- April 29, 2024
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Jordan Mills, who had shoulder surgery on Feb. 9, was back with the Pirates on the first day of preseason practice, July 31. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Jordan Mills, left, covers Daniel DeFalco in a practice drill. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Defensive line coach Time Sandersfield instructs freshman Will Yowman. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Quarterback Jackson Lundahl throws a pass. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Jordan Mills catches a pass in traffic. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Jordan Mills catches a pass in practice. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Jordan Mills makes a catch in a practice drill. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas head coach Matt Forrest talks to his players at the end of the first preseason practice on July 31. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Coach Shavon Patton talks to Cole Hash. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas defensive line coach Tim Sandersfield talks to freshman defensive lineman Will Yowman. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas coaches Shavon Patton and Jason McCoy checkout Cole Hash's helmet. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Running back Zach Furey carries the ball during a drill. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Jordan Mills came to football practice straight from his doctor’s appointment.
Less than six months after undergoing surgery to repair ligaments in his right shoulder, the Matanzas defensive back/wide receiver was medically cleared, just in time for the Pirates’ first preseason practice on Monday, July 31.
“He’s a leader for our football team, and the kids look up to him,” coach Matt Forrest said. “So it's good to have him back.”
Mills was cleared for full contact, although teams are not allowed to practice in pads until Aug. 5.
“I have a (shoulder) brace coming in to help with stability that will connect to my pads,” the rising senior said. “I had a different shorter brace, but this one’s better. It’s more secure.”
Mills, who has received several Division I offers, has not played in a football game since Oct. 13, 2022. The following week, he dislocated his shoulder in practice. He tried to avoid surgery by immobilizing his shoulder.
He missed the rest of the season but resumed wrestling on Jan. 7 and won 14 consecutive matches until dislocating the shoulder again in the 170-pound championship match at the Flagler Rotary tournament on Jan. 27. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on Feb. 9.
In seven games last season, Mills rushed for 160 yards, caught 18 passes, had 44 tackles and two interceptions on defense and ran back kickoffs and punts.
He wasn’t expected to be back on the field until just before the start of the season, but he’s been ahead of schedule throughout his rehab.
“They didn't want to rush me,” he said. “The doctors did a real good job of keeping me on schedule, keeping me from doing too much, and my coaches helped me make sure I was doing the right things in the weight room and not doing too much on the field to make sure that I would be ready for the season for when it actually matters.”
The fear, he said, was that he’d dive for a ball, and the shoulder would pop out again. But the new brace should help prevent that, he said.
I was missing (football), during the spring. I was just sitting on the sidelines, watching (practice). It’s amazing to be back out here with the team.
— JORDAN MILLS
“I was missing (football), during the spring,” Mills said. “I was just sitting on the sidelines, watching (practice). It’s amazing to be back out here with the team and just seeing how everybody fits in the pieces and just feeling that team chemistry we still have. I’m playing with a lot of my childhood friends again, guys like (tight end) Daniel DeFalco, and Sho’Marion Gaines, who wasn't here last year.”
DeFalco, who was with the Pirates as a freshman, returns for his senior season. Gaines, a dynamic defensive back and running back, played in Texas last year.
“We have some new transfers coming in, some guys returning back to the team that we didn't have last year and some injured guys that are healthy now,” Mills said. “A lot of guys I played with my freshman year are back as seniors.”
Mills, Gaines and Cole Hash all started as freshmen in Forrest’s first season as the Pirates’ coach three years ago. They’ve all been valuable on both sides of the ball. The difference this season, Forrest said, is the depth behind them.
“Our program’s come a long way in three years,” Forrest said. “We’ve got 101 guys on the roster. We’ve got a program now. In years past we haven't had much depth. I'm watching us out here now on the first day of practice, and I'm seeing guys that are second teamers that could be starters. In the past, there was such a drop off from our first team to our second team.
“A lot of guys are going to (play) offense and defense, but they’re not going to be on the field the entire game," Forrest said. "We can now move some guys around and spell guys. That’s a luxury we haven't had in the past.”
Although Mills hasn’t always been able to participate, he has been with the team throughout the offseason other than when he traveled overseas this summer — to Tonga with his father, Abe Mills, on a humanitarian trip where they helped build a house for a family; and on a trip last month with his parents to Israel and Jordan.
“He's been in the weight room all summer,” Forrest said. “Except when he went on his trip to Jerusalem, he's been here. He's been with the team, showing up every morning at six a.m., ready to rock and roll.”
Mills had plenty of company.
“I feel like this year we're more committed as a team,” he said. “Last year, we were committed, but this year I feel like we're more of a brotherhood, more connected. I just feel like we're all close knit, and the younger guys, they've had time to develop now. I feel like everybody's ready to have a good season.”
