New Iberia Senior High football coach Rick Hutson is working with a smart group of players this year. He thinks the Yellow Jackets can use that to their advantage in getting back to the playoffs this season after missing out on the postseason last year.

“My dad (NISH assistant coach Lawrence “Rock” Hutson) has been around football a long time, and he has a saying, and it’s true,” said Rick Hutson. “When you have a weak team mentally, you’re going to pay for it. You’re going to have mistakes late in games that hurt you. The opposite is true, too.”

Last year the Jackets had 42 players with a grade point average of 3.2 or higher. Among those back this year are players like sophomore tight end Kyle Lamothe, senior running back Emanuel Harding, sophomore quarterback Jordy Joseph and senior linebacker Kyle Lamothe, all with 4.0 GPAs.

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“Potentially on offense we could have five kids who have 4.0 GPAs in the game at the same time,” said Hutson.

But that’s not the only positive thing about this year’s squad.

The weight room renovation in the spring was a shot in the arm to the program, Hutson said, helping the team get stronger over the summer.

The Jackets went 4-6 last year but had a chance to win three or four of the other games as well. That bodes well for this year, too.

Joseph takes over at quarterback for departed senior Kyle Clement, and brings a lot of ability to go with his intelligence.

“I hate to put a lot of pressure on a guy who’s only had a few snaps on varsity,” said Hutson. “But he has a great combination of leadership at a young age and football savvy. He understands what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. He’s a very hard worker and a good athlete.”

Joseph should be helped by having an offense that should be better at running the ball this year.

“We couldn’t run the ball at all last year,” said Hutson. “(This year) we’ve got three linemen back who were starters last year, and we’ve got Dustin Edwards, who started at Franklin last year. I think we’re more physical up front, and I think that we’ll be able to run the ball better.

“Skeeter (Emanuel Harding) and Uriah (Joseph) both worked hard. Between the two of them we can split the load (at running back). Uriah’s also a pretty good receiver out of the backfield.”

Harold Roberts started every game at receiver last year and Delario Austin has had a good summer and spring at the position as well, said Hutson. Tyler Olivier, a quick player who is excellent after the catch, is penciled in at flanker, with Tevin Archangel, a track standout in his second year of football, also improving on last seasons.

Because of the expected improvement of the running game, Hutson said the Jackets will probably go with more of a standard offense and not use as much shotgun formation as last year.

Defensively, Hutson feels good about the secondary and better about the front seven than he did last year.

“Quintrell Thodile can be a real good linebacker for us,” said Hutson.

“Michael Lamothe at one outside linebacker and Wardell Nelson at the other outside linebacker started last year. We’re looking at Johnnie Cope at one inside linebacker. He was a defensive end last year, so we can move him back there if he doesn’t work out at linebacker. Bryson Ford and Jim Hewell played significant time at nose guard, and Ron Allen, a transfer from St. Martinville, might be our best defensive lineman.”

And the defensive backfield that includes three returning starters �” safeties Ronald Gillis and Trent Gaddison and cornerback Harold Roberts �” should be a strength.

“Trent Gaddison’s had a very good spring and summer in seven-on-seven (drills),” said Hutson. “His knowledge at what he’s doing for his position from last year to last year is 180 degrees (different). He looked lost at times last year. This year he actually baits our quarterbacks.

“He makes them think the receiver is open, then breaks on the ball and knocks it down or intercepts it.”

It’s that type of smart play, and smart player, that should help the Jackets succeed this year.