Week 1 GSPD Players To Watch

With a full slate of games across the Grand Strand and Pee Dee this week, a number of players are looking to keep up their season-opening momentum or get back on track.   Either way, each of these 10 players are in position to shine.   From quarterbacks appearing to rivalry games to defensive backs who need to have big nights, this list runs the gamut.   [player_tooltip player_id='473015' first='Tyleek' last='Dukes'] DB/WR, Kingstree   A forfeiture prevented Kingstree's game against Aynor from happening a year ago, but the Blazers are about to see an offense that isn't easily replicated. The Blue Jackets' tight-knit run-first, run-second package will mean Brian Smith's bunch will need to be on its toes, and that Dukes' play while creeping up toward the line from his spot in the secondary could be the difference between a 2 or 3-yard run and a big Aynor gain. There's a good chance Dukes (pictured) leads the team in tackles for the second consecutive week.   [player_tooltip player_id='464883' first='Javon' last='Johnson'] DL, Loris   North Myrtle Beach looks like it might be ready for quarterback Landon Cloninger to make his 2023 debut after missing last week's game and Socastee. Either way, Loris' undersized and over-productive nose guard will be a key factor. Johnson played a huge role in shutting down Green Sea Floyds last week. North Myrtle Beach, however, is built differently in the trenches. If Johnson is even close to his old ways, the game likely swings into the Lions' favor.   [player_tooltip player_id='208332' first='Devin' last='Grainger'] QB, Conway   Like most of his teammates, Grainger was kept in check during last week's lopsided loss to Hartsville. He was held to 67 yards passing and a calm 36 on the ground. This week's game against Myrtle Beach, then, could be a nice bounce-back effort. Last year against the Seahawks, Grainger threw for 193 yards (and two touchdowns) and ran for another 84 yards.    [player_tooltip player_id='771040' first='Jamauri' last='Davis'] DB, Carolina Forest   The newly minted Class 5A No. 1 Summerville Green Wave will be opening their 2023 season at Carolina Forest, and Ian Rafferty's squad is bringing a whole bunch of talent with it. It will be one of the biggest chances for Davis to prove his value to this team because he's probably going to be asked to do a ton. From covering some of Summerville's big receivers to helping against the run, the combo defensive back will need to be everywhere.   [player_tooltip player_id='1165108' first='Zori' last='Pierce'] QB, Lamar   Pierce wasn't exactly needed to have a big game in last week's season-opener against Hemingway. He only threw four passes. However, if the Silver Foxes are going to stay with Class 3A powerhouse Dillon this week at home, the sophomore is going to need to be not only productive, but smart with his decision making. This is about as different a game against Hemingway as Lamar will find in back-to-back weeks.   [player_tooltip player_id='208350' first='Brycen' last='Scott'] DB, Wilson   We wanted to see how Wilson would use Scott before jumping to conclusions about what his 2023 season would look like. After all, he nearly rushed and caught 1,000 yards each last season at Trinity Collegiate. Now, he's a starting defensive back who led the Tigers with 9.5 tackles last week in the one-point victory over Aynor. Against Marion this week, Scott might be a spy for Swamp Fox quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='295367' first='Gabe' last='Cusack'], who can hurt teams with his arm or legs.   Cooper Kelly DB/WR, St. James   Kelly had a solid start to the year by picking off a pass, recording three tackles and catching a 41-yard touchdown from quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='91513' first='Connor' last='Schwalm']. But doing all that against Waccamaw is one thing. Philip Simmons is coming off a 24-point win over Andrews and has pieces on both sides of the ball to make opponents' second-guess themselves. If Kelly is able to contribute on both sides of the ball again, though, it's a boon for St. James.    [player_tooltip player_id='448998' first='Lavon' last='White'] RB, Andrews   While White is going to continue to pitch in on defense, Andrews needs to keep giving him a steady diet of carries. The fullback was getting initiated into the workload as a junior and is now no surprise to get 20-plus carries every game, like he did in the loss to Philip Simmons last week (24 carries, 113 yards, two touchdowns). White and [player_tooltip player_id='1395098' first='AJ' last='Lee'] will both get plenty of chances for big numbers against in-county foe Georgetown on Friday.   Will Hall OL, Socastee   As Braves fans already know, the Silver Bluff team coming to town this week has an ability to blow things up off the edge. And that's before [player_tooltip player_id='91351' first='Jayden' last='Fuller'] transferred in to bolster a unit that already features [player_tooltip player_id='139299' first='Jordan' last='Boyd'] at defensive end. Hall, Socastee's ultra-athletic left tackle, is going to be on alert throughout, whether its Boyd, Fuller or someone else lined up outside of him. This is a proving-ground type game for Hall.    [player_tooltip player_id='464882' first='Jamarcus' last='Williams'] RB, Hannah-Pamplico   One of the state's handful of returning 2,000-yard rushers from the 2022 season, Williams shot out of the cannon to open 2023. With just 21 carries against McBee in a game that featured 109 total points, Williams went off for 309 yards and two scores. This week's opponent, North Central, proved it can play a little bit of defense last week in holding defending Class A runner-up Johnsonville to 21 points. So if Williams goes off again, we might be watching something special in real time.

With a full slate of games across the Grand Strand and Pee Dee this week, a number of players are looking to keep up their season-opening momentum or get back on track.