NEW SMYRNA BEACH — Departing Cocoa after winning four championships in 13 seasons, John Wilkinson admitted that he's outside his comfort zone in new surroundings, taking over New Smyrna Beach's football program.
Now, he expects his new crop of players to join him in uncharted territory, and for them to develop mental toughness along the way.
"We live in the Madden generation. If you're getting your butt whupped, you can turn the game off and it's like it never happened," Wilkinson said, citing EA Sports' popular football video game series. "Out here if you're getting your butt whupped, you better learn to deal with it."
Wilkinson hopes to instill a championship culture at NSB, officially started Monday when the Barracudas became the last local team to break spring camp. He led Cocoa to 34 postseason victories in his tenure.
By comparison, NSB has tallied only 14 playoff wins in school history, according to Florida High School Athletic Association records.
However, Wilkinson feels like the talent is in place for a quick turnaround.
Several starting offensive linemen, including tackle Josh Cox and All-Area first-team guard Drew Peterson, return to the fold. Einaj Carter is expected to convert to running back, occupying a similar role that fellow diminutive backs Javian Hawkins and Willie Gaines filled for Cocoa last year.
The duo of Hawkins and Gaines combined for 3,132 yards on the ground in 2017.
"Our offensive line, we've just got to find the right five guys," Wilkinson said. "I think we have them; we just have to put them in the right spots."
The Barracudas can attack by air as well — All-Area first-team wide receiver Zazion Hudson averaged nearly 19 yards per catch. However, Hudson left practice early Monday with an apparent left shoulder injury.
Defensively, the 'Cudas are turning to the "dark side."
That's the new nickname for the unit, supplanting the "Category 5" moniker from a year ago. Bryce Carter, who tied for the team lead with six sacks, shifts to linebacker. Deven Durham is one player who has caught Wilkinson's eye thus far in the secondary.
Carter described his first practice under Wilkinson in a single word — tiring. Yet, he believes his new coach is fair in expecting the best from everyone.
"No matter what you do, he won't hold a grudge. Everybody has the same punishment if they do something wrong," Carter said.
New Smyrna Beach is one of only two local programs — DeLand being the other — opting not to participate in a spring game. Wilkinson has not scheduled an exhibition in five years, choosing to focus on his own team's weaknesses rather than scheme against those of an opponent.
Wilkinson expects it will take time for his players to adjust. But he believes the team can win, and win quickly — provided they buy into the drastic changes on the field and in the weight room.
"They've got to fight through that wall," he said. "They've got to understand we're probably going to take them to places they've never been, but you have to do that to be as good as we want to be.
"We're coming here to win football games, not to just be happy with mediocrity."