March On Campus: River Bluff Gators

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a strong, rebound 2022 season for River Bluff High School. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After missing the playoffs for the first time under head coach Blair Hardin, the Gators posted a 7-4 record to make the Class 5A playoffs out of Region 5-4A. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Spearheading the turnaround was running back [player_tooltip player_id='443497' first='Cooper' last='Johns']. Now with The Citadel, he rushed for 1,871 yards and 24 touchdowns. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Johns is now in Charleston, River Bluff does return rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='464884' first='Parker' last='Murray']. He threw for 1,176 yards and 14 touchdowns, displaying a poise and calm rarely seen by a first-year starting quarterback. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gators also return one of Murray's favorite targets wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='464880' first='Stephen' last='Collier']. The rising senior had a team-high 36 receptions for 356 yards and five touchdowns last year and is expected to be utilized at other positions once he fully recovers from a left labrum injury. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>River Bluff will also have returning players on defense, with the secondary returning senior safety Xavier Sullender, cornerback Jordan Grant and defensive lineman Kaleb Long. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gators compete in one of the toughest regions in 5A with defending state champion Dutch Fork, a Lexington team which has finished second two years in a row and are now led by alumnus Dustin Curtis and an improved White Knoll team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["464884"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":732440,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003culu003eu003cliu003eThe rising junior made a strong impression in his first year as a starting quarterback. He completed 61.4 percent of his passes, threw for 1,1,76 yards and 14 touchdowns in 11 gamesu003c/liu003eu003cliu003eCan scan the entire field cleanly from the pocket and quickly adopted knowledge of the playbooku003c/liu003eu003cliu003eAn efficient passer out of the pocket, threw only three interceptions on 171 passing attemptsu003c/liu003eu003cliu003eDisplays a u0022Joe Coolu0022 demeanor and confidence when leading the team and has strong chemistry with his wide receiversu003c/liu003eu003cliu003eWhile he accounted for only one rushing touchdowns, he's athletic enough to avoid sacks and has a strong touch on both his deep and short passes","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["464880"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":732451,"_player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003culu003eu003cliu003eThe 6-2 wide receiver is one of the team's top returning playmakers. He led the team with 36 receptions for 356 yards and five touchdownsu003c/liu003eu003cliu003eA physical player, who also sees action at safety, is blessed with a 31-inch vertical leap and 4.5 speed. He thrives on catching the long pass and enjoys chemistry with quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='464884' first='Parker' last='Murray'].u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eIs versatile enough to return kicks and is expected to see action at multiple offensive positions to help the teamu003c/liu003eu003cliu003eHe's currently recovering from a torn left labrum discovered while playing for the baseball team","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":732488,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Jordan Grant ","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"River Bluff ","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u003culu003eu003cliu003eAn aggressive cornerback who utilizes his speed and toughness to overcome any height disadvantagesu003c/liu003eu003cliu003eCompetes in the 100 and 200 meters and 4x200 and 4x400 meter relays for the track teamu003c/liu003eu003cliu003eHe had two pass breakups and a fumble recovery last seasonu003c/liu003eu003cliu003eHas a u0022nose for the footballu0022when it comes to anticipating passesu003c/liu003eu003cliu003eIs expected to also see action at wide receiver","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":732490,"_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Xavier Sullender","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"River Bluff ","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"u003culu003eu003cliu003eA 3-year starter, Sullinder is a hard-hitting safety who height and strength allows him to be an effective defender in the secondaryu003c/liu003eu003cliu003eHe will get to see action at running back this season, a position he played as a freshmanu003c/liu003eu003cliu003eFinished with 26 tackles and 3 pass breakups last season","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":732575,"_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Kaleb Long","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"River Bluff ","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"u003culu003eu003cliu003eDespite missing four games due to injury last season, the 280-pound rising senior is a integral leader on the defensive lineu003c/liu003eu003cliu003eDisplays quickness and strength in often being the first player to a tackle. He currently bench presses 225 pounds and is squatting 450 poundsu003c/liu003eu003cliu003eHe's played at both tackle and end on the defensive line","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6421cc286eeaf"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->