2023 Preview: Midland Valley Mustangs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A year ago this time, Midland Valley coach Earl Chaptman declared that his team would back up what looked to be a much-improved team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This time around, Chaptman is going one step further.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“If we're going to win the region, this is the year to do it,” the third-year coach said.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chaptman, the former Camden defensive coordinator prior to his hire at Midland Valley in 2021, has seen a ton of talent rise up, taking this from a 1-10 squad his first year to a 5-6 finish last year. This year's collection is the best the Mustangs have had since their 2015 state runner-up squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tailbacks <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91348' first='Traevon' last='Dunbar']</strong> (pictured) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272712' first='Preston' last='McNair']</strong>, receivers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='267472' first='Antrone' last='Butler']</strong> and <strong>Torion Whiteside</strong>, offensive linemen <strong>Bradyn Kesselring</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142590' first='Ashton' last='Mozone']</strong>, linebackers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771234' first='Dominic' last='Morgan']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272716' first='Andon' last='Hawkins']</strong> and defensive backs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='141041' first='Jadyn' last='Simpkins']</strong> and <strong>Brycen Kemper</strong> are all back after each of them had strong 2022 seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Chaptman and his staff have spent the better part of two years installing culture a weight routine and getting past the road blocks associated with being down for several years, you can't hide personnel.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“You have to have good players,” Chaptman said. “It doesn't matter what we know as coaches if we don't have guys who can get it done. It was all about identifying the skill sets that players had and getting them into position to where they could help us.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His feelings about contending for the region title weren't made in a vacuum, either. Perennial region champ North Augusta graduated a bunch of talent and lost others to transfer decisions. South Aiken brings back two of the most dynamic ball carriers in the state but lost four of its offensive linemen. Airport is under new management and building from the ground up. And Aiken's roster was decimated by transfers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Things may just be lining up nicely for the Mustangs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91348' first='Traevon' last='Dunbar']</strong> RB, 2024 - When Dunbar blew up on the national scene as a sophomore at Silver Bluff, he was barely tipping 175 pounds. Now, he's north of 200 and is coming off a verified 4.52 40 at a college camp in June. Think he might be ready to blow up again?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771234' first='Dominic' last='Morgan']</strong> LB, 2024 - With an eye-popping 122 total tackles as a junior, Morgan has been the glue that helped this defense make major strides in 2022. He's as solid as they come and has the frame to hold even bigger expectations this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bradyn Kesselring</strong> OL 2024 - The 6-foot-3 left tackle yo-yoed a bit with his weight after the end of last season, when he dropped some 25 pounds while playing basketball. Since then, he's bounced back up to the 290 range.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='141041' first='Jadyn' last='Simpkins']</strong> DB, 2024 - The 5-foot-9, 155-pound cornerback could almost be looked at as another safety, simply because of how little opposing teams throw his direction. Most teams stopped trying more than a couple times a game by the end of last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jereme Freeman</strong> DL, 2024 - Now standing a 6-foot-2 and 300 pounds, Freeman has gone from lightly used junior to a senior this team will depend on moving some weight around for its imposing linebacker unit. Freeman has the footwork to outmaneuver single blockers, the strength to handle two and solidifies his worth to the Mustangs by stepping in on some special teams' sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17995146/6367dbf619a54707741f8fa7' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64be8749366d2"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSSES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TJ McElmurray Jr</strong> QB - The current Kennesaw State signee threw for 1,000 yards and six touchdowns while rushing for another 950 yards and 20 scores.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Calvin Stokes</strong> DL - The 6-foot-3, 250 pounder graduated after put up 36 tackles and seven tackles for loss last fall.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mason Carolina</strong> LB, 2024 - A transfer from nearby Aiken, the 6-foot, 190-pound linebacker came in to the program at the beginning of summer and has already started pushing for significant playing time this fall.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Evan Phillips</strong> TE, 2024 - The 6-foot-4, 225-pound tight end won't catch a ton of passes, but he's shown he has that side of the game when asked. After all, he caught 18 for 200-plus last fall.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ashton</strong> <strong>Mozone</strong> OL, 2024 - A 6-foot-5, 330-pound behemoth, Mozone is making the move to right tackle from from left guard thanks to some graduations, including that of his big brother, Arian.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->