THOMASVILLE, Ga. — When a team completes an 12-1 season, there’s usually a good amount of seniors that are on their way out when everything ends.

That’s certainly true for the 2018 Thomasville Bulldogs, but that doesn’t mean all the talent has gone out the door — not by a long shot. However, there are still some open spots available that players are beginning to work for in the spring.

“This is Day 3, so in theory we’re trying to say every position’s wide open,” Thomasville coach Zach Grage said. “In realistic talk, we know for most part the guys that have spent time in the fire. What I told our coaches is, it’s their job to find that surprise.”

The Bulldogs’ quarterback for its best season in 30 years, JT Rice, will be gone, leaving a gaping hole at that key position. Thomasville has four players vying for that spot — rising freshman Chad Mascoe, senior Jay Tillman, sophomore Patrick McNeill and rising junior Maylon Cochran, who’s playing baseball right now.

“If we played a game tonight, Jay Tillman would be the starter,” Grage said. “The thing with Jay is he’s one of our top receivers. It makes us better as Thomasville Bulldogs if we have Jay Tillman at receiver and Patrick or Chad sitting at quarterback.”

The Bulldogs return leading receiver Kevin Cochran, but are also going to be working with new faces there with Kevon Shy and Tyler Knuckles leaving. Sammy Morrow, Ricardo Johnson, Tillman, Jamari Sapp and Trey Florence are battling it out there at different parts of the field. Grage still sees a lot of promise in that group.

“Ricardo’s been a kid that didn’t play a lot last year as a freshman, and right now he’s our best receiver, hands down,” he said. “That could change tomorrow but I’m really impressed with him.”

On the offensive line, there are a bunch of familiar guys, with five out of the seven starters returning. Sherman O’Neal and Malik Harper are fighting for playing time at running back behind Tan Gelin and Malek Miller, and at tight end, Payten Singletary has moved over from defense to compete with Quincy Carnegie.

“That’s going to be a competition,” Grage said. “Both of them will end up playing — I don’t know right now who would start, probably Quincy. But Payten probably has the most upside on this offensive group.”

It’ll be defense that sees the most competition, though. Jeremiah Powell, Karey Lee and Jashawun Thornton are returning starters and defensive back Ronald Smith will be looking to see more playing time. The key for Grage is trying to find a vocal leader or leaders there that can keep the unit together when things get tough.

“The biggest thing we’re losing on defense is that Charlie Thomas guy that is just that leader,” Grage said. “Right now we’re not a very vocal team. Last year we had Charlie and Quinton (Jones) and JT that right, wrong or indifferent, they were going to be mouthing. We’re looking for that guy right now.

“There is a lot more competition on that side. We aren’t very big defensively. I think we’re fast, we fly to the ball, we preach turnovers. We buy into the idea that we rotate kids.”

Monday was also the first day of special teams practice, where Thomasville will lose Carl Blackmore, a kicker who now holds the record for longest field goal in school history. Jackson Coppedge looks to be the guy right now.

“I wouldn’t have given two pennies for Jackson Coppedge last year,” Grage said. “He was 95 pounds soaking wet, but he’s done something where he’s grown up a little bit, gotten a little older. He came out here — he wasn’t Carl Blackmore. I don’t think there’s anyone in the state that’s like Carl. But he made me forget about him for a little bit.”

Thomasville fans will have an early chance to see the team in action on Friday, when the Bulldogs hold at intersquad game at Veterans Memorial Stadium at 6 p.m. The team will take the field to practice at 5:30 to warm up before the actual game. Entry is free, but attendees are encouraged to bring laundry detergent, white towels and paper goods to help feed the athletes.

The Bulldogs will host Bainbridge for its spring game May 11 at 7 p.m.