Leesville Road football
Lineman provides Pride with passion
Long before Jeremy Amey-Herbert was a Leesville Road football player, becoming one was all he could talk about.
At least that's what Pride assistant coach Joe Kilby remembers of the undersized senior defensive lineman.
"I had him in weight lifting [class], fall semester of 2008, and Jeremy would ask me every single day, 'When does football start?'" Kilby recalled with a laugh during a recent practice.
After the semester ended, Amey-Herbert's schedule changed, but he had the same inquiry every time he ran into Kilby.
"It didn't matter where I saw him on campus, that was the first thing he said to me," the coach added.
Why the constant questions? "I really wanted to play football," Jeremy shrugged.
Therefore, it wasn't a surprise for head coach David Green and the Pride coaching staff when Amey-Herbert, who had no prior high school football experience, showed up for the first day of tryouts this summer.
The 17-year-old special needs student, listed at 5-foot-9 — but probably closer to 5-foot-7 — was there to go toe-to-toe with members of the Pride.
And regardless of the challenge, Jeremy was willing to put in the necessary work.
"He wants to do every drill that he can get himself into," Kilby said. "And he brings that great attitude every day."
How did he fare battling players expected to challenge for a Cap-7 Conference title? Well, that's him wearing the Pride's No. 53 jersey, and you can see him every Friday night this fall.
Instead of talking about being a football player, Jeremy's now living it.
PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN WORSTELL
Prior to the start of Friday's game at Southern Lee, Leesville Road's Jeremy Amey-Herbert (53) lines up with his teammates. In his first season playing for the Pride, the defensive lineman has already played in three games this season.
Humble beginnings
In regards to football, Amey-Herbert was a blank canvas entering the season, Kilby said.
Having not played the sport since Pop Warner youth leagues, Jeremy didn't know the basics of his position.
"He was pretty raw — he had to learn everything," the assistant coach said. "As a defensive player, he had to learn that his job was to get the quarterback."
Although he might have lacked knowledge and experience, he possessed plenty of ambition to counterbalance those areas.
And Kilby said the defensive end went about his work the right way, showing respect on the field and making sure his off-the-field activities were in line.
The assistant coach was instantly impressed with his attitude as well.
"He is very much a 'Yes, sir. No sir,' young man," Kilby explained. "And despite being undersized and giving up weight [to his opponent], he always has enthusiasm and the fire in him to just go and play."
Not that Amey-Herbert's pre-season experiences were all triumphs and successes.
During a few early conditioning drills, Jeremy struggled.
The 16-lap sprint the team runs to conclude each practice was a big obstacle. (Why 16, you ask? Because it represents the number of games needed to be played to win a state championship.)
"Jeremy was buckled over, and having trouble keeping up," Kilby recalled of the exercise. "But that's when you started hearing the other kids saying "Come on, Jeremy!" or "You can do it, Jeremy."
It was right around then the newest member of the Pride started winning over his teammates.
PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN WORSTELL
Lined up opposite the center, Jeremy Amey-Herbert (53) prepares for the snap of the ball during Leesville Road's 48-0 win Friday night at Southern Lee.
Passion for the game
On a team which features some of the best talent in the Triangle, Jeremy brings more than a passion for football. He brings enthusiasm you can't measure.
While most of the Pride's players didn't know Jeremy prior to the season, he's assimilated quickly.
"He is pretty shy at first, but once you get to know him, he never shuts up," laughed junior Logan Bible. "He is a character, and he has a really good sense of humor. Everybody loves him."
Senior Andrew Wolfe said the defensive lineman has a way of lightening the mood in the locker room. "He keeps everybody loose," the teammate reasoned.
Beginning with his defensive line unit, Amey-Herbert won over his teammates early, Kilby recalled.
"Everyone in his position group has been very helpful because I have 10-11 guys to work with," the coach explained. "But someone will make sure to take him on the side and explain to him what we're doing."
It didn't take long for the work to pay off as Jeremy got his first action during Leesville's second game at Green Hope.
Prior to the match-up, coaches told him he might see the field, and the senior's face immediately lit up," Kilby said.
Late in the game, Jeremy played one series, running about four plays.
His action has been brief, but Kilby liked what he saw from the defensive end.
"He showed good aggressiveness. He got himself lined up correctly and fired off the ball," the assistant said. "He made great contact against the guy he was lined over."
One play, a bigger Falcon offensive lineman drove Amey-Herbert pretty far down field. What was Jeremy's reaction to the humbling block? He bounced right back up. "He was ready to go on the next play," Kilby said.
The senior left the field to chants of "Jeremy." And he played up the moment, waving his arms as he came toward the sidelines.
"I'm always there to help my team get hyped," he explained. "I like to get the crowd into it, you know."
First, Jeremy won over the locker-room, then, the bleachers.
"It easy to see that the other kids love him," said Pride assistant Jason McGeorge. "He gets them excited because of his excitement for the game. It's always fun to see the kids feed off of one another."
Added Wolfe, "I've never seen a guy get so excited to play."
New routine
Jeremy has kept his goals simple for his first varsity season.
"I just want to do whatever I can to make myself better and make the team better," he explained. "We have a good team — we are trying to be the best out there. That's our main goal."
As for personal achievements, Amey-Herbert's are the same as any defensive lineman's: terrorize the opposing signalcaller.
"I'd really like to sack the quarterback, pick up the ball and run into the end zone," he smiled.
Through five games this season — the Pride are 5-0, entering Friday's conference opener — Jeremy has seen action in three. But his match-up with Green Hope — his first — is the most memorable.
After battling one Falcon player, Amey-Herbert hopes for a rematch with Green Hope down the road.
"Me and No. 33, we didn't get to know each other very well," Jeremy laughed. "I hope we can see them in the playoffs, and I can show him I can do better than what I did."
A few moments later, Jeremy collected his helmet and jogged off toward practice, ready to put in more work.
And after at the conclusion of practice, Kilby and Amey-Herbert have a new routine.
"He has a question after almost every day of practice," the coach said. "He tracks me down and asks me what he can do to get better. He does it pretty much every day."
Football is never far from Jeremy's mind.
