By Lee Trawick Riverbend News
The tri-county area is flooded with potential stars on the gridiron this upcoming 2021 varsity football season. With the names of Jaquez Moore, Colton Allen and Jhebari Martin leaving the high school ranks to begin their college careers, what names could emerge as household names in 2021?
The Suwannee Bulldogs, Hamilton County Trojans, Branford Buccaneers and the Lafayette Hornets are all teams with great expectations for the upcoming season, as seen in the underclassmen's performance in last year's season.
Mario Thomas stands at 5'9” and 195 pounds and was the pure old-school definition of a football player during the 2020 season for the Hornets. Thomas completed 62 passes of 102 passing attempts with 12 passing touchdowns. Thomas was even more effective on the ground, rushing for an astonishing 1,106 yards with 13 rushing touchdowns. In five different games of the 2020 football season, he rushed for over 100 yards a game for a season total of over 2,000 yards of offense and 25 touchdowns. Thomas also played linebacker for the Hornets, racking up 90 percent of the season's total snaps.
Javarian Smith stands at 5'10” and 160 pounds and will only be a junior for the Bulldogs. Despite his young age, Smith has shown a strong indication the Bulldog's defense will be very tough to throw this season. Smith played on both sides of the ball for the Bulldogs during the 2020 football season, but it was his sticky hands at the cornerback position that made him a household name last year and for the next two seasons to come. Smith is quickly mastering the art of the cornerback position. Smith had six interceptions in the 2020 football season. While his impact this season may not reflect the same numbers as last season, his presence alone will cut the field in half for opposing offenses.
Nic'kel Freeman, stands at 6'1" and 180 pounds and was an opposing force to throw against for the Hornets. With excellent closing speed on routes, mixed with the ability to dissect an offensive scheme and a wingspan large enough to affect any ball in his area, Freeman totaled six interceptions in the 2020 football season. He regularly toyed with defenses, daring them to throw at him. More often than not, Freeman was found running to the Hornets' end zone with the football, leaving opposing teams dumbfounded. While offenses may try to stay away from Freeman this upcoming season, he will still make an impact from the Hornets backfield. Freeman contributed both in the air, as well as on the ground, totaling 517 yards with 24 catches for 366 yards and 21 carries for 151 yards and seven total touchdowns.
Jaquan Strawder stands at 5'10" and 180 pounds and is a rising star for the Trojans. Entering his junior season, Strawder will draw from his experience as a sophomore. Where most sophomores are just getting their feet wet and trying to figure out how to slow the game down, Strawder stepped and looked like a seasoned veteran, dominating offenses totaling 67 tackles, 42 solo tackles and nine tackles for a loss. With the loss of Jhebari Martin, Strawder will be called on to fill the void, a task Strawder has shown he is ready for and more than capable of stepping into.
Andrew Brown is another demonstrative force for the Bulldogs that must be accounted for by opposing teams. Standing at 6'0" and 215 pounds, Brown racked up 62 total tackles, 16 solo and five tackles for a loss. Brown strikes fear in opposing offenses, knowing even if they do everything right, they still cannot account for the X-factor he possesses; that hunger and determination that can't be stopped.
Javari Smith is 5'5" and 160 pounds for the Trojans. Smith is a strong defensive end with a presence much bigger than his stature. Smith collected 60 tackles last season and which 27 were solo tackles and 5.5 tackles for a loss. Smith will be counted upon for another big season by the Trojans.
Max Byrd is 5'8” and 160 pounds and was the wrecking ball in the Hornets defense during the 2020 football season. Time and time again, Byrd found himself playing to the crowd with his signature celebration after a tackle by dropping his head, as if telling opposing teams, "you're nothing worth celebrating over." Totaling 58 tackles and 47 solo tackles, Byrd embraced the role of just being a mean football player. He can cover sideline to sideline all the while putting himself in a position for a bone-crushing tackle on opposing teams.
Isaiah Cook is 5'10” and 220 pounds and was the anchor of the Hornets' defensive line with 52 tackles and 38 solo tackles. Cook also dropped back and often played linebacker for the Hornets when called upon. Cook has the raw ability of strength and speed for a defensive lineman, allowing him to chase down the quarterback when he breaks through into the opposing team's backfield.
Travis McKinney played a strong safety for the Bulldogs and exemplified every aspect of the word "strong." Standing at 6'0" and 170 pounds, McKinney was a wrecking ball in the secondary collecting 50 total tackles, 12 being solo tackles.
