2023 - Springfield Yellow Jackets

As the thick summer air begins to get a hickory smell to it and the nights become a bit cooler, only one thing can be approaching.....

Football time in Robertson County!

As the Yellow Jackets head ball coach Dustin Wilson prepares for his 12th season back at his alma mater, he also heads into an area of uncertainty.

The 2022 version of The Mighty Springfield Yellow Jackets was one in which featured 8 All - Region Players. Most notable Region defensive player of the year Joe Woodard and Region MVP Devon Crenshaw. When the 2023 Yellow Jackets take the field August 8th in “The Nest” to host Greenbrier, only 1 of those 8 All - Region selections will be in uniform for the Jackets (ATH Clarence Cobbins).

The Jackets graduated 16 seniors off that 2022 10-3 Quarterfinals team. Including 3 of 4 starting secondary players, 4 of 5 receivers, both running backs, Record holder kicker Logan Leftrick, tackling machine Joe Woodard, 4 of 5 starting OL & starting QB Devon Crenshaw.

As all Jackets fans wiped their tears away and said goodbye to one of the winningest classes in Springfield history, Dustin Wilson and staff went right back to work forging the 2023 Jackets.

In 2018, the Dayron Johnson led Yellow Jackets went 11-3 and lost a Semi finals heartbreaker in rainy Jackson, TN. That great class also graduated much of the Jackets fire power and left fans asking what the 2019 version of the Jackets would look like.

That 2019 team went on to capture a region title and play in the 2019 4A State championship game. 

That season play makers such as Box Hudson, Kevontay White and Gabe Kelly burst onto the scene.

Now don't run to Larry’s and say you read that the 2023 Jackets are going to the 5A state title game, that is not at all what I'm saying here.

I believe the 2023 version of the Jackets won't be what we've grown accustomed to over the past 5 seasons, but I do believe Clarence Cobbins will have his way and at times look like the best player on the field regardless the opponent. We’ll also discover some great young players on this team while working through some growing pains. The Jackets will look to replace 4 starting offensive lineman 3 being 2022

All - Region selections and a host of other key position players while working to stay afloat in the toughest region Jackets fans have seen since the 1986 campaign. 

You weigh in all those factors and also add the change on the offensive side of the ball with first year offensive coordinator Kasey Smith and growing pains are expected. 

The new Smith led offense looked very sharp in last week's Jamboree, led by Jr QB Parker Betts the Jackets starting offense went 70 yards in 5 plays to score on the 6A Rossview Hawks. 

The Jackets also have the luxury of returning 12 year defensive mastermind Drew Wilson and as always the Jackets will play fast swarming defense.

As we get closer to the season opener, only a few things are guaranteed for this 2023 season. 

The Jackets will run the football, the field in

“The Nest” will look beautiful every Friday night 

and this will be a discipline in shape football team that will fight.

The remainder of the story for the 2023 Yellow Jackets is unwritten and the pen is in their hands. And quite frankly, I think that's just how Dustin Wilson prefers it. 

• Terrence Summers - Social Dweebs Sports