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The Best Keeps Getting Better.
THE 2019 TOYOTA RAV4 The #1 selling SUV in the United States in 2018 is running up the score with its 2019 upgrade. Experience adventure and test drive the 2019 RAV4 - available today at Valdosta Toyota.
ValdostaToyota.com | @ValdostaToyota
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What advice would you give to a younger player who aspires to be where you are today? I would tell younger guys to separate yourself from the childishness and soak up all the info on the game and everything from older guys.
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Sergio Allen LINEBACKER Height
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Tate Rodemaker Poised for Breakout Season Written by: Phil Jones | Photography by: Aaron Musgrove
The storied Valdosta Wildcat football program has a reputation of fielding winning football teams throughout the last 100 years, during which time they have claimed dozens of region, state, and even national championships. In fact, Valdosta High School remains, to this day, the winningest high school football program in the United States, with a record 919 total program wins. Of course, when you talk about the winning program and all those championships, it was all possible because of great coaches and talented players. Whether it was offensive or defensive players, every position on the field contributed to the success of the Wildcats and in making Valdosta a household name when it comes to high school football greatness. But, fair or not, the one position that always seems to get more attention than any other on the football field — and that’s with any football team, not just Valdosta — is the quarterback. And boy, has Valdosta had some great quarterbacks throughout the years. John Bond, Buck Belue, Ted West, John Lastinger, Greg Talley, Seth Shuman — the list goes on and on. The current starting quarterback for Valdosta has already made his mark as one of Valdosta’s greatest signal callers ever, shattering three school records for a Valdosta quarterback last season, and is poised to have a breakout season in 2019. Meet Tate Rodemaker. The son of Valdosta head football coach Alan Rodemaker, Tate is blessed with all the tools that a good quarterback needs: height, standing at 6 feet 4 inches tall; speed, running a 4.63 time in the 40-yard dash, the signature measurement of all football players' abilities; and a strong arm. He also has recorded a 35-inch vertical jump, a sub-4.4 shuttle run, and a greater than 10-foot broad jump. However, even with being blessed with all the ath50 | itgnext.com
“The best thing about Tate is that he’s very even keeled. He is the same after throwing a touchdown pass as he is after throwing an interception. Tate is a confident guy, but he is still humble enough to know that he has things to work on as well.” — Alan Rodemaker
letic tools necessary to play and excel on the football field, coach Rodemaker said it’s still not the number one thing that makes his son a standout quarterback. “The best thing about Tate is that he’s very even keeled,” coach Rodemaker said. “He is the same after throwing a touchdown pass as he is after throwing an interception. Tate is a confident guy, but he is still humble enough to know that he has things to work on as well.” Tate grew up in Wendell, North Carolina, where he began playing football at the age of 6. He played running back in his first year of organized football.
But then the family moved to Duncan, South Carolina, the next year, and Alan Rodemaker became coach at Byrnes High School. In Duncan, Tate changed positions, moving to quarterback. He never changed positions again and has played quarterback ever since. While he played quarterback on the football field, he also played basketball, baseball, and track. He continued to play those other sports in addition to football until middle school, when he became disinterested in baseball. “Baseball was just too slow for him,” coach Rodemaker said. ITG Next | 51
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Small but Powerful GLYNN ACADEMY Written by: Phil Jones Photography by: Eric Vinson
It’s usually the big the biggest player on the guys who get the at- field, but he breaks tacktention when walking les from defensive guys onto the football field. twice his size. Nolan can After all, when coaches stop and start on a dime. are sizing up their op- He is an incredible workponents, the first thing er, and he never takes a they look for is the over- play off. He sets the exall size of the team. ample for his teammates So, imagine when on the field and in the Nolan Grant walks onto weight room. All the stuff the field for his pre-game that you want and look workouts standing at 5 for in a football player, feet 6 inches and weigh- Nolan has it.” ing 170 Hidalgo pounds. referenced “Nolan can stop and a n o t h e r Opposing teams more start on a dime. He is smaller back than likely who starred an incredible worker, in college don’t pay the running and he never takes football in state of back much a play off. He sets the attention. Georgia. the example for his “Nolan However, you can be reminds me teammates on the sure they of Robert field and in the weight G o d h i g h notice him once he room. All the stuff that from Georgia Tech,” he touches you want and look for said. the ball and runs over, Godhigh in a football player, through, played runNolan has it.” ning back and around opposing for Georgia — Rocky Hidalgo teams’ deTech from fenses. 2009 to That scenario has 2013 and was awarded likely played out on foot- the Brian Piccolo award ball fields all over Geor- for most courageous playgia, ever since Grant er in the ACC in 2013. started playing football Grant has overcome in recreation leagues, any perceived disadand it continues today. vantages because of his Grant is a hard-nosed height to become, just senior running back for flat out, a great football the Glynn Academy Red player. Not only does he Terrors. A three-year have the overwhelming starter, he has become endorsement from his the go-to guy in head head coach, but he has coach Rocky Hidalgo’s the accomplishments, offense. stats, and recognition to “He is a heck of a back it up. player with a dynamic Grant was selected as package,” Hidalgo said. an All-Region 2-6A hon“He is compact and not orable mention selection ITG Next | 71