Chickasaw’s football program and transfer JaJuan Averhart have found a fit that both sides say has paid off quickly. Averhart, who moved to the Chieftains’ program from Citronelle in search of a fresh start and a chance to play both ways, arrived at a program that was looking for exactly the kind of experienced, physical presence he could provide.
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound senior is set to be in Chickasaw’s starting lineup at both defensive end and tight end when the Chieftains host Satsuma in their season opener on Friday, Aug. 21. Because he transferred in, Averhart had to sit out a year before becoming eligible, but assistant head coach Sherman Johnson said the wait didn’t slow his integration into the program.
“He transferred in, so we didn’t have him last year,” Johnson said. “So this is actually his first year with us. He’s been a nice addition. When he got there we (coaches) said, ‘Yeah, we’ll keep him.’ When he walked in the building I was like, ‘Whoo, yeah.’ He came right in and became one of the leaders on the team.”
Averhart said the Chickasaw campus felt familiar from the moment he arrived. “It felt like a second home,” he said. “It wasn’t anything new. And then their program is kind of, they break it down to simplicity that makes you feel comfortable being there and comfortable playing sports in their program.”
Embracing a Two-Way Role
Playing both sides of the ball was one of the draws of the move for Averhart, who said the added reps have helped him prepare for the season. “Definitely, I love it. It gives me the reps I need to be ready for the upcoming season,” he said. “I can help out on the offensive side too, but I really love defense.”
He said he prefers defense for a simple reason — he would rather deliver a hit than absorb one — but he’s also embraced the chance to contribute on offense, where coaches plan to get the ball in his hands in a variety of ways. “I feel like I can help out pretty well,” Averhart said. “I can bring leadership, I can bring energy, I can bring integrity. I can bring whatever they need me to bring. I can bring discipline. I feel like we’re heading in the right direction considering the losses we’ve taken in the past.”
A Program Looking to Rebuild
Chickasaw is coming off a 4-7 season in which it went 3-3 in Class 2A, Region 1 and reached the playoffs before losing in the first round. Across its 12 seasons as a program, Chickasaw has made six playoff appearances but has yet to win a playoff game, and it has posted just three winning seasons, the most recent coming in 2022 at 7-4.
The Chieftains are the only local team in the newly aligned Class 2A, Region 1 this season. Bayshore Christian and St. Luke’s, both of which shared the region with Chickasaw last year, have moved to Private Class A, Region 1. Chickasaw’s regional opponents this season include Clarke County, Hillcrest-Evergreen, Luverne, J.U. Blacksher, Monroe County and Thomasville.
Johnson said Averhart’s versatility and physical tools make him well-suited to help the program take a step forward. “He’s all over the place,” Johnson said. “Juwan just brings that big physicality that we need at that tight end position. He’s a big target that we can get the ball to down in the red zone and on the defensive end, man, he’s got those long arms. He’s just pretty much unblockable, so we’re glad to have him. He looks like he’s the guy that can get through to the quarterback. He plays defensive end and he’s got a very quick first step. And with those long arms he can keep guys off of him. So I think he’s going to have a good year.”
“Having a guy like him helps us a lot, man, to have that guy that can do it on both sides,” Johnson added. “Being able to have that type of guy that can rush the quarterback, run a series, then come back and go line up at tight end, or spread them out wide and catch a pass for us offensively, man, it’s a great thing to have.”
Stepping Into a Leadership Role
Averhart said he has tried to embrace the responsibility of setting an example for younger teammates as much as the physical demands of the position. “You kind of set the tone for the rest of the team and let them know what you expect and what the coaches should be expecting from them,” he said.
“JaJuan came right on and has adapted very well and is one of the leaders of the team,” Johnson said. “He’s the first person in the weight room and he’s a big-time leader for us.”
Chickasaw opens the 2026 season at home against Satsuma on Friday, Aug. 21.