Porter High School 2023 Season Preview

<!-- wp:heading {"level":1} --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Porter High School Spartans are preparing to bounce back from an injury-riddled 2022 campaign under the leadership of head coach Billy Russell. Let's take a look at some of the key preseason players who will serve on the frontline for the hungry Spartans in varied roles of impact.</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":932707,"width":423,"height":458,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/image.png" alt="" class="wp-image-932707" style="width:423px;height:458px" width="423" height="458"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anthony Portonova I 2024 I 6'2 200 lbs I OLB/WR I GPA: 3.53 I<em> </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anthony "P-Dirty" Portonova is a stoutly built jock who can flat-out play football; no matter the position or assignment. Coming out of 7v7, Spring ball, and the Summer SAC camps, Portonova has been a name that keeps popping up for Porter High School, Team Texas Fury 7v7, and collegiate camps. He possesses the frame and quickness to be a problem on every snap. Rumor has it that the Porter staff have been utilizing him at four positions (H-Back, Safety, Cornerback, and Receiver) in preparation for the approaching season. Look for his senior leadership and intangibles to serve as an anchor for the Spartans and their 2023 indevours. Portonova is a participant in varsity football, varsity basketball, and track. In 2021 he appeared in all 10 games as a sophomore and played H-Back and safety. In 2022 he started all 10 games at outside linebacker and<br>played outside receiver as well. He accumulated 350 All -Purpose Yards, 2 TDs, 1 Interception, 85 tackles, and 1 forced fumble for the Porter Spartans last season and amassed 25 touchdown grabs for the nationally ranked Team Texas Fury. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":932725,"width":428,"height":415,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/image-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-932725" style="width:428px;height:415px" width="428" height="415"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eyan Hitchens I 2024 I 5'10 190 lbs I DB/WR I GPA: 3.5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eyan Hitchens is a powerfully built safety who had his junior season cut short due to injury. Look for him to solidify the Spartan's back end with his track speed and hitting power as a continuation of last season's building blocks. Before the injury, Hitchens averaged 7.2 tackles (19 total solo) a contest and 1 interception. Hitchens will also be a two-way player for the Trojans this year. Look for the coaching staff to lean heavily on his ability to impact the run game of opponents this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":932726,"width":417,"height":365,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/image-2.png" alt="" class="wp-image-932726" style="width:417px;height:365px" width="417" height="365"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='697465' first='Mairon' last='Lewis'] I 2024 I 5'9 165 lbs I DB/WR I GPA: 3.5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mairon "Tudda" Lewis is a flat-out game-changer for the Porter program. He is coming off of District 8 5A 1st Team All-District Cornerback honors with 56 Tackles, 32 Solo, 6 TFL, 2 Forced Fumbles, 8 Pass Break-Ups, and 1 IN. He also collected 6 additional interceptions for the nationally ranked 7v7 Team Texas Fury. I have a sneaky gut feeling that this kid is about to take off in the recruiting ranks. Remember the name [player_tooltip player_id='697465' first='Mairon' last='Lewis'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":932737,"width":408,"height":383,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/image-3.png" alt="" class="wp-image-932737" style="width:408px;height:383px" width="408" height="383"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Payton Evans-Pickens I 2024 I 5'11 200lbs I ATH I GPA: 3.25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Payton Evans-Pickens only appeared in 5 games in 2022 due to due to injury. The true story and its context lie within those first 5 games and what Evans-Pickens was able to contribute. In 5 outings was a gadget of an athlete and playmaker accumulating 81 carries for 400 yards and 10 TDs in addition to 440 passing yards, 3 TDs. On the defensive side of the ball, he added 1 Interception in 1 full game at safety. He has received a clean bill of health and is looking forward to blowing those stats out of the water with the opportunity of a full season ahead of him to work. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":932744,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/image-4.png" alt="" class="wp-image-932744"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Darville "DJ" Allen I 2025 I 5'10 167 I WR/DB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Darville Allen is a tenacious ballhawk caliber safety who slide into a star role for the Spartans in his sophomore campaign. He stars on both sides of the ball and plays with a great understanding of the game due to his ability to play going forwards and in reverse. Allen plays everything from runningback, slot, cornerback, and safety. Allen is a twitchy athlete that never compromises his leverage in coverage or ball carrying. He is projected to be one of the cogs in the Trojan's game planning and ability to make a playoff run this year under a loaded schedule featuring Port Arthur Memorial.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":932791,"width":419,"height":470,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/image-7.png" alt="" class="wp-image-932791" style="width:419px;height:470px" width="419" height="470"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ryan Gillam I 2024 I 6'0 220 I LB/Edge I GPA: 3.94</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ryan Gilliam is the nucleus of the Spartan defensive attack with his IQ and ability to move with fluidity from the mike to the edge rusher position. He is pressure personified when it comes to speedy processing of information pre and post-snap while playing with powerful leverage. Accolades for his junior outing include District 8 5A 1st Team Linebacker, 113 tackles, 5 sacks, and a wopping18 TFL. Look for his recruitment to skyrocket if he can duplicate or exceed his previous year's work.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ADDITIONAL PROGRAM MAINSTAYS INCLUDE: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":932788,"width":420,"height":466,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/image-6.png?w=922" alt="" class="wp-image-932788" style="width:420px;height:466px" width="420" height="466"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aaron Gilliam-2025 QB/WR </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Projected as the preseason starter at the signal caller position.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":932766,"width":387,"height":480,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/image-5.png?w=825" alt="" class="wp-image-932766" style="width:387px;height:480px" width="387" height="480"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Landon Binford- 2026 RB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Projected as the started at the runningback position.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->