Having entertained offers from Football Bowl Subdivision programs, Zion-Benton senior running back Jamere French intends to be a dominant force this season.
But French won’t be satisfied with that if the Zee-Bees don’t qualify for the playoffs.
“We talk amongst each other about the playoffs all the time, and it would mean a lot to us,” he said. “We’ve been working nonstop and have gotten stronger, faster, more agile, so having success is something we expect.
“I don’t plan on losing to anyone the rest of the way, honestly. I’m definitely looking to take my team to the playoffs and beyond.”
French certainly did his part in the season opener on Friday. The 6-foot, 190-pound Ohio recruit rushed for 260 yards and four touchdowns on 21 carries as the Zee-Bees, who last qualified for the playoffs in 2018, routed North Chicago 61-12 on the road.
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“I told him, ‘You’ll have to be a workhorse, and we’re going to live and die by you,’” Zion-Benton coach MacArthur White said. “I should be able to give him the ball 25 times with no problem.
“He’s taken on that challenge — that extra conditioning, extra work. He’s prepared himself to be the No. 1 running back in Lake County, and I think he’s right there.”
French didn’t get a game’s worth of carries against the Warhawks, given the lopsided score, but he gave everyone a glimpse of what’s possible.
“The first few carries tonight, I was getting into the moment,” he said. “After my first touchdown, I had to turn it up and let them know that I was here to stay. After that, I knew no one was going to stop me and I would be doing my thing.
“Once I get locked in, I just go. They can’t mess with me when I’ve got both feet on the gas.”
French scored his first touchdown just five plays into the game when he scampered 33 yards to the end zone. He scored again on a 10-yard run later in the first quarter, and his other two touchdowns capped a 34-point second-quarter onslaught that pushed the Zee-Bees ahead 54-12.
French qualified for the Class 3A state meet in both the 100 meters and the 200 meters in the spring, and speed set him apart on Friday.
“My speed is something that really pops out,” he said. “To have breakout speed and to be able to do everything I need to do to finish my runs, no one’s going to catch me in the open field.
“I also think I have good field vision, and I love finishing my runs. Even on the sideline, I’m going to try to run their guy over. I love making someone else hurt.”
Allowing French to use that speed in the open field is the offensive line’s goal. Third-year starting senior left guard Tristan Morgan has watched French fly by him countless times and describes blocking for him as a unique challenge.
“It’s a lot of technique work because every defense does their best to stop him,” Morgan said. “We see a lot of teams blitzing and bringing pressure. So us linemen do our best to block whoever we can for him so he can find a gap and use his skills and abilities from there.”
As French has matured, he has learned that he doesn’t need to run for a big gain on every carry.
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“I value taking the little punches, the 5, 6, 7 yards, and not just looking for the home run every time,” French said. “If you keep doing that the whole game, you have a better chance of ending up on top.”
French’s recruitment ended with his commitment to Ohio on July 15. He had turned enough heads during his junior season to make several game-day visits, but the process began to accelerate over the winter. His first offer came from South Dakota in February, and a handful of others followed.
“It’s definitely been surreal,” French said. “I’m glad recruiting has shut down and I can focus fully on the season and doing my best. I have a whole season ahead of me, so I’m really able to get locked in on that.
“I feel truly blessed. I remember as a kid thinking that something like this was all I wanted. I used to tell myself that if I work as hard as I need to, I can do what I want to do. I worked day in and day out to ultimately achieve my goal.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.