High school football is the talk of the town as area teams begin spring training, a right of passage to summer workouts and fall practice.

Escambia County will start its practice on Tues., May 1. Northview began its practice earlier this week. Escambia Academy begins spring training on Monday.

For the Blue Devils, practices are slated to be spread out, ECHS football coach Rico Jackson said.

Jackson said they will practice two days the first week, three days during the second and every day during the final week in the lead up to the spring game against Northview on May 18.

Jackson said spring training is a way to evaluate player personnel.

“It’s pretty much evaluating where we feel like each kid can help us,” he said. “It’s evaluating new talent, and just getting us organized and prepared going into the summer.”

Jackson said spring training this year will consist of practicing only as a lot of the players are in his weight-training class already.

“It’ll almost be like a regular-season script and go from there,” he said.

Coming off of a 2-8 campaign in 2017, the Blue Devils will graduate nine seniors.

Jackson said there aren’t many roles that need filling, and the competition for positions is going to be high this spring.

“This spring is going to be about competition, and pushing the kids to be the best, and them pushing each other,” he said. “We’re going to have a lot of kids competing for positions.”

At present, Jackson said he has 71 players on his roll.

Jackson said everybody is excited for spring training.

“I feel like we’re going to have a great spring and a great year,” he said. “It’s been a long off season, especially coming off a 2-8 year. We’re going to be better, coach better and play better. We’re excited about putting a new product on the field, and just proving to ourselves that we can play football here at Escambia County.”

Kick off for the spring game is at 6 p.m.