Lineman practice during football practice at Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas, on Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. (Chelsea Purgahn/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

With renewed energy, a stable of quarterbacks and potentially a stellar defense, Tyler Junior College football coach Danny Palmer is ready for the 2018 season.

“Even though this will be my 12th year, it feels like the first,” Palmer said. “The leukemia is in remission, I’m real happy about that, which was a great surprise. Dr. (Donald Anthony) Richards (Christus Trinity Mother Frances) is an amazing oncologist. I’ve had good people taking care of me.

“My energy level is, as the players say, high level.”

Palmer said he has a lot of young players and some are starting to stand out after a few practices.

“We’re really good on defense,” Palmer said. “We’ve got a lot of people who can run — not overly oversized on defense. But our secondary can run, linebackers can run and the defensive front is quick. We’ve got one or two big guys.”

The Apaches, known for their explosive offenses in years past, suffered last year when quarterback Brennen Wooten was injured.

“We dropped off after Brennen was hurt,” said Palmer of the QB who has transferred to Louisiana-Monroe.

As far as this season, a trio of signal callers have stepped up.

“We’ve had three quarterbacks emerge — Jeremiah Crawford (sophomore, Mineola), David Johnson (sophomore, Dallas South Oak Cliff, transfer from Incarnate Word) and Augie DeBiase (freshman transfer, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida), the kid from Miami,” Palmer said.  “… No starters as of yet, but it would probably be Augie, followed by David; and Jeremiah Crawford is still in the picture because he has had some excellent practices.”

Palmer added the offensive line “started jelling, getting better. We don’t know who the starters are exactly.”

The Apaches will use a tight end/H back for the first time, Palmer said. He expects freshman Jacob Kainer, a freshman from Cypress Woods High School, to fill that role.

Palmer said all the Apaches passed their drug tests.

“I’m really proud — you know we drug-test at Tyler Junior College — and every one of our football players were negative,” Palmer said, “… every one of them. None of our athletes even what you call traced. That is like a victory and when your athletic director (Dr. Tim Drain) runs from his office to the football field to let you know and that he’s happy about it, that makes you proud.”

Palmer said drug testing is not required in the NJCAA and he said he was unsure of how many other colleges drug-test.

The Apaches are scheduled to scrimmage East Texas Baptist University on Saturday in Marshall. The scrimmage is slated to start at 10 a.m.

TJC’s regular season opener is Saturday, Aug. 25 at Eagle Stadium in Lindale. Palmer said the Apaches’ side is opposite the press box and the TJC fans should park in the north parking lot. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

The game was moved to Lindale in case the new press box at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium is not complete. 

2018 TJC Football Schedule

Aug. 25            ^Kilgore               7 p.m.

Sept. 1              *Blinn    7 p.m.

Sept. 8              *at Trinity Valley               7 p.m.

Sept. 15            *Navarro              7 p.m.

Sept. 22            Texas A&T           7 p.m.    

Sept. 29            *New Mexico Military      7 p.m.

Oct. 6                Open

Oct. 13             *at NE Oklahoma               6 p.m.

Oct. 20             *Cisco   3 p.m.

Oct. 27             *at Kilgore           3 p.m.

^Eagle Stadium, Lindale

*SWJCFC game