Vicksburg is in for an ultimate makeover on the defensive side of the ball this season.

Not only will Vicksburg High unveil a new offense under former Cleveland-East Side coach Tavares Johnson, but the Gators defense will get a major overhaul as well.

Johnson completed his staff by hiring former Forest Hill assistant coach Darrell Scott to overhaul Vicksburg’s defense. Johnson said that after May’s spring practice, he rearranged his staff. He brought in Scott and moved last year’s defensive coordinator, Sean Archer, to the offensive line.

Ben Shelton will be the co-offensive coordinator with Johnson. Corey Childress of Brandon was brought in as the quarterbacks coach. Michael Banks and Roderick Erves were promoted from the junior varsity and will coach with Scott on defense. Dexter Nettles will helm the defensive line and will be the ninth-grade coach.

For the past three years Vicksburg’s defense has struggled. Even last year, when the Gators went 4-7, they surrendered 38.5 points per game. One opponent, Lawrence County, was held to less than 20 points. Jim Hill, which won two games, hung 46 on the Gators. Tylertown posted 63 on the Memorial Stadium scoreboard and Clinton got 40 with a playoff berth on the line. When the Vicksburg offense played well, the games became shootouts.

Johnson knows his defense will again face a stiff challenge in Class 6A, but he likes the track record Scott had at Forest Hill and again last year at Bailey Magnet.

“He’s shown a knack for taking undersized kids and be successful,” Johnson said. “He’s also an odd-front guy. I like the odd-front and I ran a 3-4 at East Side.”

Scott said his preferred defense would be similar to Nick Saban’s version of the 3-4 he runs at Alabama or the one run by his favorite NFL team, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“I love how Coach Saban uses his 3-4 and blends in some multiple fronts. We’re just not big enough to run it,” Scott said. “That’s why we’re going to have to attack and attack from different angles.”

Scott got a big break with the arrival of transfer student Rashard Callaway. Callaway comes to Vicksburg from Vanden High School in Fairfield, Calif. The senior is 6-foot-2, 212 pounds, and he played in a 3-4 defense at Vanden.

“Coach Scott’s defense is the same, a 3-4 and sometimes a 3-5,” Callaway said. “I know my role is to control the outside.”

Scott said Callaway has made a big impact.

“It’s wonderful to have someone who has played the Sam (strongside) linebacker in this set,” Scott said. “He’s a big asset for us.”

Another plus is the return of senior linebacker Shaquan James. James went down with a knee injury in a win over Richwood in Vicksburg’s second game of the season last year.

He said the fast pace of the Gators’ offense has helped the defense’s transition under Scott.

“With the offense we go up against in practice, you have to be in shape,” James said. “Coach Scott has showed us what we need to do. There’s no big difference. You just have to go out, work it, and play together.”

Scott said he’s not worried about the step up in competition to 6A.

“I know this is the top division in football, but in the three years I was at Forest Hill, we played Picayune, Wayne County and West Jones,” Scott said. “I feel ready for this grand stage.”