First-year coach Tim Wedlow is taking the most realistic approach he can with his young Jordan Panthers. With only four returning starters, Wedlow has put the program under construction.
“This is going to be a rebuilding year,” Wedlow said. “I’m trying to get some of these younger kids to just understand the game of football.”
Jordan has less than 10 seniors on the roster. Wedlow said he is prepared to take his lumps this season while the underclassman get experience on both sides of the ball under the Friday night lights. He even brought a referee to practice in order to teach his players the rules and regulations.
“That’s the stuff they need to know,” Wedlow said. “We need to start simple, and we need to be disciplined.”
Wedlow comes to Jordan with more than two decades of local football coaching experience. He has spent time at Poly, Cabrillo, Lawndale and Long Beach City College. Wedlow was an assistant coach at Jordan for four years before taking over for John Kane.
Jordan went 0-10 last year, and hasn’t had a winning season since 2010. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver John Ross was on that team. He and Chicago Bears linebacker John Timu both came back to Jordan this summer to meet Wedlow’s team.
“(The players) were able to see what those guys went though, all the hard work, and picking it up from there,” Wedlow said. “It was a good pep talk for them. I just hope these kids can follow in their footsteps.”
“It means a lot that they came and talked to us,” junior Anthony Scott said. “Ross gave me some tips as a receiver, and they also told us stuff about life. It was like a father and son type of thing.”
Scott is one of four returning starters for Jordan with senior Isaac White and juniors Jordan Wofford and Chris Carrillo. White and Scott will line up at receiver and defensive back.
With more players going both ways because of the lack of depth, Wedlow said he has to push his team to conditioned while taking good care of his stars.
“I’ve got some good coaches here, and it’s up to us to watch our players and see who needs a break,” Wedlow said. “I could see us using some of the younger players for a few plays to give the starters a break.”
Wedlow has brought Poly alum and NFLer Ken-Yon Rambo to Jordan to work with the receivers, and both of them think that Scott can blossom into a All-Moore League talent.
“After Ross and Timu stopped by Scott said he wanted to be the best to come out of Jordan,” Wedlow said. “It motivated him, and I think he has a chance. He’s a great athlete.”
Scott will likely be on the field for the entire game for Jordan, and could play some quarterback, but Poly transfer Elias Ramirez is tabbed as the starter. Senior Deshon Harris and junior Robert Coates will both play running back and linebacker.
Carrillo will be the leader in the tranches on both sides of the ball, and he’ll have to mentor freshman starters Alexander Faaea and King Manukailea. Freshman Jeremie McGurn will join them on the line at tight end, and also will play linebacker next to returning starter Wofford.
Senior Aaron Savage (WR/DB), Coats (RB/LB) and Harris (RB/LB) will also be asked to play both sides of the ball.
Long Beach Jordan Football Season Preview 2018
Read more about the Jordan Panthers: https://stage.the562.org/2018/08/10/jordan-panthers-football-season-preview/
PROBABLE STARTERS
Offense
QB Elias Ramirez, Jr.
RB Robert Coates, Jr.
RB Deshon Harris, Sr.
WR Anthony Scott, Jr.
WR Aaron Savage, Sr.
WR Nehemiah Condon, Jr.
WR Isaac White, Sr.
OL Chris Carrillo, Jr.
OL Xavier Heard, So.
OL Angel Ramirez, So.
OL Alexander Faaea, Fr.
OL King Manukailea, Fr.
Defense
DL Chris Carrillo, Jr.
DL King Manukailea, Fr.
DL Alexander Faaea, Fr.
DL Jaylen Powell, Jr.
DL Adrian Manzo, So.
LB Jeremie McGurn, Fr.
LB Jordan Wofford, Jr.
LB Robert Coates, Jr.
LB Deshon Harris, Sr.
DB Isaac White, Sr.
DB Nehemiah Condon, Jr.
DB Aaron Savage, Sr.
DB Anthony Scott, Jr.
DB Elijah Jones, Fr.
SCHEDULE
WEEK 1 AUGUST 17
Jordan vs. Aliso Niguel
WEEK 2 AUGUST 24
Jordan vs. Rancho Dominguez
WEEK 3 AUGUST 31
Jordan @ Lynwood
WEEK 4 SEPTEMBER 7
BYE
WEEK 5 SEPTEMBER 14
Lakewood @ Jordan
WEEK 6 SEPTEMBER 21
Jordan @ Compton
WEEK 7 SEPTEMBER 28
Jordan @ Wilson
WEEK 8 OCTOBER 5
Jordan @ Cabrillo
WEEK 9 OCTOBER 12
Long Beach Poly @ Jordan
WEEK 10 OCTOBER 19
BYE
WEEK 11 OCTOBER 26
Jordan @ Millikan
