Most Intriguing Offensive Weapons Of The CSRA
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After the last two years, everyone in the state should know the name Traevon Dunbar Traevon Dunbar 5'10" | 205 lbs | RB Midland Valley | 2024 State SC . The Silver Bluff tailback has been a monster for the…
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Continue ReadingAfter the last two years, everyone in the state should know the name Traevon Dunbar Traevon Dunbar 5'10" | 205 lbs | RB Midland Valley | 2024 State SC . The Silver Bluff tailback has been a monster for the 2021 state runner-up Bulldogs.
And then there’s South Aiken sophomore Terrence Smith, another Class of 2024 standout who took his first year behind center and piled up some 1,500 total yards in an abbreviated season.
One of the reason we’re keeping a close eye on the CSRA, though, is all the talent around them. Every position on the offensive side of the ball is loaded with huge playmakers or those who pave the way for all the flashy highlights we’re seeing most Fridays out of that neck of the woods.
We’ve looked at all of them, and here are some of the most intriguing players in the CSRA heading into next season.
LINEMEN
We got our first look at Braydn Kesselring Braydn Kesselring 6'3" | 280 lbs | OL Midland Valley | 2024 State SC mid-way through the 2021 season, and his film was quiet, if only because we noticed Midland Valley was just starting to put its offense into effect. Throughout the rest of the season, including an unexpected playoff berth, Kesselring stood out as one of this developing squad’s best bets in 2022.
Over at Silver Bluff, Christian Echols Christian Echols 6'4" | 250 lbs | OL Silver Bluff | 2024 State SC carved out a spot in our rankings very early. He’s going to be a junior this fall. And the technically sound big man already has two years of experience under his belt.
Ridge Spring-Monetta’s Kanaan Ligons Kanaan Ligons 6'3" | 285 lbs | OL Ridge Spring-Monetta | 2023 State SC might be the best of the bunch. The 6-foot-3, 285-pound tackle is everything most mid-range colleges want out of a lineman. He engages well, and his form has come along nicely since coach Brian Smith made him a starter.
RUNNING BACKS
Nehemiah Brooks Nehemiah Brooks 5'7" | 230 lbs | RB Fox Creek | 2023 State SC is going to find a college home. And while it projects to be as a full back since he’s 5-foot-7 and 230 pounds, his effectiveness in the red zone can’t be overlooked. Brooks is a load to bring down, and he fits perfectly in this offense mostly built around freelancers.
Midland Valley’s Joenathan Peeples Joenathan Peeples 5'9" | 205 lbs | RB Silver Bluff | 2024 State SC is yet another Mustang we saw grow by leaps and bounds in the back half of the 2021 season. He’s short, stocky and doesn’t put the ball on the ground. Earl Chaptman will find ways to keep him involved moving forward.
If Dunbar is the class of the CSRA running back crop, South Aiken’s Jevon Edwards Jevon Edwards 5'9" | 195 lbs | RB South Aiken | 2025 State SC is the next best tailback in the area. During his freshman season, Edwards went for roughly 1,300 total yards of offense and ended up with 10 touchdowns (nine rushing). He was already 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds as a freshman, meaning he’s a weight room routine from blowing up.
Jevon Edwards Jevon Edwards 5'9" | 195 lbs | RB South Aiken | 2025 State SC , RB, South Aiken
RECEIVERS
Saluda’s Zion Wright Zion Wright 6'4" | 180 lbs | WR Saluda | 2023 State SC is the tallest receiver in the Class of 2023 in the entire state. That doesn’t mean he’s just some goal-to-go receiver. Wright is an above-average route runner and does an excellent job of playing to the football.
While Wright is the tallest in the rising senior class, Aiken’s Braylon Staley Braylon Staley 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR Strom Thurmond | 2024 State SC is among the biggest in the Class of 2024. What’s more, he does so many different things well that it’s tough to pinpoint the best part of his game. Staley has Division-I talent in his pocket.
Football traditionalists – and, by that, we mean folks infatuated with the spread – might not look at Gregory Bryant II Gregory Bryant II 6'3" | 170 lbs | WR Strom Thurmond | 2023 State SC as a true receiver. But the Strom Thurmond receiver proves he belongs in this category. Although he usually comes out of the backfield in single-receiver sets, Bryant is a sure-handed receiver who is frequently catching passes at odd angles.
Ridge Spring-Monetta’s Jamarious Lockett Jamarious Lockett 5'10" | 160 lbs | ATH Gray Collegiate | 2024 State SC draws most of the attention on the outside. And that’s something that plays into Tykeem Martin Tykeem Martin 5'8" | 140 lbs | WR Ridge Spring-Monetta | 2024 State SC ’s advantage. The Trojans’ “other” big threat coming back went fo 473 yards and five scores last season.
QUARTERBACKS
Combine a big body with a bigger arm, and you see why Midland Valley’s TJ McElmurray Jr TJ McElmurray Jr 6'4" | 195 lbs | QB Midland Valley | 2023 State SC is not only ranked, but entering 2022 with a lot of attention on him. The 6-foot-4, 195-pounder could go from project to polished in a short amount of time.
Ask anyone in Maleik Williams Maleik Williams 5'8" | 165 lbs | ATH Silver Bluff | 2023 State SC ’ inner circle, and they’ll tell you they understand he’s probably not a college quarterback. But, man, do we love what the Silver Bluff signal caller has done for the last two seasons. As a junior, Williams connected on 68 percent of his passes for 1,791 yards and 16 touchdowns (against only four picks) and ran for another 782 yards (while averaging 9.7 yards per carry) and another 13 touchdowns. Athlete? At the next level. For now? He’s QB1 all the way.