Akron North Vikings 2023 high school football preview
NORTH VIKINGS
HEAD COACH: DeMonte Powell, first year
LAST YEAR: 1-7, including 0-3 in the City Series
POSTSEASON: Division II, Region 5
TOP RETURNING PLAYERS
Marvin Causey Jr., CB-WR-RB-QB, 5-9, 175, Jr.
Jaydein Echols, MLB, H-back, 5-8, 235, Jr.
Elijah Gervins, RB-SS, 5-5, 150, Sr.
Bernard Jackson III, TE-DE-P, 6-5, 225, Sr.
T.Y. Jones, DE-TE, 6-2, 240, Jr.
RodRico Stamps Jr., NT-C, 5-7, 185, Soph.
IMPACT PLAYERS: Causey has stood out on both sides of the ball in summertime seven-on-seven sessions against other teams. He's expected to play at least four positions, including quarterback in special packages. “He's been somebody that has completely jumped off the screen for us. He's one of our leaders. He's a person that has to have the ball in his hands,” Powell said. … Gervins and Jones set the tone for their teammates in many ways. “[Gervins is] the kid that's going to line up our DBs and get our kids together,” Powell said. “He's another versatile athlete that we can move down to the box [as a safety]. He's going to make sure that the D-line is where they need to be at. T.Y. is head and shoulders the overall leader of this ship. If he goes down, then we're going down. And that's just being completely honest with you.”
WHAT'S NEW: A first-year head coach, Powell is determined keep North afloat throughout its entire schedule after a lack of player participation and injuries forced the Vikings to suspend their 2022 season with two games left. … Sigmund Felding, a 5-10 and 170-pound junior, will start at quarterback and play free safety. “Our offense is kind of circled around him,” Powell said. … Like Felding, sophomores LaDanian Hughes (DE-G, 5-11, 180) and Harold Wright (WR-CB-QB, 6-0, 160) are new to North's program. “He's one of the first people there, one of the last people to leave, so his work ethic is off the chart,” Powell said of Hughes. Wright is the primary backup QB to Felding, Powell said.
Akron North ready to restart football: Vikings set for 2023 high school football season and hope to finish this time
OUTLOOK: Powell is a proud former Vikings football player who graduated from North in 2011. He is passionate about increasing the size of North's roster and guiding a reversal of fortunes. The health of the team will be something to monitor this season as Powell attempts to boost participation. At the same time, Powell wants to instill a hunger to win in his players. He plans to rely on double-tight end sets featuring Jones and Jackson. Powell raved about the strength of Jones and called Jackson “a matchup nightmare.” A wrestling standout, Gervins is one of two seniors on the team, and no one works harder than him, Powell said. Stamps is another player capable of helping the Vikings forge ahead toward their goals. “Rico has all the intangibles in the world to be an undersized lineman,” Powell said. “He's arguably the smartest kid on the team. His IQ is off the charts.”
Coaching changes at Akron North: 'It was like a whirlwind': Athletic director picks DeMonte Powell to lead the football program at his alma mater
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron North Vikings 2023 high school football preview
