Winston Academy’s Josh McGinnis is likely to be all over the football field for the Patriots this season.
With a 6-foot-3 frame and weighing 192 pounds, McGinnis could be at tight end or wide receiver on offense. On defense, he would be at outside linebacker or defensive end. But one thing is for certain, he’s going to be on the field somewhere, making him the latest addition to The Winston County Journal’s Eleven To Watch for 2019.
Already named to the list are Jy’Kevious Hibbler and Kristian Hopkins of Louisville, Raheem Hathorn and Kyler Carter of Noxapater, Shia Moore of Nanih Waiya, and Jody McCorkle of Winston Academy.
Second-year WA head coach Pat Byrd said McGinnis will see time all over the field for the Patriots this season.
“Last year, he was a defensive end for us and played well,” Byrd said. “He played on some special team and at times played at tight end. He’s very athletic for his size. We are going to utilize him more as an outside linebacker this season because he runs so well. We will still put his hand on the ground and rush the passer, but he’s athletic enough to help us on pass coverage.”
While McGinnis started on defense last year, Byrd said he hopes to be able to use his athletic ability on offense this season.
“On offense, he’s just learning the routes and hand-eye coordination is no problem for him,” Byrd said. “He’s a good blocker and you can block down and he will be able to do that. He’s an athlete that he can reach out there and get a body on an outside linebacker. He just has to learn where to run on the routes. He will be a big asset to us on that side of the football. We will use him at some tight end but can flex him out and have him match up on a corner. He’s a taller kid and can present some matchup problems.”
McGinnis said he thinks offense is a big key for the Patriots this season. The Patriots have a new offensive coordinator this season in veteran coach Tony Stanford and had a good summer competing in 7-on-7 competitions.
“I think we have to get stronger on offense this year,” McGinnis said. “I think we have always been strong on defense but if we can score, I think our defense will be OK. We just have to score more points. I think our defense has looked good since I have been here but we have struggled on offense. We have a good competition going on at quarterback right now. The 7-on-7 camps have been good this summer. My favorite one was at Starkville High School. We played West Point, Noxubee and Starkville. We definitely got better. I really enjoyed it.”
McGinnis said he averaged about seven tackles a game last year. Byrd said McGinnis is a natural on defense.
“He has a good nose for the football and he’s very athletic,” Byrd said. “He’s a little undersized to play up front but has good quickness. He has to work on his pad level getting lower, but his main thing is he can get pressure on the football. He had a lot of tackles for loss last year and has a knack for making a play behind the line of scrimmage. We were pleased with the way he transitioned into in in the spring. He had a good spring, I was pleased with the way he played.”
Byrd, who was a long-time public school coach at Amory and Saltillo before coming to Winston, said he thinks McGinnis could be a good find for some college program.
“I think he could play somewhere,” Byrd said. “If you see his daddy, he is a big man and his mother is a tall person. His dad played at East Mississippi in the 80s. I would think he would be a guy that you could get in a program and redshirt and put on a weight program and he would gain 30 pounds. I think the potential is there. He’s a guy that could play Division II or Division III or perhaps at a junior college. In the right situation, he could play behind high school.”
McGinnis, who works in the summer for his father doing painting and dry-wall work, said he would like to play college football but if that doesn’t work out, he would like to get into an electrical program. But right now, McGinnis said he is just looking forward to his senior season.
“i’m just trying, since I am a senior, to make the most of this season,” McGinnis said. “I’m trying to help these young kids and get them excited about workouts and try to help them do more weight. They are going to need it. I’m just trying to get stronger and get better. I don’t like to look too far into the season. We have to go get that first one and then we will worry about the next one and just keep going from there.”
McGinnis also starts on the baseball team at Winston, where he led the team with a .406 batting average last season and also had 24 RBIs and five doubles. McGinnis said he also pitched as well but struggles on the mound.
“Josh ended up starting at first and was a designated hitter for us as well,” WA baseball coach Charlie Smith said. “He led our team in extra base hits. He led us in batting average and had a good year for us on offense. We were really pleased with what he accomplished and how far he came last year. He is a kid that worked hard and is in the weight room every time it’s open. He’s a super kid to be able to coach. We are looking for big things out him this year. If he can improve, he could play somewhere at the next level. He’s a big strong kid. I’m looking forward to the year.”
Byrd said McGinnis is the kind of kid a coach wants in his program.
“He has a good family, mother works for the school, dad owns his own business,” Byrd said. “You don’t have to worry about him, he’s on time. He’s what you want. He likes the weight room. And he’s a good baseball player. There may be an opportunity for him to play there as well.”