Matt Warren is 5'11” and 200 pounds and is expected to build off of his great 2020 season for the Buccaneers, racking up 46 total tackles, 25 of which were solo tackles in eight games. With plenty of experience under his belt heading into the season, Warren is not only expected to have a great season, but will also be counted on as a leader on the defensive side of the ball.
Emanuel Watkins was the staple of both the Hornets' offensive and defensive line. Standing at 6'1" and 263 pounds, as a sophomore during the 2020 football season, Watkins routinely found himself being double-teamed and still managed to collect 41 tackles, 34 solo tackles and a host of tackles for a loss. Entering his junior season, the Hornets' coaching staff is excited to see how Watkins continues to develop with two more seasons to grow.
Antonio McKinney is a dominating force for the Bulldogs on the defensive side of the ball. Standing at 6'3" and 200 pounds, McKinney made his presence known throughout the 2020 football season with 40 total tackles, 10 solo tackles and four tackles for a loss.
Carter Perry stands at 5'9" 165 pounds and played outside linebacker for the Hornets last season. With his disciplined style of play, Perry was a constant at shutting down the opposing team's efforts of trying to run the outside. Perry collected 35 tackles and 24 solo tackles. Going into his senior season, the Hornets' coaching staff will rely on Perry once again for another big season at the linebacker position.
Bodhi White is 5'8" and 165 pounds and was "Mr. Buccaneer" during the 2020 football season with 727 yards rushing. White built a reputation as a downhill runner, fearing no one who stood in front of him. White had 102 carries for 727 yards and nine touchdowns. White had three games where he crossed the century mark, rushing over 100 yards in a game.
Karlos Murphy is 5'10" and 165 pounds and is another young bright spot for the Hornets. Murphy became one of Mario Thomas' go-to targets throughout the season for the Hornets. Murphy racked up 640 total yards of offense with 24 catches for 438 receiving yards, three of those catches he turned upfield and found the end zone. He also came out of the backfield and carried the ball 33 times for 202 yards and one touchdown. In addition, Murphy starred on the Hornets' defense with 40 total tackles, 30 solo tackles and three interceptions.
Monte Gillard is 5'10" and 180 pounds and was the electrified running back for the Hornets' backfield during the 2020 football season, where he carried the ball 89 times with 598 yards rushing, four catches for 13 yards, totaling 611 yards and seven touchdowns for the Hornets.
Camden Frier is 6'1" and 170 pounds another rising star for the Bulldogs. Entering his sophomore year, Frier made a name for himself as a freshman with 25 catches, 254 yards receiving and two touchdowns. Frier has shown the ability to get open as a fairly easy thing for him to do.
Braxton Green is another weapon in the arsenal for the Bulldogs. As a kicker, Green is ranked as high as the number four placed kicker in the nation and will only be a junior this upcoming 2021 football season. At 5'9'' and 135 pounds, Green routinely kicks field goals from 55 yards. The unmeasurable component in Green is his ability to rise to the moment. As a sophomore coming off an earlier season injury, Green stepped into the spotlight and sealed the win for the Bulldogs. From that point forward, Green relishes in his role for the Bulldogs, whether he is asked to put the ball through the uprights or pin a team deep into their territory. Green is also the Bulldogs' punter, where he booms an exhausting hang time, allowing his Bulldogs to often dog-pile the returner before he can get going.
Devin Mosley is expected to be the force he appears to be, standing at 6'5" and 245 pounds. While offensive linemen do not rack up flashy stats, they are the engine of the offense. The only issue the Buccaneers will have behind Mosley is seeing around him. Most opposing players will be looking up at Mosley, either from their back or just trying to get around him. The Buccaneers' backfield could possibly benefit from Mosley the most, as Mosley will have his way in the trenches this upcoming season.
Kyson Johnson, at 6'2" and 210 pounds, will be stepping into the quarterback role for the Branford Buccaneers for the 2021 football season. While his stats do not reflect the hopes the Branford coaching staff has for this young man, Johnson has proven to be a winner and leader on the football field. The Buccaneers are expecting a great season from Jonson, as he will lead the Buccaneer's offense onto the field.
Adrik Miller, at 5'9"and 170 pounds and will be utility hybrid back for the Buccaneers heading into this season. Miller had only two carries for three yards, but also had 15 catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns.
Nathan Hill, at 6'0" 175 pounds and will be another skill position player to watch for this season for the Buccaneers. While Hill only had three carries during the 2020 football season, he averaged over seven yards a carry. The Buccaneers coaching staff are excited to see what kind of contribution Hill will make to what appears to be a high-powered Buccaneers team.