Preseason practice opened for Vicksburg High Monday with over a third of the team not on the field.

Still, veteran Gators coach Alonzo Stevens was glad to get practice started with the 45 players who were suited up in helmets and shorts.

“We’re expecting 75 or so when they all get here, but right now we still have some working on summer remedial work, some others who haven’t made it back into town and some more still who are trying to get their stuff together,” Stevens said.

While the absences are not a concern to Stevens, finding replacements for 32 graduated seniors, which includes nine of the 10 line spots on both sides of the ball, is.

“Line play on both sides of the ball is the big thing we’re looking at in the preseason. How fast can our new guys catch on?” Stevens asked.

Senior Dontae Vaughn is the lone returning line starter on either side of the ball for the Gators, who finished 9-3 last season and advanced to the second round of the Class 4A playoffs. Vicksburg has moved up to a new class and will again be playing rivals Warren Central, Clinton and Murrah in a revamped Region 2-6A.

“People have been putting us down because we lost so many, but that will just motivate us more to work hard and prove them wrong,” said Vaughn, who started at guard last season, but was moved to center in the spring. He will also start at nose guard on defense.

“I started out as a center so going back to that position is nothing new to me,” Vaughn said.

Being one of the few experienced Gators, however, will be a test.

 “It’s going to be tough for us early on with just three starters back in all. Plus, we’re going back to 6A. We just have to work hard and keep our focus,” Vaughn said.

Harold Pickett joins Vaughn as one of the three starters back. He’ll be counted on to lead the secondary, moving from free safety to corner.

“We just to have to put trust in our teammates,” Pickett said.

Besides the vacancies on the offensive and defensive lines, a quarterback battle will also be a key focus of the Gators preseason work.

Junior Millan Nasif will battle Cameron Cooksey for the job.

“I love both of them. Together, they took us to a 12-4 record in the summer passing league,” Stevens said. “Then the two of them went to both Norm Joseph’s quarterback camp at Mississippi College and the Manning’s Passing Academy in Louisiana.”

Nasif said both camps were beneficial but the Mannings’ camp, put on by brothers Peyton and Eli along with father Archie, did have its stars.

“They had a lot of big time people there, but most were college quarterbacks, like Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy and the Mannings. Zach Robinson, who was at Ohio State, worked with our group. He really helped me with throwing the long ball and fades,” Nasif said.

The Gators will work two more days in shorts and helmets. On Thursday, they can don shoulder pads for the first time. Monday, the team can work in full pads to prepare for the Aug. 21 opener against Ocean Springs.

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Contact Jeff Byrd at jbyrd@vicksburgpost.com