CSRA X-Factors For Week 0
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The CSRA is primed for arguably its most influential season as a whole in a decade or more. Teams are stacked, there are some players with super-bright futures and a number of player transfers and a coaching change or two…
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Continue ReadingThe CSRA is primed for arguably its most influential season as a whole in a decade or more.
Teams are stacked, there are some players with super-bright futures and a number of player transfers and a coaching change or two shook things up in the offseason. As we enter Week 0 of 2022, it’s important to recognize that a few guys who aren’t necessarily expected to carry the load could at any point in time.
Or, possibly do so in a different way.
These are your season-opening X-Factors for the CSRA.
Jae Cannon, DE, Ridge Spring-Monetta
Against Augusta Christian on Thursday, all eyes on the defensive line are going to be on huge tackles Peter Blacks Peter Blacks 6'2" | 295 lbs | OL Ridge Spring Monetta | 2023 SC (6-foot-2, 290 pounds) and Kanaan Ligons Kanaan Ligons 6'3" | 285 lbs | OL Ridge Spring-Monetta | 2023 State SC (6-foot-3, 295). However, of Cannon’s 20.5 total tackles last year, 14 went for loss. He’s a quick-footed edge rusher who can disrupt a backfield in a hurry. He could be one of the higher TFL guys in the area this season.
Nehemiah Brooks Nehemiah Brooks 5'7" | 230 lbs | RB Fox Creek | 2023 State SC , RB, Fox Creek
Brooks is still cutting his teeth a bit with his new team. But it’s impossible to ignore the fact that he rushed for 458 yards and eight touchdowns for a Ridge Spring-Monetta team that last year played some stiff competition. Against St. Joseph’s on Friday, Brooks can establish that running the football is running the football.
Antrone Butler Antrone Butler 5'10" | 170 lbs | ATH Midland Valley | 2024 State SC , WR/RB, Midland Valley
Butler is one of those players head coach Earl Chaptman loves to see in open space with the ball. It’s why Butler got 48 carries and 16 receptions last year. Against Grovetown (Ga.), and without Traevon Dunbar Traevon Dunbar 5'10" | 205 lbs | RB Midland Valley | 2024 State SC in the mix yet, Butler is going to be one of those safety valves in both the running and passing games. Just know that he’s going to get his touches.
DJ Curry, RB, North Augusta
Look, we all know Curry can pound the rock. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season and finished with 13 rushing touchdowns. But where he could make a huge difference in 2022 is how well he catches the ball out of the backfield. Curry had a respectable seven receptions last season but they went for 115 yards. Starting with the season opener at Evans (Ga.), Curry could start to reach top-level status for Class 4A tailbacks.
Malik Mozone Malik Mozone 5'10" | 180 lbs | DB Aiken | 2025 State SC , DB/RB, Silver Bluff
Playing against a wide-open offensive attack in South Aiken, Mozone, a safety, is going to be crucial is trying to shut down Thoroughbreds quarterback Terrence Smith Terrence Smith 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB South Aiken | 2024 State SC and tailback Jevon Edwards Jevon Edwards 5'9" | 195 lbs | RB South Aiken | 2025 State SC . Just a sophomore himself (like Edwards), Mozone proved himself able to handle the tough asks last year during his freshman campaign. That won’t change this season, either.