2023 Preview: West Florence Knights

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Florence has making consistent playoff runs and putting up a ton of rushing yards during Jody Jenerette's tenure.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And even though the Knights lost north of 95 percent of their offense from last year's 11-2 season - thanks to the graduations of Darren Lloyd and Deuce Hudson - the expectation is the same. To do that, Jenerette is ready to put two fresh faces in the backfield in quarterback <strong>Keyshawn Johnson</strong> and running back [player_tooltip player_id='272717' first='Tre' last='Leonard'] and try something a little different.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We've got to do a really good job of spreading the field,” Jenerette said. “The things that we're doing, we don't have to sit there and mash guys. I think we can eventually do that, but the way Keyshawn is running the option, we can get the ball to the perimeter and give these guys a chance. I think the offense is going to look very similar to what it did with Deuce and Darren, but we're going to have to think outside the box.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Knights will mix in some triple option to go along with their standard high-movement receivers during the pre-snap, and whether you want to call it smoke and mirrors or misdirection or something else, the playbook is adapting to the personnel.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The thing about West Florence, though, is that this defense is loaded. The Knights' offense will have time to meld, giving this program every chance to contend for a region title and set up another playoff run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='208334' first='Kelvin' last='Hunter'] DB, 2024 - The University of South Carolina commitment is as dangerous of a linebacker as there is in the state. Last year, he piled up 87.5 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss, six pass break-ups and forced four fumbles.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='443495' first='Franklin' last='Emerson'] LB, 2024 - Mr. Consistency has fueled this defense for the last two years, when he's accumulated 207 total tackles. Emerson (pictured) has slimmed down some, and he's going to see plenty of time at quarterback, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='272717' first='Tre' last='Leonard'] RB, 2025 - A transfer from nearby Trinity Collegiate, Leonard has extensive varsity experience and a 1,000-yard rushing season already in his back pocket. Leonard fills an immediate need at the position that's been as big on that side of the ball as any during West's recent successful runs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1639826' first='JayAun' last='Perkins']</strong> WR, 2026 - The 6-foot, 170-pound sophomore picked up his first NCAA Division-I offer (Coastal Carolina) before his varsity career even began. Now, the Knights are going to count on him as their top receiver.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brody Cook</strong> LB, 2024 - While Hunter is going to be considered the ball hawk of this defense, Emerson's ability to cover everyone's tracks means Cook can add another component of flexibility. As we saw during last year's game against Hartsville, Cook can blitz, cover the edge, drop back to see a play develop or just seek and destroy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15161186/619a42c6664cf70e90ecc938' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64af12ae7f403"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Keyshawn Johnson</strong> QB, 2025 - The 5-foot-9, 155 pounder is still learning the position, and he's going to allow the Knights' offense to add in some different looks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Grant Beaton</strong> TE, 2024 - A basketball player by nature, the 6-foot-6, 205-pound first-year starting tight end adds not only another receiver but a much-needed blocker to an inexperienced line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Romelo Patterson</strong> LB, 2026 - After moving in from Alabama, Patterson has done enough in a very short period of time for Jenerette to say he might end up being the best college prospect this team has had in six-plus years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->