It’s been a nice, productive spring for the Rome football team. Productive for the school’s other athletic teams, that is.
Most of the football players are spending their spring months playing soccer, baseball and track. And that’s fine with John Reid, head coach of the two-time defending state champions.
A perfect example is Xavier Roberts, the school’s all-state receiver and AJC Super 11 candidate. He’s playing right field for the baseball team; Roberts hit a homer in the bottom of the sixth last week to win a game. He’s also anchoring the 400-meter relay team that’s expected to win the Floyd County championship and compete at the state meet. Roberts is about to finish the year with four letters for the second straight time.
In the meantime, it’s about the season that college coaches start dropping by Rome to visit with their many prospects, among them Roberts, running back Jaimous Griffin and quarterback Knox Kadum. Griffin already has 25 Division I offers. Kadum, a four-year starter who has won 27 straight games, has been offered by Tennessee Tech. Roberts has been offered by Georgia Southern and Old Dominion.
Griffin rushed for 1,276 yards and scored 28 touchdowns in 2017. Kadum threw for 2,046 yards and 23 touchdowns, with only three interceptions, and rushed for 737 yards and 11 touchdowns. Roberts caught36 passes for 703 yards, a 19.5-yard average, and 11 touchdowns.
One player Red expects to open eyes this season is tackle Quantavious Leslie, a 6-4, 285-pound rising junior. “He is going to be awesome,” Reid said.
Guys like Leslie are going to get their chance this spring to solidify their chances. (He’s got high hopes for tackle Raquon Jones, a 280-pound junior.) Reid said it’s been interesting to watch how the younger players have reacted to their role in the school’s growing football legacy.
“The young kids see that it’s on them now,” Reid said. “The younger kids feel this is their chance to take the reins. They’ve seen what it takes and I’ve seen the way they’re worked in the weight room.”
Rome will start spring practice on May 3. The Wolves will have a scrimmage game on May 18 against North Paulding.
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