Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Gordon's tutoring plus for Jackson State's Johnson


Jackson State senior Jaymar Johnson spent part of this summer training with former JSU star and current San Diego Chargers return specialist Cletis Gordon.

Johnson will likely return both punts and kickoffs for the Tigers this season and said the pointers he picked up from Gordon in training should prove invaluable once the season starts.

"I can't show you everything because I've got to save it for the field," Johnson said laughing. "But Cletis knows what he's doing. He was just showing me some little things to maybe slow down the gunners coming for me on the outside."

Johnson, who was also Jackson State's leading receiver last season, said the team has spent quite a bit of time the past few days watching film of Delta State. The Tigers play DSU at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The Statesmen, ranked No. 12 in the country in the AFCA NCAA Division II poll, have a celebrated defense led by All-America linebacker Michael Eubanks. But Johnson said he thinks there's potential to find some holes, especially in the secondary.

"Their front seven is really fast and they swarm to the ball really well," Johnson said. "But I think if we can give Jimmy (Oliver) some time in the pocket to throw, our receivers will be able to handle their secondary."

WHILE WAITING FOR FROST

With senior tight end Marcel Frost still on the shelf while recovering from a broken leg last spring, the Tigers have had a wide-open battle for tight end.

JSU offensive coordinator James Woody said redshirt freshman Cedric Dixon would get the starting nod while sophomore Antoine Ott-Terrell and true freshman Josh Tiller could also see time.

- David Brandt

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