2023 Preview: Hartsville Red Foxes

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ask the coaches in Region VI-4A, and the answers are the same.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Which team is the preseason favorite to win the most competitive Class 4A region in the state? Unsurprisingly, Hartsville keeps coming up at the top of the list. The Red Foxes lost a little, return a lot and have some some new pieces entering the conversation that could be instant impact players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jeff Calabrese's team went 7-5 last year, finished third in region and lost in the second round of the state playoffs. And while he discounts the meaning of previous seasons (as well as some of his cohorts' predictions), something might just be brewing again in Kelleytown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I don't care what happened last year. I know what good looks like,” Calabrese said. “We've had defenses here that have given up 12 points over a season. We've had offenses that have averaged over 40 points per game. We're going to maximize our potential. [Last year] was a shadow of what we were. If [player_tooltip player_id='208339' first='Carmello' last='McDaniel'] was the same player he was last year, we failed him.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>By all accounts, nobody in a Red Foxes' uniform is being failed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On offense, seven starters return, including McDaniel - the all-region tailback - quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='208342' first='McKendrie' last='Douglas'], receivers <strong>Jackson Moore</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578854' first='EJ' last='Smith']</strong> and linemen [player_tooltip player_id='208333' first='Slayton' last='Stokes'], <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360319' first='Deric' last='Brown']</strong> and <strong>Evan Young</strong>. Defensively, there are another six, with linemen <strong>Bryson Jacobs</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603712' first='Jordan' last='Davis']</strong>, linebackers <strong>JaQuez Coe</strong>, <strong>Web Barnes</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578873' first='Coleman' last='Radcliff']</strong> and defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='272699' first='Da'Marion' last='Coe'] each having varying degrees of really good offseasons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No, as Calabrese points out, paper championships don't mean anything. And, yes, there are some questions about depth at Hartsville or if the Foxes can make the types of strides on defense to not again allow 30 points per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Calabrese contends longtime defensive coordinator Carlisle Koontz has made some adjustments to maximize potential. And just like on offense, his side of the ball is chock full of potential.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“In our front seven, we have some size, we have some strength, we have some guys who have played tons of football,” Calabrese said. “We're looking for a huge improvement. We're miles ahead of where we were last year. These guys have worked their butts off. But they've played a ton of football.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208339' first='Carmello' last='McDaniel']</strong> (pictured) RB, 2024 - The electric tailback enters his senior season with more than 3,200 career rushing yards, 3,400 total yards from scrimmage and 49 career total touchdowns.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208342' first='McKendrie' last='Douglas']</strong> QB, 2024 - Now at 6-foot-2 and 195-pounds, the dual-threat signal caller is showing all the tools to add an even bigger passing component to this run-first offense. This fall could be huge for him and the offense around him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272699' first='Da'Marion' last='Coe']</strong> DB, 2025 - How does Coe still have two years of eligibility left? After a 93-tackle season that also included just shy of 480 return yards, Coe has already proved himself to be flat-out dangerous.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208333' first='Slayton' last='Stokes']</strong> OL, 2024 - Universally considered one of the best offensive linemen in the state, Stokes can play all five positions with ease and will likely spend most of 2023 at center. It won't be an issue.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jackson Moore </strong>WR 2025 - The Clemson baseball verbal commitment clearly has designs for his future. But before college baseball beckons, Moore's influence on this football squad has only just begun. Last year, he led the team in receiving yards (314). He run crips intermediate routes and helps act as an intermediary to He's also - like all receivers at Hartsville better be - an excellent downfield blocker.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16496945/6361ba7cbed6c60ba055539a' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64b6f61ea7b54"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSSES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>J'Shawn Anderson </strong>RB - Now at Georgia Southern, the three-time all-region selection finished his distinguished Hartsville career by rushing for 1,400 yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior last fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Justin Canty</strong> DB - The multi-sport speedster led Hartsville with four picks last year to go along with 33.5 tackles and 11 pass break-ups.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012592' first='Hakeem' last='Watters']</strong> RB 2025 - Watters is only 5-foot-6, but he's pushed himself north of 170 pounds and has a verified 4.42 40 time. Considering he averaged 10 yards per carry last year in back-up duty, he could be a problem all fall for opposing defenses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='922400' first='Jackson' last='Chavis']</strong> DL, 2025 - Chavis is by no means an unknown, as he was an all-region selection on the offensive line last year. But after finishing as a semifinalist in the state wrestling tournament and having offseason surgery, the 6-foot-3, 245-pounder is making the switch the defensive end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>JaQuez Coe</strong> LB, 2024 - A starter and one of the team's top tacklers as a sophomore, Coe is back in the lineup after missing the majority of last season with an injury. Along with Barnes, he helps shore up the middle of the defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hayden Wilson</strong> DL, 2024 - The 6-foot, 325-pound nose guard committed himself to football in the offseason and is going to take up a lot of room for this three-man front.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->