School is out for the summer, but Meridian’s football players aren’t taking any breaks. 

The Wildcats are less than two months away from their Aug. 17 season opener against Tupelo, and if summer workouts offer any indication, Meridian’s football player are more than eager to begin their quest for the 6A crown.

“So far, it’s been pretty good,” Meridian defensive line coach Demetrius Hill said. “We have a vision that we’re trying to get to, and I think for the majority of the part, everybody has been here grinding and working hard getting ready for the long season.” 

For nearly a month, players have participated in summer workouts, and Wednesday morning was no different.

Hill manned the weight room while players cycled through a number of exercises before closing the strength training portion with sets of dips. When finished, Hill motioned for the Wildcats to break with a huddle before they sprinted to the field for agility and footwork exercises with running backs coach Cordera Eason.

Meridian defensive tackle Leviticus Madison said although the workouts are demanding, he can see the results.

“It’s making me better,” Madison, a junior, said. “It’s pushing me past my limits. Normally, most people don’t think they can reach their potential, but it’s helping me grow as a person and grow as an athlete.”

The Wildcats return Tevarrius Adams, who passed for 2,701 yards and rushed for 988 yards last year. Center/guard Jonathan Merritt will be tasked with protecting Adams and opening up running lanes for backs in the fall. Merritt, a senior, said summer workouts offer the right mix of variety, and they help build camaraderie. 

“We’re working on things all around,” Merritt said. “Right now, we’re working on footwork. And in the weight room, we’ve been working on our lower body and our upper body. Just different stuff every day, getting better every day. We’re always together, so we’re always pushing each other and trying to stay on top, and just getting it in.”

Meridian started its summer workout program May 29, and the four-day-a-week program runs through July 23. Players have the option of getting in additional work on Fridays if they so choose. Meridian officially opens fall practice July 30. 

JAMOND GORDON 

Wildcat senior defensive end Jamond Gordon said whether summer workouts or fall practices, Meridian players are working with one purpose in mind. 

“We plan on bringing the gold ball back to Meridian, most definitely,” Gordon said. “So when we hoist that gold ball up, that’s our main focus right now.”

Gordon, the 2017 Premier Preps football player of the year, offered his commitment to Auburn last week in a clever on-campus Twitter video where he talked to Bo Jackson’s statue before announcing, “Bo knows it’s gotta be Auburn.”

Last weekend’s visit was Gordon’s third to Auburn, and he said the consistency of the visits and a level of comfort influenced his decision. Gordon was previously committed to Ole Miss.

“There’s a lot that attracted me,” Gordon said of Auburn. “Everything about Auburn: it’s beautiful, good people, the same character every time I go down there. Coach Gus (Malzahn), and Ms. Kristi, his wife, they treat me just like I’m family, so that pulled me in close with them.”