In the mud and muck of the rain soaked practice fields stood a familiar face to the Ed White football program. Head Coach Terry Gilliam is once again entrusted to lead the program after a two year break from 2013 to 2014. ” I had time to spend with my family and it was a time of reflection about things I’d do differently once I became a head coach again.” Gilliam wasn’t sure if White would be his next coaching job, but unlike many modern era coaches, he remained at the school to teach after being replaced. ” Ed White is home for me and my family. I enjoy teaching and molding young men from the area. At the end of the day its about the young men, and their academics”. He inherits a team that lost virtually everyone from their deep playoff run last year. But has gained some eager and hungry players in hopes of carrying on the storied Ed White winning tradition. ” At Ed White we expect to play championship football each and every time we take the field, and that is the focus for this group of players this year”. -Coach Gilliam
Roster:
| 2 | Bryant Ferguson jr. | MLB, OLB | Sr. | 5-11 | 200 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Xavion Allen | QB | Jr. | 5-10 | 155 |
| 5 | Cameron Bolden | RB | Sr. | 6-0 | 160 |
| 6 | Jakarie Jones | WR | Sr. | 6-0 | 186 |
| 6 | Keyon Garmon | RB | Jr. | 5-7 | 158 |
| 9 | Dion Bonner | CB, RB | Jr. | 5-10 | 172 |
| 10 | Damon Williams | RB, SS | Sr. | ||
| 12 | Terry Gilliam | QB | So. | 6-0 | 150 |
| 17 | Johnnie Myers | RB, SB | Jr. | 5-8 | 153 |
| 19 | Emmanuel Demery | QB | So. | ||
| 20 | Antonio Tyler | WR, SB | Jr. | 5-10 | 149 |
| 21 | Jadarius Byrd | CB, WR | Sr. | 5-10 | 162 |
| 22 | Ernst Desravines | CB, FS, SS | Jr. | 5-9 | |
| 23 | Keyon Washington | RB | Jr. | 5-7 | |
| 25 | Chase Mitchell | CB, FS, SS | Sr. | 6-0 | 190 |
| 25 | Jarvis Brown | RB | Sr. | 5-4 | 150 |
| 26 | Jamal Tillman | CB, FS | Jr. | ||
| 26 | Vincent Thomas | CB, FS | So. | ||
| 28 | Zion Taylor | RB | So. | ||
| 31 | Dandre Taylor | CB, FS | So. | 5-7 | 140 |
| 33 | Keyon Whitehead | OLB, MLB | Jr. | 5-10 | 200 |
| 34 | Manuel Garza | FB, TE | Jr. | ||
| 35 | Shamouri Walker | G, FB | Sr. | 5-9 | 210 |
| 42 | Dajuan Cornish | DE, OLB | So. | 6-0 | 173 |
| 44 | Deryk Hill | DE, OLB | So. | 6-1 | 180 |
| 44 | Lorenzo Crews | MLB, OLB | Sr. | 5-11 | 200 |
| 47 | Vernon Jackson | DE, NG | Jr. | 5-11 | 215 |
| 50 | Deangelo Humphrey | DT | So. | 6-0 | 244 |
| 54 | Cameron Smith | C, G | Sr. | 6-0 | 265 |
| 71 | Ron Williams | C, LS | Sr. | 6-1 | 315 |
| 72 | Jordan Johnson | G, T | Sr. | 6-3 | 280 |
| 73 | Chris Pough | C, T | Jr. | 6-1 | 265 |
| 77 | Curtis Dunlap Jr. | T, DT | So. | 6-6 | 348 |
| 80 | Chris Robinson | K, P | Jr. | 5-7 | 163 |
| 99 | George Harvey | DE, OLB | Jr. | 6-1 | 205 |
| Devin Goodlow | CB, FS | Jr. |
Only three starters return on both sides of the ball for the Commanders. They’ll have a new back field, and new Quarterback to lead the offense this season. 
The front runner right now for the QB position is Terry Gilliam Jr, a rising junior who transferred from Atlantic Coast. Gilliam wants to show what he can do, but not just because his father is the head coach. ” I’ve always wanted to play for my father. My personal goal is to be the best and our team goals are to win. We want to make a deep run in the playoffs, and if we stick together I believe we are headed in the right direction”. Gilliam Jr knows that in order for him to be successful as the team’s signal caller he will need his play makers to step up.
He has already made a close connection in camp with Junior wide receiver Xavion Allen. Allen is a versatile player who plays both sides of the ball. 
He learned playing for Forest View and Westside in youth football that the more positions you play, the better your chances are to excel on the field. In just his second year playing at White, Allen has already asserted his attitude on the practice field. ” We got a young team, but we just have to show up”. While Allen knows that the commanders must show up in all facets of the game, junior wide receiver Nicholus Blair intends to show out every chance he gets. ” When I have the ball in my hands I feel like I’m by myself. I have no fear. I have the heart of a lion”. Blair may seem confident but he is also ever the modest athlete. He played youth football at Lake Shore and his personal goals are to ” keep God first, and stay humble”. Discipline is key in Coach Gilliam’s offense and it will undoubtedly begin and run through the 6’4 280 pound OT Jordan Johnson.
On defense the unit starts up front with the defensive line. And Ed White’s line must be lead by it’s seniors Kier Tolliver, Anthony Whitmore, and Avery Wilds. Tolliver understands the importance of building closeness.
” We stayed together (at Ed White) for the brotherhood”. Wilds agrees, ” Its truly a family environment, and we learn a lot by pushing each other”. The three year starter knows that now is the time where he can take his game to the next level. ” I have the most potential {this year)”. It’s this type of optimism that keeps the commander defense flying around every year. Players such as Caleb Massey (OLB),and Jadarius Byrd (DB), will without question be prime time players to watch on this defense.
2014 Recap & 2015 Outlook
6A Standings District 3
Ed White had a very successful season last year. They’re deep playoff run was a testament to the talented players on their team. A deep 2014 team that was loaded with seniors has left a very young 2015 team that is loaded with questions. But with youth comes swagger, and with swagger comes a belief in winning. And a belief is all you need to become winners on and off the field.
Special Thanks to Coach Terry Gilliam and the Ed White Football team for allowing Duval Sports to come out!
If your interested in supporting the Ed White Commanders Football team this season please email the team at GilliamT@duvalschools.org
