GREENACRES – Jahtavious Gayle has been waiting for his opportunity to break through.
Playing behind former John I. Leonard athlete and incoming senior Ja’Kavian Williams this past season, the 6-foot-3 incoming junior quarterback has gained valuable experience in learning how to be a team leader.
“I was Ja’kavian’s backup,” Gayle said. “I played in two drives all last season.”
Gayle’s patience has paid off, as he is now the Lancers starting signal-caller.
To cap the spring football circuit, Gayle came through against LaSalle, as he led the Lancers with 215 passing yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in a 19-13 home loss on May 21.
“The spring game was a game I needed,” Gayle said. “I needed it so I could prove to people that I was ready to play high school football. There were a lot of people saying I was too small and I wasn’t ready to start on varsity. But it was great playing with my teammates. I had a lot of fun. Even though we lost, it was the first game that I saw my team not give up and compete the whole game. I think we are heading in the right direction, and I have a lot of hope for this team.”
The summer experience has been one to remember for Gayle. For starters, he recently helped John I. Leonard place third overall in the Keiser 7-on-7 Tournament. This proved to be a boost for the Lancers quarterback, who spent time in the winter/spring offseason with the Epic Elite 7-on-7 program and got to help his team place second in some out-of-state 7-on-7 tournaments in Georgia and North Carolina.
“Playing 7-on-7 helped me with my release time and reading coverages,” Gayle said. “I think 7-on-7 helped me develop and take my passing game on to another level.”
Gayle also went with the Epic Elite 7-on-7 program this summer to football camps at Alabama, Georgia Tech, FAU, Eastern Carolina, and Charleston Southern.
In addition to that, Gayle spent some quality time in the weight room and on the field by working on a series of quarterback and speed drills.
“The beginning of summer I was participating in college camps and college tours which allowed me to show off my talents,” Gayle said. “This summer has been about just hard work, trying to get stronger, physically and mentally. I wanted to get faster and sharpen my football IQ. I was able to have a 110-pound increase in my front squat and 30-pound increase in my bench press. I was also able to improve my time on my 5-10-5 and three-cone drills.”
With new John I. Leonard head coach Austin Van Es leading the way, one could expect Gayle’s overall gains to manifest in the regular season games played from later this month until early November at the very least.
“I think I’m going to have a great year with the talent I have around me,” Gayle said. “I think I might have 2000-3000 passing yards this year. And as a team you can expect us not to give up, and fight until the end of the game. I really think we have a chance to win districts or even make it to the playoffs. But we will just have to wait and find out.”
