Landon Garretson understands what it takes for a team to be successful.
Garretson played his first two seasons of high school football at Class 5A’s Kell in Marietta. He then wanted a change of scenery and transferred to Greene County before the start of his junior year.
Garretson was a key leader for the Tigers last year, helping them finish 8-3 and secure a playoff spot, but the senior believes his work isn’t done. He plans to finish his high school career on a strong note.
Garretson consistently strives to improve in every area and said he wants to become a more vocal leader this season. He believes that it will positively influence his teammates both on and off the field.
“It’s definitely something I can improve on,” Garretson said of his leadership. “It’s something anybody can get better at, so I’ve got to work on being even more vocal than I am. I’m just trying to stay level-headed, so I don’t lose control. If I let my emotions take over, the rest of the team will follow, and we’ll end up on a downhill slope. I’m just keeping my emotions in check, encouraging my teammates to stay positive, and telling everyone to keep working because it’s going to pay off.”
Heading into 2025, Greene County will look a lot different this season.
The Tigers have a new head coach in former Valdosta assistant Darius Robinson, who took over for Terrance Banks. They also lost a talented senior class, including Division I players Steve Miller and Kevin Wynn. So, it’s easy to say the odds are stacked against them as they head into the season.
Garretson disagrees.
“A lot of people are saying this is a rebuilding year because Steve and Juju (Wynn) have left since they were seniors, and we had a bunch of others leave,” Garretson said. “But I don’t believe this will be a rebuilding year, and neither does Coach D-Rob, who has a lot of faith in us.”
Garretson had a lot of success on the field last season, passing for 1,236 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was an All-Region first-team selection for his performance, but still feels like he can improve in several areas.
So, he’s working to enhance his speed and agility to escape the pocket better this season. He has been training alongside teammate Travez Gibson, emphasizing footwork exercises with cone drills.
“I’ve worked a lot in the offseason with one of my buddies, Travez. We’ve been going through the footwork ladder a bunch,” Garretson said. “I think my footwork has gotten better. I also worked on running hill sprints. I have a hill right outside my house where I get up in the morning and go for a run, and I’ve been running stairs, too, just trying to develop explosiveness. Footwork is the big thing.”
Garretson and his senior teammates have established several goals during the offseason and aspire to leave a lasting impact on the program. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound quarterback believes this year’s team can do it.
“Obviously, the team goal is to win a state championship,” Garretson said. “But I think a big focus for us going into the season is dominating and winning the region, then making a deep run in the playoffs.”
With just a month before the season begins, Garretson said he and his teammates are working hard.
“This whole summer has been a different experience than last year,” Garretson said. “We’re really focused on just having a lot of discipline and being focused on putting our heads down and working.”