Talented Wildcats eager to air it out (+ video)

Lexington coach Josh Stepp is usually one to temper expectations, but with the elite skill position players the Wildcats have returning, the third-year coach is brimming with excitement with the start of high school football practice almost two weeks away.

Lexington has won and impressed in several 7-on-7 summer tournaments, including one on Wednesday at Ben Lippen that featured seven teams, including local squads from Batesburg-Leesville, Pelion and the host Falcons.

It helps to have two quarterbacks and a core of receivers that have produced under the Friday night lights. That receiving corp will be one of the best in the Midlands.

“They’re a very talented group where all four of them can play,” Stepp said. “It’s a luxury to be honest. We expect them to be good players and good leaders on and off the field. The best thing about them is they’re interchangeable. Being able to move them around makes us sort of dynamic.”

Jayson Hopper, Tyler Schadewald and Daquan Wells will be joined this year by transfer Jason Rumph to form the formidable foursome. All four are over 6-foot tall with Rumph checking in at 6-foot-6 and Schadewald at 6-4.

Hopper was the go-to receiver last season, leading Lexington with 55 catches for 623 yards and seven touchdowns. The senior has offers from Presbyterian, Charleston Southern, Appalachian State and Gardner Webb and is hoping for more with another big season.

“He’s started for us since he was a sophomore,” Stepp said. “He’s very strong and is a phenomenal route runner with great hands. He’s our go-to guy because he’s a playmaker and can do a lot of different things for us.”

Hopper believes the Wildcats will be more balanced this season. Slade Carroll was the workhorse in the backfield with over 300 rushing attempts and 1,630 yards last year, but he believes the passing game could take some of the focus away from him this year.

“I think we might pass the ball a little more, and if we do, hopefully, we can be a little more effective. If we can do that, it will open ever better holes for Slade. We should have a more all-around offense this year,” Hopper said. “We’ve gained a lot of confidence in the 7-on-7 tournaments. We’ve been winning a lot and doing our thing.”

Schadewald was the deep threat last season and helped stretch the field. He caught 39 passes for 785 yards and seven scores. The senior believes the confidence gained this summer could be a big boost to the offense this season.

“We easily have three or four guys that can be the go-to receiver,” he said. “Our confidence is through the roof. It’s been hard for other teams to stop us.”

Wells had 14 receptions last year, but Stepp is hoping to use the junior in several different ways this year. The shortest of the four receivers at 6-foot, Wells will line up in the backfield, the slot and out wide to take advantage of his quickness and ability to break free.

“He’s one of best athletes and probably our most electric player with the football in his hands,” Stepp said. “He plays some running back, and we try to do a lot of different things with him. We expect a lot of good things from him this year.”

Adding Rumph to the rotation strengthens the passing game. He is transferring from White Knoll and was one of the Timberwolves’ better receivers on a team that relied mainly on its ground attack.

“He’s a very good athlete with big hands,” Stepp said. “He’s still learning our system but once he gets it, I expect big things from him.”

For Stepp and the area coaches and players, July 31 (first official day of preseason practice allowed by the SCHSL) can’t get here soon enough.

This story was originally published July 15, 2015 at 11:32 PM.