Spring Scouting Report: GSPD Quarterback Carousel in Full Effect

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Outgoing stars and those looking to take up the mantle. Realignment and bounce-back seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Factors galore are going to impact the 2024 football season in the GSPD and beyond. But before we get to that point, there are a whole bunch of questions that need to be answered over the course of the next four weeks during spring ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this portion of the state, most of the question marks revolve around the quarterback position. The vast majority of the teams will be starting May practices with new starters, and eight of the departing quarterbacks were ranked by Prep RedZone South Carolina. Clearly, there were some serious grinders in there who made their teams go. Now, it's time for the next wave.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And it starts at the top.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Five of the area's seven Class 5A programs will be starting fresh with new looks at quarterback.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>the area's next quarterback has been waiting in the wings for the last two seasons. St. James rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267347' first='Alex' last='Sandt']</strong> completed 17-of-34 passes last fall for 242 yards, three touchdowns and three picks in relief of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91513' first='Connor' last='Schwalm']</strong> - a two-year starter after moving in from out of state.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Staying inside the region, Conway rising sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1399640' first='Noah' last='Legg']</strong> will get first dibs at the position after top-100 quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208332' first='Devin' last='Grainger']</strong> finished up his distinguished prep career. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Likewise, Carolina Forest will be looking to replace 2,000-yard passer/runner [player_tooltip player_id='1142820' first='Ethan' last='Hamilton'] with either 2023 varsity back up <strong>Kam Long</strong> and <strong>Patrick Mullen</strong>, who missed all of last year with an injury.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Still inside Region VI-5A, Socastee will be charged with replacing four-year starter [player_tooltip player_id='139313' first='Rocco' last='Wojcik'] and is first looking to two-year junior varsity quarterback <strong>Christian Royals</strong> (6-foot-1, 175 pounds). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While West Florence will be mostly playing Midlands teams post-realignment, the Knights will have to replace one of their most reliable players from the last three seasons. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='443495' first='Franklin' last='Emerson']</strong> was a standout at both linebacker and quarterback during that span, and in his place, West Florence will start with rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664594' first='Avery' last='Weaver']</strong> (6-foot, 155). Rising senior <strong>Kielen Thomas</strong> (5-foot-10, 165 pounds) and former junior varsity quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360276' first='Chase' last='Anderson']</strong> will also be in the fold. The Knights will again be run-first, run second, but with a stable of tailbacks, whomever is at quarterback will have time to grow into the role.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Down in Class 4A, defending state runner-up South Florence will be using the spring to break the competition behind 2023 part-timer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1166986' first='Messiah' last='Jackson']</strong> (6-foot-1, 215 pounds, pictured) and rising sophomore <strong>De'Eric Davis</strong> (6-foot-4, 200 pounds). The Bruins will be replacing not only traditional quarterback <strong>Bryan McCart</strong>, but also a wildcat first scheme from most of the back half of the season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A little further own the classification ladder, Marion will be moving on from the lengthy and established <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295367' first='Gabe' last='Cusack']</strong> era and first look to rising senior <strong>Tyrice Davis</strong> (6-foot-2, 185 pounds). Davis saw decent playing time last season in a backup role while also catching a few passes and chipping in some limited time on defense and special teams.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not every school will be starting fresh at quarterback. Dillon's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='205556' first='Josiah' last='Oxendine']</strong> (1,236 yards, eight touchdowns last season), Myrtle Beach's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254177' first='Gibson' last='Goodroe']</strong> (1,415 yards, 16 touchdowns) and North Myrtle Beach's <strong>Landon Cloninger</strong> (1,629 yards, 12 touchdowns) will all be back and have the spring sessions to continue developing chemistry and timing with a slew of returning weapons.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Elsewhere, the rest of the schools in the zone have four weeks to start answering those questions. None of them are likely fully answered during the month of May. But we might get a more clearer picture.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->