MOULTRIE – Despite a couple of coaches being unable to take part, the Colquitt County football team had an enthusiastic first day of spring practice on Tuesday at the high school.
The Packers, who won their third-straight region championship last season, will be out to improve on an 8-4 record when the 2025 season starts Aug. 15 against Benedictine Military School in the Hawg Pen.
Sean Calhoun, starting his fourth season as the Packers head coach, was pleased with how the 89 players attacked the first of the 10 spring sessions.
“We’ve got a bunch of kids coming back from last year,” Calhoun said. “And they understand how we want to do things.
“Yes, there was a big excitement level.”
There are a number of positions to fill and a new defense to install and Calhoun wants the team to practice hard while also staying as injury-free as possible.
“You want to play fast and hard, but you also want to take care of each other,” Calhoun said.
Packer fans who took in Tuesday’s session had to be impressed with the size of the No. 1 offensive line that coach Bryce Giddens sent out for drills.
At left tackle, Kaden Calhoun, listed at 6-foot-4, 245 pounds last season when he backed up Khalil Collins.
At left guard was 6-foot-4, 285-pound Sawyer McCard, who played at Tift County last season before his mother took a job at Colquitt County for next school year.
Taking over at center this spring is 5-foot-9, 200-pound Ethan Yingling.
The only returning starter is 5-foot-10, 225-pound right guard Jamaal Jackson, who was known for his pancake blocks last year.
Lining up at right tackle was 6-foot-3, 295-pound Kavon Thomas, who played at Dougherty last year. He will be a junior this season.
“That’s a work in progress,” Calhoun said of the offensive line. “But we feel like we have the pieces of the puzzle. They are a good-sized group.”
The front five, along with returning tight end Alexis Barge – himself a 6-foot-4 225-pounder – will be charged with opening some holes for Jae Lamar.
As a junior last season, Lamar averaged 7.9 yards an attempt while rushing for 885 yards and 11 touchdowns.
He also caught eight passes for another 172 yards and two more scores.
His combination of speed, balance and power have turned him into one of the nation’s top running back prospects.
He is expected to choose from among Georgia, Auburn, Clemson, Ohio State and Florida State when he decides where he will play football collegiately.
After wearing jersey No. 34 last season, Lamar will sport No. 1 this season.
“He loves playing football … loves being out there,” Calhoun said. “He also loves trying to be an example for the younger players.”
The offensive staff will be short a couple of coaches for several days.
Offensive coordinator and running backs coach John Cooper had hernia surgery on Wednesday and is expected to miss a few practices.
Receivers coach Quin Roberson, who has returned to the staff after a season as the offensive coordinator at Westlake, also will not be available for several sessions because of commitments in Atlanta.
Helping on the offensive side of the ball this spring is Josue Melendez, a senior who could not play last season because of a back injury.
He indicated he wanted to remain a part of the program and is now a student coach.
“He is a great kid and has been working with the receivers,” Calhoun.
Melendez was at Tuesday’s practice, often at the side of coach David Hill Jr., sending signals in to the receivers.
Veteran Buck Hanson is back to coach the tight ends.
The defensive coaching staff is still without a line coach and it is unlikely that position will be filled before the end of spring practice, Calhoun said.
But former Packer assistant Zach Stanaland has returned to the program after a year as the defensive coordinator at Tattnall County.
Stanaland, who was the strength and conditioning coordinator under former head coach Justin Rogers, will coach the linebackers and work in the weight room along with Stan Luttrell.
Brian Simmons is back to coach the safeties and Dextra Polite returns for his 24th season as the cornerbacks coach.
Simmons also is the special teams coordinator.
Luttrell was named defensive coordinator after Jeremy Rowell, who held the job the last three season, left to take a similar job at Veterans High in Warner Robins.
Luttrell has begun the process of installing his preferred defensive scheme.