Five more football athletes to watch

Last week I began to preview some Columbia County products who will be playing on Saturdays. This week I've featured five more area players to keep an eye on this fall.

Shane Yates (Evans)

6-2, 285 Senior, offensive tackle, Ohio University

Yates is one of the strongest players to ever come out of Columbia County. He was a standout in the classroom and on the football field during his days on Cox Road.

This season Yates will be the starting right tackle for the Bobcats. He is even stronger now, posting a bench press of 428 pounds and a back squat of 531 pounds. Both of which are among the best on the team.

Ohio University is coming off a 2-10 season and plays in the difficult Mid American Conference. The MAC has produced NFL quarterbacks Chad Pennington (Jets), Byron Leftwich (Jaguars) and Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers).

This season Yates and his teammates will open the season Sept. 4 against Virginia Military Institute. They also have tough out-of-conference games with Pittsburgh and Kentucky.

Brian Johnson (Lakeside)

6-1, 250 lb., fullback, North Carolina A&T

After deciding to leave Georgia Tech, Johnson will play this fall for the North Carolina A&T Aggies.

Johnson burst onto the scene as a ninth-grader at Lakeside. Then he was a 6-foot, 215 lb. fullback-linebacker and it was clear he had immense potential.

He fought through some nagging injuries during his career at Lakeside and ran into the injury trouble at Tech as well. Hopefully he can have a healthy season for the Aggies. If so, he could push the incumbent at Fullback, Tre Hadrick, a three-year starter. Like Yates, Johnson is incredibly strong, and a true physical specimen. He has a chance ignite his career this season at A&T.

The Aggies won the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference Championship in 2003 and finished 10-3, which was a huge improvement from the 4-8 finish in 2002. N.C. A&T opens their season Sept. 5 vs. North Carolina Central. They also play Wake Forest on Sept. 18.

Georgia Southern

Johnny Los (Lakeside)

Daniel Jordan (Greenbrier)

Osmond Brinson (Evans)

This trio of walk-ons will all suit up for the Eagles in 2004.

Brinson, a 5-10 175 lb. wide receiver, was a solid player for the Knights as a three-year starter. He may not play a lot this season, but he could be a player to keep an eye on in the future.

Jordan had a terrific career as a punter-tight end at Greenbrier. He is also an outstanding student and was a nice pickup for Coach Mike Sewak. He redshirted last season, so he is a freshman this fall. The 6-foot-4, 212 pound Jordan will wear 33 for the Eagles.

The third player is the most intriguing. Johnny Los is an extremely gifted athlete with blazing speed. He was a late bloomer at Lakeside, but had a big senior season. He was outstanding as a return man and in the defensive secondary.

Like, Jordan, Los redshirted in 2003. He could be a sleeper for GSU down the road. The 6-foot-2, 179-pound defensive back could easily add 10-15 pounds to his frame. If he does that and maintains his speed, look out.

Georgia Southern opens their season at Georgia Sept. 4. The game kicks off at 3 p.m. and will be televised by Fox Sports South.

I still have a number of local products to update you on, and if you know of a Columbia County native who is playing on the college level e-mail the info to ab@wrdwam.com