Auburn Hills, MI — AUBURN HILLS — Bob Meyer is back on the sidelines in Oakland County, bringing his winning ways to the Auburn Hills Avondale football program in his first season as the Yellow Jackets head coach. It’s also his first year in the OAA. Meyer led an always-ready-for-a-playoff run Walled Lake Central squad in the 2000s and 2010s and has spent the past three seasons at Livonia Clarenceville. While at Walled Lake Central, Meyer’s Vikings clubs to four district titles and a trip to the Division 2 final four in 2010. Avondale is coming off a 6-4 campaign and returns a talented crop of veterans to be molded by Meyer and his staff. “These guys have been great, all of them are sponges and really eager to learn a different approach, offense, defense, preparation-wise,” Meyer said. “They’re not just learning, they are understanding and thinking the game. We stress attention to detail, making the little things as important, if not more important, than the bigger, flashier things. Without doing the little things right, you won’t even be able to achieve the big things. That’s the mindset we’re instill here as a staff. The minutia matters. This team is showing a lot of toughness, mentally and physically and we’re going to build on that for the upcoming season.” Standout senior quarterback Tyler Herzog still pilots the offense and is adapting nicely to Meyer’s new system. “Tyler is the kind of kid that leads with his words and his actions, he’s ahead of where we thought he’d be right now and that’s a tribute to his work ethic and positive attitude.” Meyer said. Speedster Justin Greer-Sykes moves from split end to tailback and Warren De La Salle transfer Eric Christoff is ready to show what he can do in the slot. Greer-Sykes has a chance to be one of the OAA’s most exciting two-sport stars, after displaying electricity during his sophomore year on both the gridiron and the basketball court. Christoff, sure-handed Cooper Voeffray and tight end Joey Wall are Herzog’s top targets in the passing attack. Myles Moore and John Paolo Elias will see carries out of the backfield. Moore spearheads the Yellow Jackets’ linebacker corps, alongside Matt Lloyd and Earl Arrington. Up front, senior defensive tackle Aaron Upshaw captains in the trenches. Marion Baxtresser and Max Checkley are a pair of spunky cover corners and Noah Bates is set to direct traffic for the backend of the defense from his spot at free safety. All-OAA placekicker Hunter Petras highlights the special teams unit. Meyer, who won a state crown as an assistant coach at Walled Lake Western in the 1990s, sees the Avondale program on the precipice of something special. "There's a light at the end of the tunnel and frankly, it's blinding," he said.