2022 Season Preview: Gray Collegiate War Eagles
At first glance, the common onlooker would peruse the Gray Collegiate football roster and walk away thinking there is no way the War Eagles can defend their Class 2A state championship. Kazarius Adams, the record-breaking running back that accounted for…
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Continue ReadingAt first glance, the common onlooker would peruse the Gray Collegiate football roster and walk away thinking there is no way the War Eagles can defend their Class 2A state championship.
Kazarius Adams, the record-breaking running back that accounted for 3,342 rushing yards and 50 total touchdowns, is off to Georgia State. Alec Johnson, one of the top linemen in the Midlands has joined Adams. Also gone are Tory Kelly, a ball-hawking defensive back along with defensive lineman Jakiaus Hilton and linebacker Zach Glenn among others.
But what those onlookers might miss is what is coming back.
“We have some holes to fill. We need to use preseason camp to find out exactly who our guys are going to be,” Gray Collegiate coach Adam Holmes said. “But if you look at what we do have coming back, I like the pieces we have. We have a lot of experience back and we will count on those guys heavily.”
It starts with a lot of talented guys on offense and continues with playmakers on defense.
Junior Riley Staton (pictured) took over the starting quarterback role late in the season and ended up starting six games last season. He understands this is fully his team this year and has to be the one that guilds the offense.
Staton will have plenty of weapons at wide receiver. Returners Devin Johnson and Savion Smith were a good start, but the War Eagles added Zai Offord and Jamarious Lockett in the offseason to make that group even more explosive.
That takes us back to the question on who replaces Adams? The most likely candidates include a tandem of sophomores, BJ Montgomery and Kaleb Ford. They offer a 1-2 punch where each has a different skill set. Montgomery is a shifty 5′-9”, 170-pound back while Ford is a 5′-10”, 220-pound bruiser.
The offensive line will be anchored by J.T. Sowell, who added 40 pounds, Elijah Radden and Carson Atkinson. Trey Craig and Bernard Brown will also be counted on to open holes and protect Staton.
“Offensively, we should be good,” Holmes said. “It will be a different offense than last year, but we will open it more and try to spread the field with the guys we have on the outside. Then the two backs complement each other well.”
The defensive side of the ball was hurt greatly by graduation. Radden and linebacker Jordan Robinson will be counted on to supply the leadership in the front seven. Robinson is one of the best kept secrets in the state and could be in line for a huge senior season.
Blake Croft returns at defensive back. He will be joined by the group of receivers that will play a lot of snaps.
Some of the newcomers to look for will be defensive linemen Zeb Taylor, Carter Stevens, and Brandon Ivory. Linebackers Kaine Williams Kaine Williams 5'11" | 215 lbs | LB Gray Collegiate | 2024 State SC and Blaine Redmond will see a lot of minutes as well.
“We will learn quickly how good the guys are on defense,” Holmes said. “We have to replace some talented guys, but these guys are picking things up and will be ready to go by the time the season starts.”
The schedule is daunting again. Gray Collegiate opens with Oceanside Collegiate and follows that with a trip to Crestwood before playing South Atlanta in Atlanta. Camden, a finalist in Class 3A the last two years, comes to town. Then region play starts with Eau Claire, Columbia, Fairfield Central, Newberry and Keenan will try to wrest the region crown away.
“That non-region schedule will get us ready for region and more importantly the playoffs,” Holmes said. “We want a chance to be there at the end again.”