Taye Diggs could have exited All American, however his affect nonetheless lives on.
Talking with ipromiseyoumedia in promotion of the most recent season of The CW drama, Michael Evans Behling says there have been issues he realized from the veteran actor, 54, throughout their time starring as father and son collectively.
“You see bits and items of Billy in each episode that Jordan has, the power to sort of carry down the hammer as a coach,” Evans Behling, 28, explains, referring to Diggs’ Billy Baker, who was the top soccer coach at Beverly Excessive, in addition to a husband and father to twins Olivia Baker (Samantha Logan) and his personal character, Jordan Baker.
Diggs left the sequence, which is loosely primarily based on the lifetime of former NFL participant Spencer Paysinger, in February 2023. His character was killed following an accident together with his soccer staff whereas touring.
“Only for me, as an actor, with the ability to watch Taye for the final 5 years of the present, I really feel like I’ve simply picked up little intricacies that he is achieved, and simply sort of filtered them into Jordan,” Evans Behling tells ipromiseyoumedia. “And you may see that each one all through season 7.”
Season 7 of All American sees Jordan following in his father’s footsteps as the brand new Coach Baker at South Crenshaw Excessive — the place Billy as soon as taught.
And, as a result of it wouldn’t be highschool soccer if the Crenshaw Prices didn’t have a rival, Osy Ikhile joins the solid for season 7 as Cassius Jeremy, the brand new coach of the Beverly Excessive Eagles.
His son — Kingston “KJ” Jeremy, performed by Nathaniel McIntyre — is the brand new beginning quarterback of the staff.
“To be on a longtime present, it is a blessing,” Ikhile, 36, tells ipromiseyoumedia, reflecting on the sequence general. “I have been a fan since season one, so I am stoked to be right here.”
When describing the complexities of his character, who’s a father, coach and mentor, Ikhile says Cassius has “a lot happening in his private life,” referencing the struggles in Cassius’ marriage to KJ’s mother whereas beginning his new job.
“His means of dealing with that’s simply tunnel imaginative and prescient, [and] perhaps somewhat bit over-excited about making this soccer dream come true for KJ. So it may flip into some conflicts, and it may very well be somewhat bit unhealthy at instances, however I believe he is simply attempting to outlive and simply actually attempting to overly deal with soccer to the purpose the place it may not be the most effective factor to do,” he provides.
“However he is giving it a superb effort,” the British actor continues.
Becoming a member of Ikhile and McIntyre as a part of the solid this season, there’s additionally Khalil, performed by Antonio J. Bell, who’s a troubled pupil at South Crenshaw Excessive, in addition to Amina, portrayed by Alexis Chikaeze, a classmate who sees the great in him whereas serving to him to see the great in himself.
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All American’s newest season premiered Feb. 3 on The CW, with new episodes airing Mondays at 8 p.m. EST. The primary six seasons of All American could be streamed on Netflix.