CSRA X-Factors For Week 0

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The CSRA is primed for arguably its most influential season as a whole in a decade or more.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Or, possibly do so in a different way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These are your season-opening X-Factors for the CSRA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jae Cannon</strong>, DE, Ridge Spring-Monetta</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Against Augusta Christian on Thursday, all eyes on the defensive line are going to be on huge tackles [player_tooltip player_id='141028' first='Peter' last='Blacks'] (6-foot-2, 290 pounds) and [player_tooltip player_id='91139' first='Kanaan' last='Ligons'] (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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91147' first='Nehemiah' last='Brooks']</strong>, RB, Fox Creek</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='267472' first='Antrone' last='Butler']</strong>, WR/RB, Midland Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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 [player_tooltip player_id='91348' first='Traevon' last='Dunbar'] 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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DJ Curry</strong>, RB, North Augusta</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272710' first='Malik' last='Mozone']</strong>, DB/RB, Silver Bluff</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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 [player_tooltip player_id='340388' first='Terrence' last='Smith'] and tailback [player_tooltip player_id='272702' first='Jevon' last='Edwards']. 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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->