LAKELAND, Fla. – How do you replace a legend? One lift at a time.

It's next man up at Lake Gibson High School. When your superstar running back graduates early to join the University of Utah football team, somebody has to step up. 

Jaylon Glover left an indelible mark on the Braves football program and he leaves a big hole.

“What you see athletically isn’t anything compared to the person Jaylon is,” Head Coach Keith Barefield Jr. said. “His leadership is probably the biggest hole that we have to fill this year.”

How good was Jaylon? The best in the state this year, earning Florida Mr. Football honors after rushing for nearly 2,400 yards and leading the Braves to the state semifinals.

“He was an eager learner,” Assistant Coach Brendan Boatwright said. “And we hope that the guys coming back or the guys coming in have that same hunger.”

Barefield looks at old film of Jaylon and sees the missing piece of a large puzzle that he has to replace.

“My mind works where I like puzzles,” he said. “And every time you lose a senior class, you  get a freshman class.”

Replacing the more than 200 yards of offense per game Jaylon produced starts in the weight room. The Braves aren’t waiting until spring to fill the void Mr. Football leaves behind. They’re starting now.

“We call this time of the year a foundation where what we do here is setting the tone and setting the standard for how we’re going to build throughout the year,” Barefield said.

The Lake Gibson Braves are replacing a legend one lift at a time.