Walton Has Plenty of Motivation In ’24

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It had been a perfect year. Eleven straight wins and a district title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For head coach <strong>Darren Keith White</strong> and his DeFuniak Springs Walton Braves, it was one of those seasons where things were coming together.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a first-round state playoff win against rival South Walton, it was a second-round matchup against Pensacola Catholic, and this team was confident.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Back on October 13^th, the Braves beat Pensacola Catholic in a tight 23-21 game. That win actually served as motivation as the Crusaders avenged that district title loss and put an end to the season with a convincing road win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While that setback stung, it was also something that served as a rallying point in the off-season. Finishing the job in 2024 was something that this entire team looked at.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we are under way in spring, the rising senior (2025) class is indeed taking a lead role, and with the summer ahead, they are ready to get back on the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some of those 2025 prospects to watch in 2024:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1550587' first='Dreden' last='Bembow'], DB/WR, 6-1, 170.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: </strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16826707/dreden-bembow" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/16826707/dreden-bembow</a><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1087990' first='Wells' last='Bettenhausen'], QB, 6-2, 225 – 3.6 GPA.</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: </strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16289048/656015f51762080938086451" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16289048/656015f51762080938086451</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Malcolm Byrd, DB, 6-2, 175 – 3.7 GPA.</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE:</strong> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/17145415/Malcolm-Byrd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/17145415/Malcolm-Byrd</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Steven Doss, OL/H-Back, 5-10, 230 – 4.0 GPA.</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE:</strong> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16639129/hoss-doss?_gl=1*136vuho*_ga*MjE0MTk3NjUxMC4xNjIwNjc0NjY0*_ga_29LPHS2HWC*MTcxNDkxNTU0OC44NTkuMS4xNzE0OTE3MjgwLjAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/16639129/hoss-doss?</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1324039' first='Elijah' last='Neenan'], WR/H-Back, 6-2, 190 – 3.7 GPA. Basketball Player.</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE:</strong> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/17069051/Elijah-Neenan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/17069051/Elijah-Neenan</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Max Reyna, OC, 5-10, 270 – 2.9 GPA.</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE:</strong> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13420273/Max-Reyna?_gl=1*1py9kds*_ga*MjE0MTk3NjUxMC4xNjIwNjc0NjY0*_ga_29LPHS2HWC*MTcxNDkxNTU0OC44NTkuMS4xNzE0OTE3MDMzLjAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/13420273/Max-Reyna?</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1551224' first='Peyton' last='Seay'], RB, 5-10, 185 – 3.4 GPA.</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE:</strong> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/15080193/Peyton-Seay?_gl=1*1vmrzm1*_ga*MjE0MTk3NjUxMC4xNjIwNjc0NjY0*_ga_29LPHS2HWC*MTcxNDkxNTU0OC44NTkuMS4xNzE0OTE3MjI4LjAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/15080193/Peyton-Seay?</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1549496' first='Marco' last='Teck'], DB, 5-10, 160 – 3.3 GPA.</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE:</strong> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16922614/655424275b3d4b09ac8703f0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16922614/655424275b3d4b09ac8703f0</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kelan Washington, OL, 6-4, 275 – 3.3 GPA.</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE:</strong> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17118121/6565f7d6da524c0be8114633" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17118121/6565f7d6da524c0be8114633</a><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AWAITING SPRING VIDEO</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dominic Goodwin, WR, 5-10, 170 – 3.0 GPA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Reyes Medina, DL, 5-10, 230 – 3.4 GPA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS OF 2026 READY TO CONTRIBUTE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While the 2025 class will certainly provide talent, experience and leadership, keep an eye on the rising juniors in the 2026 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some of those standouts:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1738881' first='Cavion' last='Adams'], DL, 6-0, 230 – 2.6 GPA.</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: </strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19851960/Cavion-Adams-Cavion-Adams" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19851960/Cavion-Adams-Cavion-Adams</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Adam Mooney, OL, 6-4, 285 – 2.9 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE:</strong> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/17948772/Adam-Mooney?_gl=1*10qt2i3*_ga*MjE0MTk3NjUxMC4xNjIwNjc0NjY0*_ga_29LPHS2HWC*MTcxNDkxNTU0OC44NTkuMS4xNzE0OTE3NDYyLjAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/17948772/Adam-Mooney?</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1640367' first='Camden' last='Zodrow'], LB, 6-0, 195 – 4.3 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: </strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/15252559/Camden-Zodrow?_gl=1*s6ut7p*_ga*MjE0MTk3NjUxMC4xNjIwNjc0NjY0*_ga_29LPHS2HWC*MTcxNDkxNTU0OC44NTkuMS4xNzE0OTE3NjkwLjAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/15252559/Camden-Zodrow?</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cayden Zodrow, DB, 5-8, 145.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE:</strong> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16826709/cayden-zodrow?_gl=1*6527r1*_ga*MjE0MTk3NjUxMC4xNjIwNjc0NjY0*_ga_29LPHS2HWC*MTcxNDkxNTU0OC44NTkuMS4xNzE0OTE3NjI5LjAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/16826709/cayden-zodrow?</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Statewide Coverage Daily.</strong> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/florida/">https://prepredzone.com/florida/</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at:</strong> <a href="mailto:Floridakids1@aol.com">Floridakids1@aol.com</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->