NATCHEZ — Despite being more than a month away from the season, the Natchez Falcons have already taken flight.

Ages 6-12 gathered near Natchez High School Thursday evening to practice for the upcoming season in the TNT league out of McComb. With all-stars still going on with baseball, Natchez Falcons coach Darryl Smith welcomed an estimated 30 kids to practice fundamentals and drills. One of those kids was JaCorian Sewell, 11, who led the 11- and 12-year-old team in tackles and rushing last season. Sewell, son of former Alcorn State linebacker Howard Clark Jr., said he has football in his DNA, but the Natchez Falcons mean much more than just a game.

“It means fun and friends for me,” Sewell said.

Sewell gathered with his friends, ran sprints, learned fundamentals and became reacquainted in his pass catching and running ability Thursday. Instead of trying to figure out who goes where, Smith taught the fundamentals of all positions to the three teams present (6 through 8-year-olds, 9- and 10-year-olds and 11- and 12-year-olds), as he was preparing them for their future.

“We’re not concerned about positions right now,” Smith said. “We want them to learn all the positions because when they grow up, the big ones might thin out and the small ones might get big.”

A perfect example of that is 11-year-old Josh Thomas. Thomas played on the offensive line last year and played some tight end, but his thinned out frame will likely put him in a position to get the ball more. When asked about which position he wanted to play this season, Thomas didn’t have a preference, but he did cater toward the skill positions.

“As long as I get the ball, I don’t care,” Thomas said, laughing.

Smith said the reason he likes to start practice early in the summer is so he can get kids active who aren’t playing baseball. Josh Trask, 12, didn’t play baseball this season, and he’s a returning offensive lineman and defensive lineman for the Falcons. Trask, who is entering his last year with the Falcons, said he’s going to miss playing with others he now calls friends.

“I’m really excited (about my final year) because I’m playing for the Falcons and Natchez Middle School,” Trask said. “This is my last year to play for the Falcons, and I’m going to miss playing with the Falcons a lot.