COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Yates anchors E&H’s D-Line

EMORY, Va. –  Josh Yates made a statement for small school athletes four years ago on one of the grandest stages in Virginia prep sports.

Since that eye-opening performance in the Virginia High School Coaches Association all-star football game in Hampton, Yates has made an impact with his size, strength and intelligence at Emory & Henry College

For Yates, his standout play as a defensive tackle for the E&H Wasps has been more about responsibility than redemption.

“There are good athletes at small schools,” Yates said. “Playing against bigger kids from Group AAA schools in Hampton definitely gave me some confidence that I could compete against anyone.”

The 6-foot-2, 270-pound Yates found his niche early at E&H. After seeing spot duty as a freshman and sophomore, Yates has regularly terrorized ODAC backfields the past two years.

“I expected to play when I came here and the coaches told me they expected the same thing,” Yates said. “I’ve just tried to contribute in my own way.”

The task for Yates today will be to help rally the Wasps (4-2, 1-1) for a 1 p.m. home game against ODAC rival Bridgewater. E&H allowed 262 yards rushing last week en route to a
19-0 loss at Randolph-Macon, while Bridgewater (4-2, 1-1) breezed past Guilford 40-9.

Yates said the homecoming day experience at RMC was excruciating in more ways than one. For example, there was the nearly six-hour bus ride back to Southwest Virginia in gloomy weather.

“It was pretty much just sitting in the dark, thinking about what just happened and what we need to do in the next game,” Yates said. “We just had a terrible day and we were all upset with how we played.
“But that game is over. We just have to flush it and move on. Bridgewater is a huge rivalry game.”

Yates has experienced highs and lows during his collegiate career. Through the early morning meetings and heartbreaking setbacks, Yates developed a bond with his teammates and coaches dating back to the day E&H head coach Don Montgomery traveled to Dickenson County for a visit.

“Coach Montgomery came all the way to Haysi, which is more than a lot of other coaches will do,” Yates said. “Other coaches wanted me to come to their school and see them, so I figured [Montgomery] must want me pretty bad.”

Montgomery and Yates struck an immediate chord.

“I told Coach Montgomery that I like to play with a lot of aggression, and coach said that’s the kind of player he likes,” Yates said. “I’m happy with the way things have turned out.
Sure I wish our teams could have had a better record, but I’ve met some great people and enjoyed my time here.”

E&H defensive line coach Josh Wellenhoffer credits the success of Yates to much more than raw strength.

“Josh does a great job in the classroom, and that effort carries over to the field,” Wellenhoffer said. “Josh never takes a play off. He gets off the line well, uses his hands to shed
blocks and runs to the ball.”

Wellenhoffer watched Yates in action at the VHSCA all-star game. The E&H assistant took notes

“With Josh being from our backyard in Haysi, he was a player that we had to get,” Wellenhoffer said. “We thought Josh could be special.”

A large contingent of Haysi fans attends each E&H game. The group often includes longtime Haysi head football coach James Colley, who played for the Wasps.

“I wasn’t exactly the strongest player at Haysi, but I was one of the bigger kids and I worked to develop good instincts,” said Yates, who can bench press over 300 pounds. “Since I’ve been at Emory, I’ve tried to put my instincts, speed and strength all together and become an all-around player.”

And Yates is never lacking for motivation.

“Once I get some adrenalin pumping during a game, I turn into a different person,” Yates said. “I don’t like to lose.“

The offensive players to watch today are running backs Caleb Jennings of E&H and Thomas Tate of Bridgewater. Despite being the focus of opposing defenses, Jennings leads the ODAC’ with 673 yards rushing. Tate, the most recent ODAC Offensive Player of the Week, has accounted for 670 yards and seven touchdowns. BC junior Hagan Driskell averages 180 yards passing per game.

BC coach Mike Clark is looking for his 100th win as the Eagles head coach.