2024 GF Media Day: Helix Mentorship Academy Sharks (Baton Rouge,LA)

After a devastating 2023 football season, Coach Ellis Spears of Mentorship Academy is looking to grow and improve his football program this upcoming season. Coach Spears stated that the team has been spending a lot of time hitting the weight room early and practicing at the levee to build their strength. Earlier this spring the team brought in some new players, including a new quarterback named Jeremy Collins. Coach Spears Had this to say about QB Jeremy Collins

He can actually throw the ball, which is something this team was missing last year.

Head Coach Ellis Spears

Some key players to look out for this season are Jacoby Jerelle, a receiving DB, Mackenzie Barber, an offensive and defensive lineman, and a player who goes by the nickname “Big Frank.” Coach Spears states the team has an exceptional running back this year, plans to “open up” offensively, and wants to improve their defense drastically. For the next two years, the team will be on a cycle schedule playing more locally based teams, and hopes this will aid their chances of winning, as last year they went 0-10 in the 2023 season. Coach Ellis stated that the team has an extremely supportive administrative staff, including “Mama Shark,” who greatly help Coach Spears. Because the school is located in the middle of the city’s downtown, they have no game or playing field and usually have to play at Memorial or Olympia Stadium. However, the school does have a decent weight room which they are grateful for. The community and family support for the players has been exceptional and hopefully will improve as the team continues to improve. When asked about his goals for the program, Coach Spears says he would like to bring some new players into the program, build up the program and players individually, and expand his coaching staff as the school requires more coaching faculty members due to the loss of a former coach moving to Strummer. Coach Ellis Spears and the Mentorship Academy Football team tremendously appreciate the support from Grid Iron Football.

I’m still preaching to the guys, we still got to go out and play. We can’t fold over. But we still go out and play out and play our hardest and give our best to those those teams that we’re gonna play

Head Coach Ellis Spears

Jermey Collins is a junior at Mentorship Academy. He is the starting QB this year, he has been focusing this year on being the best he can be for his team. As stated before Coach Spears has seen his arm and is confident that this young man will deliver. When asked about his goal for himself and his team, this is what he had to say.

my individual goal is to make some passes throw some touchdowns and the team’s team goal you know help us win some games and make it to the playoffs as a team

Mentorship Academy QB Jermey Collins

(Photo by Andy Bryson)

This senior at Mentorship Academy is ready to make a name for himself this year, Jacolby Jarrel is 5’11” , 138lbs, wide receiver. He is a player who puts his heart and soul into every practice and makes sure he puts in work on his own time, which sets him apart. He was asked to speak on his teammates and had some great words to share about his QB and defensive tackle.

My QB just recently started coming out and putting in work and making plays. He’s just been getting better and that what I like to see. Mackenzie our defensive tackle, man he’s been blocking, getting bigger and more physical and just getting better all around.

Mentorship Academy WR jacob Jarrel

(Photo by Andy Bryson)

Sophomore Mackenzie Barber is an offensive guard and a defensive tackle for Mentorship Academy. He has put in the work this summer in the weight room getting bigger and getting more technical with his game. He was asked what side of the ball he would like to focus more on and defensively he is better, so focusing on his defensive game will be a big part of his year. When asked what had been going on this summer Barber had this to say.