Northeast Lauderdale senior wide receiver Tyvontae Hopson goes through broad jump drills early Thursday morning at the school’s third workouts of the summer.

Kamerion Hulin had a funny way of describing his new head coach, John Douglass.

“Coach Douglass talks really loud,” the Northeast Lauderdale senior all-purpose back said with a chuckle.

That was evident Thursday morning, when Hulin and the rest of his Trojan teammates took to the school’s practice field for day three of summer workouts. Douglass may be in his first year at Northeast Lauderdale, but the players responded to him as if he had been there a while, and Hulin said while it was difficult adjusting to a new coach at first, the adjustment period is mostly over.

“He wants us to work really hard, and I know he wants the best for us, and I know that’s what we’re going to give him this year,” Hulin said.

Summer workouts began this week, and Northeast Lauderdale will go through its summer program on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays leading up to the start of fall camp on July 30. Douglass said the team is currently focused on position and throwing drills, and he’s been impressed with the turnout so far.

“It’s off to a good start, and we need to keep it going,” Douglass said. “We had a good spring. There was a lot of teaching and a lot of brand new stuff for a bunch of people, so from that standpoint, we probably didn’t get as much done. On the offensive and defensive stuff, we still have a ways to go, but the most important thing was that what we did offensively and defensively, everyone understood it inside and out.”

Hulin, who ran a 4.48 40-yard dash last week at Ole Miss’ football camp, said even though it’s his senior year, he’s approaching workouts with the same intensity he always has during his high school career.

“I always work hard,” Hulin said. “It’s just another year to get ready for college.”

At the same time, Hulin said he understands the importance of summer workouts, noting that other teams the Trojans will face this fall aren’t cheating on their reps, which is why he and his teammates need to be 100-percent business.

“If you cheat reps, you’re not getting into shape, and that’s what is going to cost you games,” Hulin said. 

Douglass will look to Hulin and his fellow seniors for leadership, but he said he welcomes leadership no matter how old the player is, as along as any talk is backed up by action.

“Obviously, as a coach, you look to your seniors first for that leadership, but it’s not always the seniors, and it doesn’t have to be,” Douglass said. “It can be anybody. Anyone who will come out here and work and put in the time, and their teammates see them work and see them do things the right way — these kids know. They watch. They know who’s doing it right, and if that person who’s doing it right and working hard wants to step up in a vocal way and try to encourage his teammates, they’ll get a good reception.

“Now, if they’re not doing things the right way, then it kind of becomes a he’s-running-his-mouth-again type of deal.”

When it comes to leadership, Hulin said he’s just hoping to leave the right kind of legacy for the freshmen, sophomores and juniors. 

“I just want them to have someone to look up to and keep working hard,” Hulin said.

Following the first week of fall camp, Northeast Lauderdale will host a midnight practice Aug. 3, when the Trojans are allowed by MHSAA rules to practice in full pads for the first time.