James Sapp Jr. didn’t get as early of a start in football as he might have liked, but the senior tackle is making up for lost time for Yorkville.
The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Sapp, a three-sport athlete, is a force to be reckoned with for the Foxes as he anchors the defensive line.
“I can play any position on the line, but I’m mainly at tackle because of my size,” Sapp said. “I have played some defensive end. It doesn’t matter much, but I may like that better because I like the one-on-one you get at end where you can really do some damage.
“We moved here from Chicago when I was 3. I started football in eighth grade. My parents didn’t know about the youth tackle program.”
Sapp also competes in basketball and track, throwing both the shot put and discus. He qualified for state last spring in the discus.
“But football is No. 1, track No. 2, then basketball,” he said.
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That was apparent Friday night as Sapp had his most productive game of the season in a 44-21 Southwest Prairie West loss at home to Oswego.
He was involved in a season-high 13 tackles, including four for loss and a sack. It gives him 35 tackles for the Foxes (3-3, 0-3), who led 21-20 midway through the third quarter before turning the ball over four straight times to sink their chances.
“He’s extremely athletic for his size,” Yorkville coach Dan McGuire said. “James is a really tough block.”
That athleticism features 4.8-second speed in the 40-yard dash, part of what prompted McGuire to add responsibilities at tight end for Sapp this fall.
“His blocking helps our run game,” McGuire said. “He’s just so willing. Sometimes, you have a good athlete like that, big and strong, but if they don’t want to do it, it’s kind of a waste of time.
“James is so willing and good — it’s pretty special.”
Sapp has yet to catch a pass, however.
“We had one play for him Friday,” McGuire said. “I think he was open, but we just didn’t have enough time to get him the ball.
“He’s a really good kid who wants to do it and doesn’t have to be asked, which is pretty cool.”
Sapp believes he will produce soon on offense
“I’m gonna get there,” he said. “I’ve been open a couple of times. Coach is particularly high on me because of my size and how fast I get off the ball.”
Last season, Sapp made 48 tackles. He’s likely to improve upon that total depending on Yorkville’s playoff run. The Foxes finish with games against Plainfield East, Oswego East and Plainfield North.
Assistant coach Todd Groth, who coaches Sapp on the defensive line and his throws for track in the spring, believes being a three-sport athlete has helped Sapp’s development.
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“I can tell he’s just coming into his own,” Groth said. “He’s a hard worker and being consistently involved, plus having good attention to detail with a good work ethic, is really showing.
“I’m sure some schools scheme for him. He’s improving in his technique and detail to his technique and is just getting better. He’s explosive with a lot of power.”
Improved, no doubt, by his dedication in the weight room. On Monday morning, he posted a personal best 550-pound dead lift.
“In high school, I really committed to it,” Sapp said of lifting. “I want to be the best player out there. The weight room accentuates what you do on the field.”
He has two NCAA Division II and two NCAA Division III offers for football. A strong student with a 4.33 GPA, Sapp has maintained his focus on playing at the next level.
“Getting to college, I’d be pretty pumped,” he said. “That’s my whole goal — make it to college, earn a scholarship and try my best to make it to the NFL. If that doesn’t work out, major in construction management.”