BY BRIAN RZEPPA
Two of the most productive players on this year’s Trenton High School football team, seniors Jack Miller and Spencer Witt, have each decided to take the opportunity to continue their playing careers at the next level.
Miller, who was third on the Trojans in receiving yards and tackles this past season, has signed on to play for Head Coach Jamie Zorbo at Kalamazoo College, whose team is coming off of a 2-8 season.
Spencer Witt, who was tied for the team lead in tackles for loss and sacks as well as standing in second for tackles, will be joining Adrian College under longtime Head Coach Jim Deere. The Bulldogs are coming off of a 5-5 season.
Trenton Head Coach Bob Czarnecki spoke highly of both Miller and Witt’s contributions to the team the past year and noted that the team is going to have some challenges in replacing their presences both on and off the field.
“Both Jack and Spencer were such important pieces in this year’s team,” Czarnecki said. “Jack was in charge of making sure our secondary was lined up properly and made the secondary adjustments for us while Spencer did the same with the linebackers and defensive front. We are going to have a tough time replacing the two of them.”
Beyond their ability on the field, Czarnecki praised each of their abilities as leaders; though they approached leadership in different ways.
“It was fun to watch both of them grow, not only as players but as young men. They both come from great families, thus they were very coachable. Spencer and Jack are both, by nature, relatively quiet; however, they ended up being great leaders for us — they led by example. Jack with his head — Spencer with his heart.”
Miller, the son of Trojans longtime Assistant Coach Bill Miller, will be joining a Kalamazoo College team that is going to be looking for contributions both in the passing game and in the defensive backfield.
The Hornets will be losing two of their top three receivers and two of their top three defensive backs, so the path toward the immediate playing line could be quite direct.
As for Witt, the son of Trenton High School Athletic Department Administrative Assistant Toni Witt, he is entering an Adrian lineup that currently features only one returning upperclassman at linebacker, so he may have the chance to come in and contribute early. In any case he should have good support in his transition to the college game under a solid coaching regime that has been in place for more than a decade.
Along with the connections he will make on the defensive side of the ball, Witt will be joining former Trenton High School standout and Jack’s brother, Liam, with the Brits.
While the adjustment from high school to college is always a big jump, Czarnecki is confident in each of them and believes that the sky’s the limit for them.
“In terms of their contribution at the next level, I think the biggest hurdle for them will be getting used to a completely new set of coaches and coaching styles. I am confident that they will both find their way and become important members of Kalamazoo College (Jack) and Adrian College (Spencer). We are so proud of both of them and their families; they raised great young men which made our job so much easier.”
While the Miller’s may have some trouble in deciding who to root for in the Kalamazoo College vs. Albion College game next season, both Jack Miller and Spencer Witt should be primed to make contributions to each of their new teams within the next few years.