2023 Preview: Conway Tigers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the day Josh Pierce was announced as Conway's next football coach, he made a point to say he was going to revolve everything around <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208332' first='Devin' last='Grainger']</strong> this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After five months on the job, the first-year Tigers coach is even more convinced.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grainger, one of the top-rated quarterbacks in the state, is expected to produce even more than he has in the past two seasons. But first, the new staff had to help him break some old habits.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Devin's downfall and greatest strength is he's a playmaker. He's done a lot better about this, but I think he felt like he need to make the big play every time,” Pierce said. “He'd see [plays breaking down] and take off. He can step up in the pocket and make a throw. But can he do that consistently? I think he's getting the confidence in the offensive line and the scheme to hit the open receiver when he needs to.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As a junior, Grainger threw for 1,428 yards and 11 touchdowns. Between designed runs and scrambles, he put up another 340 yards and a score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pierce knows that if Conway is going to post its first winning record since 2017, though, Grainger is going to need to be even better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To do that, the coaching staff has been at work to put the right pieces around him. They've found a strong receiving corps in returners <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997250' first='Derek' last='Grant']</strong> and <strong>Chris Quick</strong> and first-year starters <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025782' first='Jordan' last='Jenkins']</strong> and <strong>Jamell Davis</strong>, while first-year starting tailback <strong>Justin Hill</strong> will also take his place in the backfield.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, the theme is similar. Pierce is mixing new faces - most notably defensive lineman <strong>Lou Auguste</strong> and defensive back <strong>Jkwon Brantley</strong> - with experienced players such as linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448994' first='Moses' last='Freshley']</strong> and Hill, who will also start at corner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“The biggest concern I had coming in was how quickly I could get the kids to buy in to how hard we want to work,” Pierce said. “One thing I've learned is they're hungry to win. They'll do what it takes. We have pushed them extremely hard in the last couple months, and they've responded every time.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208332' first='Devin' last='Grainger']</strong> QB, 2024 - After a down 2022 football season, Grainger rebounded to lead the Conway basketball team to the state semifinals. Using that momentum, he's also taken advantage of a new staff dedicated to promoting the team's passing game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448994' first='Moses' last='Freshley']</strong> LB, 2024 - The quarterback of the defense, the 5-foot-11, 180-pound Freshley was fourth on the team in tackles last year and will be heading into his third year as a starter after forcing his way onto the field as a sophomore.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lou Auguste</strong> DL, 2025 - A mid-spring transfer from Connecticut, Auguste has been moved from his old positions (LB, OL) and is going to play both defensive tackle and end for Conway. Since he moved to town, he's put on 20-25 pounds and is now 5-foot-11 and 250 pounds.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997250' first='Derek' last='Grant']</strong> WR, 2024 - The 6-foot, 175-pound receiver is shedding defenders in practice and is looking to build upon a junior season in which he was second on the team in receptions, yards and touchdowns.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Justin Hill</strong> DB/RB, 2024 - Hill did a little bit of everything last year, playing corner, returning kicks and getting some offensive touches out of wildcat formations. The 6-foot, 170 pounder is going to open the year as the team's starting running back and should provide a safety valve receiver on the edge.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13598969/5f85dfbfab92c9036c7f2445' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64caaa164bfbf"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSSES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cameron Alston WR/DB</strong> - The two-way starter was arguably Conway's most talented player a year ago, even though he needed some time to recover from an injury.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aiden Brantley</strong> WR - Brantley led the Tigers in receptions (32), yards (485) and touchdowns (four) in 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025782' first='Jordan' last='Jenkins']</strong> WR, 2026 - At 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds, Jenkins (pictured) might be the “next big thing” to come out of Conway, according to coach Josh Pierce.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chris Quick</strong> WR, 2025 - He's undersized (5-foot-8, 140 pounds), but he's also discovered how to use his wrestling background to both get open and to block on the outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Makye Vereen</strong> LB, 2026 - One of the biggest hitters on the Conway roster, Vereen already has the frame to play the position at this level and is impressing in practices.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->