Vidalia — For three years Vidalia High School football fans got used to seeing the familiar face of Caleb Vines under center for the Vikings. Vines has since graduated and accepted an offer to play baseball at Louisiana College.

In steps sophomore Michael Whitley to take over as the Vikings’ starting quarterback this fall, and he said he learned a lot from his predecessor.

“I looked up to him,” Whitley said. “I am going to try to do what he did.”

Whitley said he has been playing the quarterback position since junior high school, and his strengths are his ability to run and make plays.

Head coach Gary Parnham said he is impressed with his new signal caller’s athleticism.

“This kid is smart and very athletic at his position,” Parnham said. “We will be able to do different things we couldn’t do in the past.”

Parnham said Vines was an impressive athlete as well, but Whitley could be even more athletic.

Whitley said his goals for the summer before he takes the reigns as Vidalia quarterback were to work hard and try to get better.

That work did not go unnoticed by his head coach.

“I’ve noticed him work on his own,” Parnham said. “I’ve been driving by, and seen him throwing the football in the neighborhoods.

“He has the drive that he wants to be the best, I see it in him and it’s a big advantage for him. Anything I’ve asked him to do he’s done it.”

Parnham said he plans on starting Whitley on a throwing regimen this week to start letting him get familiar with the backs and receivers, and get his arm ready for fall practice Aug. 8.

Parnham said he understands that Whitley will not come in and play like a senior right away.

“He will have some growing pains, that goes with starting in 3A (for the first time),” he said. “But we look for him to improve as the season goes on.”

Parnham said it is tough to lose the experience of Vines, but he thinks this team is better suited to overcome that loss, because they are a very young team, with only seven seniors, and it will be easier for Whitley to fit into the makeup of the team.

Parnham said he already sees great cohesion with this year’s squad.

“In the spring it was a closer knit group this year than last year,” he said.

Whitley said he will have a few pre-game jitters, but he is just ready to take the field for the first time as a starter this fall.