2023 Preview: Lamar Silver Foxes

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stephen Burris knows his new team could probably show up and play 12 or 13 games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lamar coach, though, wants them to have a shot at 15.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of course, that means, the Silver Foxes will have made a run to the Class A state championship game. Burris believes everything he's seen in the few short months since he took over could indeed lead this team to Columbia.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If everything clicks as he wants it to.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Every day in practice, I tell them it's them against me,” Burris said. “And right now, I'm undefeated.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The offseason push to get everyone moving toward that ultimate goal has included the standard weight routine, not to mention a new playbook and navigating the getting-to-know-you process. Burris has high hopes for players like receiver/linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1462573' first='Alvion' last='Ward']</strong> and corner <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997292' first='Tavis' last='Dolford']</strong> and linebacker <strong>Freddy Cruz</strong>, among others, who helped the Silvers Foxes to a 9-4 record and a trip to the third round of the state playoffs a year ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This time around, Lamar is a team that many might eventually describe as loaded. And Burris has no issue putting the impetus for a full-scale rise on the shoulders of starting offensive tackle [player_tooltip player_id='762756' first='Kendall' last='Walton'].&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“He has big goals and big dreams,” Burris said. “But if the school is open, and I'm there, he's there. I try to beat him to the school every morning. He's able to grasp a lot of things we're trying to do. We're going to predicate the offense around [his] strengths. He's accepted it. He's bought in.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“One thing we're trying to put on his plate is to be more vocal. He doesn't say a lot. But if a 6-foot-4 kid starts saying something to you, you're going to listen. It makes my job a whole lot easier when I can point to him.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the course of the next month before the team takes on Hemingway to open the 2023 season, Walton and Co. could start to show they could reach Burris' lofty goals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='762756' first='Kendall' last='Walton']</strong> OL, 2025 - The 6-foot-4, 265-pound offensive lineman is among the state's best at the position, regardless of class. He's big and athletic and dedicated to getting even better.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kamon Miller</strong> DB/WR, 2025 - Miller is showing true game speed that makes him an invaluable defender from his spot at free safety. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound receiver also has the wheels to be a deep threat on offense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165108' first='Zori' last='Pierce']</strong> (pictured) QB, 2026 - The lively armed sophomore probably still has some growing to do, but he's soaked up the playbook and is already gaining the trust of this offense and has been allowed to call some of his own plays during 7-on-7s.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Keaton Braddock</strong> TE/LB, 2024 - Playing the spur position on defense, the 6-foot-4, 185-pound outside backer will be tasked with busting up opposing plays before they happen. He's going to be coming off the edge. A lot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1250948' first='Zoom' last='Jackson']</strong> WR/DB, 2025 - The 5-foot-7 slot is used to playing in close quarters, and as you'll see in his second clip, he has no issue initiating contact when he's asked to block. Likewise, when he's playing defense, he can slip his receiver to make a tackle on a ball carrier. Jackson is going to be on the field upwards of 80 percent of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17942921/638d3d39d225ce017c23a04c' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64b5d584c4622"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tyler McManus</strong> QB/LB - The two-way star threw for nearly 1,500 yards and 14 touchdowns while putting up 49 tackles and earning all-state honors on defense. He's now getting ready for his freshman season at Newberry.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Travion McPhail</strong> RB/DB, 2024 - The multi-dimensional player will be the Swiss Army knife for this offense, defense and special teams. A possible game changer every play, the Silver Foxes are shooting to get him 15-20 touches per games on top of his duties on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nazir Stevenson</strong> DL, 2024 - Stevenson has all the natural tools to succeed and even dominate at this level. At times, he'll be the best player on the field and can shut down an offense before it gets going.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Frank McCullough</strong> LB/RB, 2025 - The 6-foot, 185 pounder and is pound-for-pound one of the strongest players in the entire program. Burris called him a “dude,” and if the light comes on, there could be something truly special in the works for the next two seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->