Sharpe focused on big senior season

BJ Sharpe has had a busy offseason traveling to several different football camps, and that extra work is starting to pay off for the Southwest defensive end.

With offers on the table from the likes of Mercer, Miami-Ohio, Kentucky, Mississippi State and Western Kentucky, Sharpe is ready for a huge senior year.

“I think I have learned a lot from the college coaches this summer, and it has helped to make me a better football player,” said Sharpe, who also will play tight end for the Patriots. “I know I have to step up and be a leader because we are all tired of losing. My main goal this year is to do whatever I have to do to make the playoffs. None of us have ever been in the playoffs, and we have been working hard all summer to get there.

“We all thought we were ready last year because we worked so hard and had great coaching, but then we didn’t execute in the games like we needed to. This year, I see us as having a great chance to do some damage.”

Southwest is playing in GHSA Region 2-3A this year, which includes Bleckley County, Dodge County, Dublin, East Laurens, Northeast and Washington County.

“Any region we play in is going to be tough because everyone around here plays good football,” said Southwest head coach Joseph Dupree, whose team won three games last year. “I like this new region because it is rich in football tradition. But the most important thing is that we have to stay together as a football team and play at a high level every single game. Perfect practice makes perfect play in games, and we are definitely looking to be a more consistent football team.”

Southwest has some talent on offense with quarterback Jordan Slocum back for his second season as a starter. Slocum threw for 1,226 yards and 13 touchdowns a year ago and will have two of his top receivers, Ja’quavious Solomon and Markees Burton, who combined for 924 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, back in the fold. The offense also has a veteran running back in SeDeran Scott, and the offensive line will be led by Stacey Ivey.

“It helps these younger kids realize that if they are putting in the work on the field and in the gym and in the classroom that good things can happen to them,” Dupree said about having Sharpe on the roster. “Most high school players want to play college football, but not many of them get that chance, and they see these college coaches coming in and out, well, it’s just exciting for everyone around here.”

Despite showing yearly improvement, Southwest has not reached the playoffs in Dupree’s three seasons as head coach.

“We will never be satisfied with not making the playoffs, and that is one of our goals this year,” Dupree said. “It would just be a complete shame if we don’t make it, and everyone here knows that if we don’t, that this season will be a failure.”

This story was originally published August 13, 2016 at 4:21 PM with the headline "Sharpe focused on big senior season."