2023 Fab 50: The Athletes

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Athletes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They're the guys you've got to have. The Swiss-Army knife guys. The do-anythings. The football players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've got a bunch of them on our Fab 50, a ton of guys who turned in great seasons across the board, no matter where they lined up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at the guys who can do any of it, all of it, or anything in between.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='589057' first='Gunnar' last='Yocum']</strong> SR, Philip Simmons</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Why is a long-snapper leading the list? Well, he just might be the best long-snapper in the state. He played enough defense to record 34 tackles, five tackles for loss, and two sacks, with a forced fumble. He even played a little bit of offense for the Iron Horses late in the season. Yocum is the definition of a do-everything guy. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16773624/65255ff12aa6d003e0e9b336' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658c926f126b2"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139296' first='Jimmar' last='Boston']</strong> SR, Westside</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Boston played the vast majority of the year one-handed, wearing a club due to an arm injury. With that limitation, he made 42 tackles and nabbed four interceptions. And when he DID play offense, the Rams reached another level. He caught 44 balls for 805 yards and 10 touchdowns. In the playoffs, Boston was a force. He scored twice and grabbed the game-sealing overtime interception in the 4A Upper State title game, and caught the game-winner as the Rams clinched the 4A crown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11967911/652847a0a0185609b435791e' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658c926f126e5"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Syree Livingston</strong> SR, South Florence</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Livingston was a do-it-all guy for the Bruins. He had 1,280 yards and an absurd 9.62 yards per carry average; he picked up six catches for 65 yards, and he scored 25 total touchdowns for South Florence. He elusive, fast, and dangerous in space.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15706436/6574cce8dfd82603640547b8' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658c926f12702"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='267431' first='Avery' last='McFadden']</strong> SR, Hillcrest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>How much does [player_tooltip player_id='267431' first='Avery' last='McFadden'] bring to the table? Well, at the Shrine Bowl, he was quickly identified as one of the best options at holder. That's about all he didn't do for the Rams in the regular season. He made huge catches at his natural position at WR, rewriting the Hillcrest game, career, and single-season record books. He was a short-yardage back, playing RB and QB. He played defensive back, often against the opponent's best receiver. And he was an absolute terror in the return game. He had more than 1,000 all-purpose yards, and coach Bennett Swygert put it best: "[player_tooltip player_id='267431' first='Avery' last='McFadden'] is a football player."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/8763813/6563d4ffd4688a095419ef85' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658c926f1271d"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771088' first='Quay'Sheed' last='Scott']</strong> SR, Marion</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Calling Scott a touchdown machine doesn't quite cover his impact, even though he caught nine, ran for 12, and threw for one, with 1,647 all-purpose yards and 23 total TDs. His time on defense is what got him postseason attention, as he played DB in the Shrine Bowl, backing up a 64-tackle, three-interception season. Scott is often the most athletic player on the field, and he plays like it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15153691/65084b57478e88133859ec9c' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658c926f12737"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139314' first='Josh' last='Williams']</strong> SR, Westside</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williams did plenty for the state-champion Rams, and he did it all well. He caught 64 passes for 1,340 yards and 14 touchdowns. He had 40 total tackles and three tackles for loss, with two pass deflections and a fumble recovery. He was electric in the return game, notching 406 kick return yards and an 95-yard touchdown. If the Rams needed it, Williams had a knack for getting it done.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11975776/64f3d326dfd9da0238628a78' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658c926f12751"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771224' first='Will' last='Young']</strong> SR, Brookland-Cayce</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Young is a bit of an anomaly on this list: he's a mobile, athletic QB who did a lot of damage on the ground, but he also saw success at *checks notes* receiver, where he had 16 catches for 383 yards and five TDs. No matter how he gets it, Young is electric with the ball in his hands, and was a big reason the Bearcats were able to make a run to the 3A Lower State title game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16773624/65255ff12aa6d003e0e9b336' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658c926f1276b"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->