On Campus: Airport Eagles
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WEST COLUMBIA | Bryant Cherry Bryant Cherry 5'11" | 215 lbs | LB Airport | 2025 State SC (pictured) received a special visit earlier this month at Airport. Showing up to the Eagles Nest to see the senior middle linebacker…
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Continue ReadingWEST COLUMBIA | Bryant Cherry Bryant Cherry 5'11" | 215 lbs | LB Airport | 2025 State SC (pictured) received a special visit earlier this month at Airport.
Showing up to the Eagles Nest to see the senior middle linebacker was South Carolina State defensive Jonathan Odaffer.
Such visits in recent years were a rare occurrence at Airport High School. After posting a winning record under first-year head coach Shane Fidler, the Eagles are slowly building their program back to prominence.
It starts on defense with Cherry. The 5-foot-11 three-sport athlete had a team-high 112 tackles and is the team’s main play caller on that side of the football.
The linebacking corps will have a deep mix of youth and experience. Senior Montrell Keys – a state finalist in wrestling – provides speed from the outside linebacker position and has shown a strength during workouts in pursuing tackles.
Up front, the Eagles return 5-foot-9, 268-pound sophomore nose tackle Jessiah Thompson. He plays at a quick level and shows good movement at the line of scrimmage.
He’s joined by Gavin Shuler, one of Airport’s tallest players on the defensive line at 6-foot-3 and 206 pounds, and senior defensive end Jarvis Simons. In the secondary, Airport welcomes back Mahrley Rast, junior Chris Burgess and senior Jeremiah Gilchrist.
One of the breakout stars on offense last season was Avery Jones Avery Jones 5'11" | 175 lbs | WR Airport | 2025 State SC at receiver. Moving up from junior varsity during the season, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound rising senior made an immediate impact with 29 receptions for 425 yards and five touchdowns.
Despite missing time with an injury, Jones finished second on the team in all three categories. He’s looked to add muscle and strength in the weight room and provides Airport with its best deep threat.
The question is which quarterback will look to target him. Fidler expects a battle brewing this summer between rising sophomore Talon Harlin and rising freshman Jay Eady.
The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Harlin backed up Jesse Ray Hoover last year and is comfortable throwing from the pocket. Meanwhile, Eady is considered a potential electric playmaker who can score from anywhere on the field.
Leading rusher Amari Lewis is back for his senior year. He’ll be joined by a pair of former linebackers in Kendrick Pearson and Justin Conyers.
Last season, the Eagles’ offensive line was bookended by All-State selection Dylan Barbrey Dylan Barbrey 6'6" | 270 lbs | OL Airport | 2024 State SC at right guard and “Classic blue-collar Airport” lineman Ben Humphries at left guard. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Humphries is back to provide leadership by example and physical toughness along with returning center Parker Hudson.
Rounding out the team is placekicker Edward Hernandez, who was near-perfect on PATs and punter Weston Mims, who averaged 36 yards a kick last season using both his right and left foot.
Along with overseeing his team, Fidler has stayed busy as a South assistant coach in the Touchstone Energy Cooperative Bowl. He will call the plays as offensive coordinator and has already scouted over 50 quarterbacks as the position coach.
He will get to see more up-close July 13 when an invitation only combine for both the Shrine Bowl and Touchstone Energy Cooperative Bowl takes place at Airport High School.
Justin Connors
Justin Connors
The rising sophomore is making his varsity debut this season. Playing at outside linebacker, he possesses a high motor and a burst of speed in going after the ball carrier. He looks toward middle linebacker Bryant Cherry Bryant Cherry 5’11” | 215 lbs | LB Airport | 2025 State SC for mentoring at the position and could potentially grow into an edge defensive lineman with his lean build and long arms. He looks to improve any opportunity he gets on the field.