Top wrestler sets tone for Trojans’ defense

Christian Rodgers knows his way around the wrestling mat.

Dating back to his eighth-grade year, the Tattnall Square senior has four top-four finishes at state wrestling meets. He had two of them in the GISA, then he had another fourth-place finish in the GHSA as a sophomore before finishing second at 220 pounds last year.

He’s also a force on the football field as the heart of Tattnall’s defensive line.

Rodgers, who led Tattnall’s defense last year with 108 tackles, including 60 solo, anchors a Trojans defense that returns its top five tacklers.

“Christian is a good athlete, a good football player, a great wrestler, and I think he’s a great person,” first-year Tattnall head coach Chance Jones said. “He’s a good one to have as a senior for leadership to kind of show the guys the ropes and show them how to play hard, play fast and play smart.”

Tattnall faced plenty of adversity last season. The Trojans finished 10-2 in 2014 but slipped to 4-6 and went winless in sub-region play. A coaching change ensued, with Clint Morgan departing after three seasons and Jones coming in from Prince Avenue Christian, where he was offensive coordinator.

Jones inherits a team that, despite last year’s struggles, has plenty of experience returning. There are 15 seniors on the 39-player varsity roster.

“There’s a lot of tradition here, and there’s guys that are ready to step up and play,” Jones said. “There’s a big senior class coming in. It has been a good transition, just trying to get everyone to buy in and understand their role as a team and get it all together.”

Then there’s the experience on the coaching staff.

Longtime Westfield head coach Ronnie Jones, Chance’s father, is on board to help run the offense and to coach the linebackers. Also on the staff is former Warner Robins head coach Bryan Way, who is working with the offensive line. Jim Massey, the former boys basketball coach at Mount de Sales, is coaching the defensive line.

“There’s a lot of adjustments,” Rodgers said. “The new offense, defense a little different. It’s all great stuff. Every coach we have, everyone is so happy with it. We’re all buying in to what every coach wants us to do.”

Said Chance Jones, “It’s lucky and fortunate that Coach Way and Coach Jones both were retiring. I don’t think it was anything I did. I think they were just looking for something to do, and I was lucky that I had a place for them. With Coach Massey coming over from Mount de Sales, they are all going to be vital additions to the program.”

This story was originally published August 13, 2016 at 4:23 PM with the headline "Top wrestler sets tone for Trojans’ defense."