2023 Preview: South Pointe Stallions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Pointe head coach Bobby Collins knows the standard is high at South Pointe heading into Year 2 at the helm.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a busy summer of team visits to Georgia, Alabama, Georgia State and Duke along with workouts and 7on7s, the Stallions are loaded with talent and primed to make another run to meet that standard as practice kicks off today across the Palmetto State following the SCHSL dead week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I've never been at a place where seven days a week, the kids will compete. They don't run away from work. To tell them that we're off for the next week, you've got a lot of unhappy football players. Those guys, they smell it. (The) grass is green and it's that time of the year and in 33 (to) 34 days we'll be heading to Spartanburg so they don't want it to be over now. You want to be able to build an environment where the kids love playing football and love being there and we're excited about what we've got going on,” Collins told Prep Redzone SC last week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You can expect South Pointe to be balanced offensively and run it with a stable of running backs returning which include <strong>Aiden Turner, Zy Pickett </strong>and <strong>Mason-Pickett Hicks. </strong>Collins termed Hicks “as a dynamic football player who makes things happen.” <strong>Jordan Curbeam </strong>is one wide receiver Collins is expecting a big year from. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1054250' first='Victor' last='Goree'] </strong>and <strong>Daniel Caldwell </strong>return on the offensive line.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There will be talent galore defensively for the Stallions, starting in the secondary with <strong>Zantawn Nelson</strong> and <strong>Fred Reese, </strong>both returning, carrying multiple Division 1 offers and they will make life hard for opposing quarterbacks. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142616' first='Jeremiah' last='Minor'] </strong>and <strong>Aiden Westbrook </strong>will plug up running lanes on the defensive line as they head into their respective senior seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Pointe opens the 2023 season at Spartanburg on August 18.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS TO SET SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771038' first='Malachi' last='Marshall']</strong>, 2024, QB – The Georgia State commit threw for 2140 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2022. He has a rocket arm and does a good job of going through his progressions. He is the unquestioned leader of the Stallion offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139304' first='Chris' last='Dixon'], </strong>2024, DL – Collins calls Dixon “one of the best defensive linemen in the state.” He's tough to block and a great pass rusher.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='212416' first='J'Zavien' last='Currence'], </strong>2026, DB – With offers already from Georgia and UNC going into his sophomore year, Collins called Currence (pictured above) a pro who practices like a pro.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mikey Mann, </strong>2024, WR – Mann has had a great summer and told us he has been working on “chemistry with his teammates, as well as his footwork.” Colleges like Limestone, Newberry and Lenoir Rhyne are taking interest in the senior receiver as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zantawn Nelson, </strong>2024, DB – It's easy to see why Nelson has multiple offers including Coastal Carolina, Wofford, UNC Charlotte and Marshall. He can stay in the hip pocket of wide receivers and can get the ball at its highest point.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15098320/6363e06c4deadf0c74a511b2' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c320e80aeba"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>KEY LOSSES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AJ Miller, </strong>DT – Miller had an outstanding senior season plugging holes and rushing the quarterback. He is currently at Kennesaw State University.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DJ Barksdale</strong>, DB – An enforcer in the secondary, it was hard to get a ball past him. Barksdale is currently at James Madison University.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ethan McNutt, </strong>2025, OL – The first year starter on the offensive line already holds an offer from West Virginia University.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='996932' first='Evan' last='Ervin']</strong>, 2024, LB – An aggressive linebacker who makes plays on defense and special teams. He attacks the line of scrimmage well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->