They love their football.

And it's a great me to raise a family.

And I can't say enough about our town that we're fortunate to live in.

And then the school system, you know, just add me and the staff, the student body, our student body is comical.

And and so it's good balance.

And like I say, this is a blueblood.

I mean, Top Star Central now is this is the real deal This like legit it just kind of how you went hibernation for a little bit but I think we got a little sleep and John woke back up again and I think the future's really bright.

Oh, I believe it.

I believe it, Coach.

All right, Bonus question.

Last one for you.

Would you like to share a funny coaching moment, a funny coaching memory, a game day tradition or game day superstition?

With us?

Yeah, I've probably got one of all, you know, on game day superstition.

Know when we run out the tape and I'll take the field, I'm always going to go, you know, give my life for kids and my little girl.

Yes.

That's is that's going to happen.

They'll be right there.

So that what I've been doing now for four years.

Funny story.

I mean, when you when you're in this thing so much you got so many one that stands in place for me is back when I was at Jones for taking field goals and and we had we're working on the field goal unit and my line coach my best friend who's I'm aware and he's with me here now Jimmy Dudley he's up our coaching a lot and so I put the backup kicker here to snap the ball.

Oh, he took one in the face.

I think it ended up on ridiculous.

He ended up all we did was not show on TV.

Wow.

So yeah, we can laugh about it now.

Yeah, we were it was nothing else dirty and and so that comes up on our memories.

You know your memories come on.

Because I'm.

I posted that the kicker's dad did and so it shows up every year, so we get to relive it every year.

That's always that, too.

So that's why that one popped up immediately.

And especially because, you know, Jimmy been with me for years.

We went to college together and known each other our whole lives.

And so so that was special.

There.

But it's just it's a good profession.

And so there's so many memories that you could answer.

We can sit here and talk about those four questions for a long time.

Well, we appreciate your helping us with time and cutting them short.

Thank you for sharing, goat.

Yes.

Thank y'all.

Thanks, Justin.

We appreciate the time, Roxanne.