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Armwood linebacker fills the gaps

Staff photo by Bill Ward

Armwood junior linebacker Jermaine McKinney, right, makes a tackle on the ball carrier during practice last month.

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By ADAM ADKINS

aadkins@tampatrib.com

Published: November 18, 2009

SEFFNER - Armwood's football team faced a huge problem entering the 2009 season. A ton of talent was lost to graduation from the Hawks' 2008 defense, and the unit sorely needed playmakers to emerge to fill in the gaping holes.

Jermaine McKinney firmly believed he could be a solution to the problem. A starter at linebacker as a sophomore in 2008, McKinney was productive, totaling 84 tackles and four sacks. The Hawks needed better this season, however. And McKinney knew it.

"I just knew I had to come hard this year," McKinney said. "I told Coach Cal that this was my year."

There's little doubt as the Hawks gear up for another postseason run that McKinney, a junior, has answered the call by elevating his game. Known by the nickname Juice - he got it in youth league after wearing No. 32 (O.J. Simpson's number) and playing running back - McKinney has emerged not only as one of the Hawks' top playmakers, but also as one of the top defensive standouts in Hillsborough County.

"He was one guy that we knew could bring everything to the table for us: the speed, knowledge of the game and (someone who could) make big, impact plays," Armwood coach Sean Callahan said.

Hawks coaches initially weren't sure where to utilize McKinney's skill set this season. He is quick enough and smart enough to play in the secondary, which was an area of concern entering the season and still is an area Armwood would like to shore up for its playoff run, which begins with Friday's regional quarterfinal against Sickles at Lyle Flagg Field. However, McKinney spent the two previous seasons, including his freshman year at Blake, playing linebacker.

"He's just a great player," Armwood defensive coordinator Matt Thompson said. "Wherever you put the kid, he's going to excel. We wanted to put him where we thought he'd be most disruptive."

That ended up being at outside linebacker in the Hawks' 3-4 defensive scheme. Coaches felt McKinney could utilize his speed and penchant for punishing ball carriers ("When he brings it, he delivers a blow," Thompson said. "And he loves to hit.") while coming off the edge to wreak havoc on opposing offenses, which is exactly what he's done this season.

McKinney entered Armwood's regular-season finale against Alonso leading the team in tackles (83) and sacks (12), and what has Hawks coaches excited most about that production entering the postseason is the spike in McKinney's play in the most crucial times.

"Juice shows up in the big games," Callahan said, noting McKinney has put together his three best games against the Hawks' toughest regular-season opponents.

McKinney had 15 tackles and three sacks in a win over Tampa Bay Tech, 12 tackles and three sacks in a win over Hillsborough, and 18 tackles, including a program-record eight for a loss, and a sack in a loss to Plant.

"That really gets him going," Callahan said of the challenges in a big-game setting. "Big-time players make big-time plays, and he does that."

McKinney says that he's always on the go. It's a trait he developed as a youth league player, and he thinks it has helped make him the player he is today.

"I just always go hard. That's something I've always done," McKinney said. "I never slow down. Never."

Reporter Adam Adkins can be reached at (813) 259-7616.

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