Newton will be tasked with overcoming the departure of key pieces from its defense this fall in order to obtain success.

Sound familiar? It should.

A daunting challenge, surely, but one Newton head coach Camiel Grant Jr. and his staff have become accustomed to in years past.

“I’m not ever concerned because I know what type of coaches operate on that side of the football,” Grant said. “But then we’re bringing some kids back that played well last year and we’re expecting them to continue to grow.”

The Rams will have to replace a pair of Division I Power Five athletes in Nyland Green (Georgia Bulldogs) and Darius Green (Minnesota Golden Gophers) in their secondary. They’ll also try to fill the hole left by Justin Benton, a four-star defensive lineman who transferred to IMG Academy this offseason.

Shoes that size aren’t easily filled, but Newton has a roster chock-full of athletes who could be the right fit.

Topping off the list of returning defensive starters are First Team All-Region 4-AAAAAAA defensive end Tahjae Mullix and three-star defensive back recruit Audavion Collins. Others include Nolan McCamy, Rontravious Perry, Jehden Robinson and Olan Robinson.

“There are some spots to be filled,” Grant admitted, “but there are a lot of names over there that we think are capable of getting it done.”

Grant’s staff will be plugging and placing throughout the defense, but the Rams offense will have a familiar face calling signals.

Senior southpaw Jevarra Martin Jr. has continued to develop into a leader. While not always the most vocal, the quarterback’s relentless effort in the weight room and dedication to improvement on the field speaks volumes about his commitment to commanding the offense.

“Jevarra’s up to about 230. He looks like he may have grown about an inch or so. You can see it in the velocity,” Grant marveled. “But just in conversations with him, I think his decision making has grown a whole lot.”

Martin will be surrounded by a young core of skill players, both out wide and in the backfield. They’ll look to him to set the tone this fall, and Grant believes he’s already taken them under his wing and accepted his role as the unequivocal captain of the unit.

“I’m proud of him for the way that he’s growing and being the leader that we expect him to be,” Grant said.

Other notable cogs in Newton’s offensive machine to keep an eye out for include Gabriel Williams, Sean Pellew, Armon Phillips, Perry and Zion Johnson.

The biggest question mark for this Newton club will be special teams.

Abdiel Velasquez graduated, leaving the Rams in need of a place kicker and punter. While nobody emerged as a heavy favorite during the summer, Grant remains optimistic. 

“I think it’s a position that, as a fan, you kind of take it for granted. You go get some popcorn when the kicker is out on the field. But as a coach, you understand that it’s very critical,” Grant said. “That’s field position. That’s points on the board.

“Not going to call it an area of concern yet — we’re not worried about it — but it’s an area that we’ve got to dig very, very deep to make something happen.”

The Rams will be on the road Friday, Aug. 20, as they open the 2021 season at Hughes.