As several Averett football players were interviewed by the local media this week leading up to Saturday's season opener, the word "excited" was used regularly. There have been many changes since the Cougars last took the field. A new coaching staff, new schemes, a new playing surface and even new Nike uniforms. The players have embraced it all and are ready to prove their doubters wrong in 2014.

Under new head coach Cleive Adams, the Cougars have focused during the offseason and preseason on executing the little things. They believe fine-tuning the details will be the difference on game day.

Averett returns a host of talent and the coaching staff brought in a plethora of skilled newcomers. Here's a breakdown of both sides of the ball:


Offense
The Cougars return starters at seven positions on offense. Averett's running attack as the potential to be lethal with a lot of talent and experience returning. If the Cougars can find consistency at some of the other spots and stay healthy in the process, the offense can return the program to the top of the conference. Here is a breakdown of each offensive position:
 
Quarterback
Key Returners: Kirkland Brown, Martin Smith
Key Losses: Cinco Simmons
The Cougars return experience at the quarterback position in 2014. Senior Kirkland Brown, who emerged from the preseason as the starter, appeared in all 10 games and started six as Averett's signal caller a year ago. He completed 82 of 154 passes for 739 yards and seven touchdowns with six interceptions while sharing time at quarterback. Averett also returns junior Martin Smith, who didn't see any varsity action last season but threw for 645 yards and five touchdowns in five starts and six appearances as a freshman in 2012.

Averett adds some depth at quarterback with junior Drew Evans, a member of the baseball team, who joined the roster during the offseason as well as freshman Caleb Williams. Averett also returns junior Garrett DuBose and sophomore Joe Lewis and brought in freshman Trevor Luke.
 
Running back
Key Returners: Ray Brown, Nathan Driver, Xavier Morgan
Key Losses: Blake Lewis
Averett returns arguably the best running back trio in the USA South Conference in juniors Ray Brown, Nathan Driver and Xavier Morgan. Morgan, who was the 2010 USA South All-Conference First Team selection at fullback as a freshman, led Averett's ground attack last season with 402 net yards and two touchdowns on 77 carries. Brown rushed a team-high 91 times for 301 yards and three touchdowns, while Driver had 43 carries for 104 yards and one score. The trio also combined for more than 40 catches and two touchdowns out of the backfield in 2013.

The Cougars added more depth at the running back position with several local products in freshmen Travis Jones and Marcus Clements, along with newcomers Heath Gilmore, B.J. Robbins and Cody Brown. Sophomore Marcus Mickell, who previously played fullback, also returns to the backfield.

Wide receiver
Key Returners: Brenden Hughes, Chatham Currie
Key Losses: Justin Gillespie, Adaryal Jones
Averett will look for several returners and incoming players to step up at the wide receiver positions in 2014. The Cougars return senior Chatham Currie, who caught 21 passes for 184 yards, and junior Brenden Hughes, who made 18 receptions for 190 yards and two touchdowns. Both were two of the top-four receivers from last season.

Following the preseason, juniors Bryan Finner and Terrance Owens II emerged as starters and will be backed up by freshmen Myles Bennett and Christopher Maxwell in the season opener.  The Cougars will have additional depth with senior Darren Shepherd and sophomores Michael Barbour, Brandon Couden, Daniel Davis and Clifton Glover as the other returning wide receivers. The Cougars also brought in freshmen Devione Green, Dustin Kuczinski, K.J. Walker, Alan Smith, Darius Dillard, Jamond Jordan, P.V. Norflee and Clifton Walton.
        
Tight end
Key Returners: Chaz Norman
Key Losses: None
Senior Chaz Norman returns after starting most of last season at tight end. Norman caught 14 passes for 164 yards last year. Although untested, Averett also has some depth at tight end with junior Davey Holmes, who saw action at offensive line last season, and sophomores Taylor Booze, Logan Lantrip and George McDowell and freshman Cain Neal.
 
Offensive line
Key Returners: Darrius Bethel, Jake Comer, Van Whitmer, Devin Hutchison
Key Losses: Clayton Hubert
Averett has some experience returning on the offensive line, but enters the first game of the season with sophomore center Jake Comer surrounded by four freshmen — Rashid Hurst, Jamie Billings, Wilson Gregory and Tyler Gray — as the expected starters for Week 1. They'll be backed up by senior Darrius Bethel started all 10 games last season, junior Van Whitmer who made six starts at left guard, and freshmen Malcolm Cannady and Spencer Dowdle and sophomore P.J. Best, who moves over from the defensive line.

From there, Averett has some additional experience with junior Devin Hutchison, who started all 10 games at left tackle. The Cougars also return junior Sam Roome and sophomores William Martin and Michael Wilkinson and brought in freshmen Corey Thompson and Jeffrey Constanza.
 

 
Defense
The Cougars return starters at seven positions on defense. Under new head coach Cleive Adams, Averett is changing schemes from a 4-3 to a 4-4 defense this season. Here is a breakdown of each defensive position:
 
Linebacker
Key Returners: P.J. Thomas, Ben Harris, Kendall Green
Key Losses: Tyler Robertson, Evan Jones, Donald Redding
The Cougars will look to fill the void of longtime starter Tyler Robertson, who graduated after starting all 10 games last season and was one of the team's top tacklers. Robertson is one of several key linebackers who isn't returning. However, Averett does have some experience coming back. Senior Ben Harris and junior Jarvis Shepherd are scheduled to start in Week 1, along with freshman Jordan Bobo. They'll be backed up by senior P.J. Thomas, who rejoined the team in the spring, junior Brandon Petty, a converted fullback, and sophomore Jake Salisbury. Senior Kendall Green, junior Kenny Fleming and sophomores James Langham also return. The Cougars brought in some depth with Joshua McNair, Jeff Williams, Garry Jones, Hayes Norwood, Anthony Jordan- Christman and Clarence Logan.
 
Defensive line
Key Returners:  Matt Smith, Thomas Lucas, Nico Peterson, Cody Spradley
Key Losses: Jawoin Williams, Johan Lorenzo, Devin Norcott
The defensive line is Averett's deepest and strongest position on that side of the ball. The Cougars return a wealth of experience at both defensive end and defensive tackle. At the end position, Averett returns junior Matt Smith, who had 19 tackles and three sacks despite playing just three games last season. Averett also brings back seniors Nico Peterson and Cody Spradley, who are scheduled to start at defensive end in Week 1. Smith and sophomore transfer Dejon Brooks will serve as the backups. Add in sophomore Donte Polite and freshmen Shaheed Muhammad, Victor Miller, Kenneth Covington, Don Warren and Tymondre Isaac and there is plenty of depth on the outside.

Inside, Averett returns experienced senior Chris Norwood and sophomore Darren Maracin, a converted offensive lineman at defensive tackle. Junior Thomas Lucas and senior Darreon Harrison fill the depth chart at nose tackle to join freshmen Darrius Hawkins and Zack Anderson.
 
Safety
Key Returners: Brian Fuquay, Michael Reives
Key Losses: Stefan Varner
Averett lost its top tackler the past two seasons in Stefan Varner to graduation. However, there is depth there for the Cougars. Senior Brian Fuquay returns after finishing in the top five on the team in tackles with 43 last season. Michael Reives also returns with some starting experience. He had 39 tackles, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery a year ago. Fuquay will be backed up at free safety by junior Tavaras Johnson, while senior Donald Downs will spell Reives at the rover position. Additionally, Averett brought in freshmen Nathaniel Lake, Kameron Timmons, Hunter Shepherd, Jamerio Virges and Ivery Walton.
 
Cornerback
Key Returners: Dontae Gilbert, Jamal Forney, Jared Pluciniczak
Key Losses: Zachary Grkman, Roderick Doggett
Averett will enter 2014 without a cornerback who started last season after losing longtime starter Zachary Grkman to graduation. However, the Cougars do return juniors Dontae Gilbert and Jamal Forney, who begin the season as the projected starters. Gilbert had 24 tackles in five games last year while also forcing two fumbles and recovering one. He also broke up three passes and blocked a kick, while Forney saw action in three games. Senior Jared Pluciniczak, who had five tackles in three games before suffering an injury, also returns along with sophomore Kevin Norcott, who makes the move from safety.

A crop of freshmen include JaQuan Jenkins, Elijah Harris, Ja'Quan Poarch, Jaylon Stockton, James Belmer, Greg McCalop and Octavius Ross.
 

 
Special Teams
Key Returners: K Hobie Proctor, LS Andrew Coleman, RET Xavier Morgan
Key Losses: P Zachary Richman, RET Dante' Pinkston
Averett returns junior kicker Hobie Proctor, who handled kickoffs, field goals and extra points last season and will add punting duties to his resume this season. Proctor was 5-of-6 on field goal attempts, including two from beyond 30 yards, and 14-of-19 on extra points. He also averaged more than 50 yards a kick on kickoffs. Proctor will be backed up by freshmen Trevor Luke and Chase Bailey. Junior Andrew Coleman also returns as the team's long-snapper. He'll be backed up by freshman Hayes Norwood.

Averett lost a kickoff and punt returner who combined for more than 700 yards in returns, but junior Xavier Morgan does return to provide experience. Morgan returned six points for an average of 19.5 yards and had one touchdown on a 78-yard return. He also returned 18 kickoffs for an average of 19.3 yards. He'll be joined at times by junior Dontae Gilbert and freshman Travis Jones.


Want more?
Check out the 2014 Averett football media guide: http://averettcougars.com/sports/2010/11/19/FB2010MG.aspx
Check out the weekly game notes: http://averettcougars.com/sports/2008/9/18/FB_0918082645.aspx?path=football