2024 Preview: Airport Eagles

The long-term plan for the Airport offense is ready to be put into effect.   It revolves around [player_tooltip player_id='1467834' first='Jay' last='Eady'], a Class of 2028 quarterback that the staff evaluated early on during Shane Fidler's first season as head coach and elected to give first crack at the starting job this fall. Yet, when the returning players were told they'd be following a freshman, there were questions.   “We were skeptical, of course. He'd never played varsity before, only JV,” senior defensive back and tailback [player_tooltip player_id='1360401' first='Amari' last='Lewis'] said. “It was hard to accept that. But watching him grow and become the player he is, he's just a great player. He's got the ability to lead the offense.”   Entering the 2024 season, the Eagles are hoping Eady is the key to building off their five-win campaign from a year go. It was a significant improvement from the past three seasons, when Airport failed to win more than three games in any of them.   The Eagles defense will have little choice but to do its thing behind linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1158030' first='Bryant' last='Cherry'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1157982' first='Montrelle' last='Keys'] and Lewis (pictured) - who will make the move from tailback to safety as his primary position.   Eady (more on him below) is still a bit of a project, if for no other reason that he's yet to see a varsity snap. He was parked on the JV squad as an eighth grader to help acclimate him to this fall's ask slightly faster.    “We know offensively we're going to have to play it slow with the quarterback so he gets used to the speed so he can get use to the game, so he can get a feel for it and we can start scoring points,” said Fidler, who has played a hand in developing some pretty good quarterbacks over the years. “We're going to have to rely on our defense early while we go through the growing pains and get the comfortability up.”   If that happens sooner rather than later, it could make for an even more interesting region slate. Airport will be paired up with local rivals Brookland-Cayce and Gilbert, not to mention Gray Collegiate, North Augusta, Aiken, Midland Valley and South Aiken. There will be stars lining up against the Eagles every night out.    “I'm very happy to play against such great guys,” Lewis said. “They're talented, big, strong, fast. I love football. And I love being able to play against great teams that will really test us. They'll test us mentally, physically.”   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1158030' first='Bryant' last='Cherry'] LB, 2025 - Cherry is a fantastic middle linebacker who's play speaks volume about how much he loves the game. While it appears the defensive scheme is often wrapped about getting him into the right spot, his athleticism is creating that look. He's a game-changing tackler who had 131 stops last fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1360401' first='Amari' last='Lewis'] ATH, 2025 - Lewis is going to return kicks and punts. He's going to start at safety. And he's going to still get five-10 carries per game. He's one of the team's more influential seniors and can fill in at probably three or more different spots if the need arises.   [player_tooltip player_id='1157959' first='Avery' last='Jones'] WR, 2025 - Jones missed some time last year but his skill set is clearly there. He hauled in 29 passes for 425 yards and three touchdowns in an offense that was still very much feeling itself out and deciding what its identity would be.   Kendrick Pearson RB/LB, 2026 - Pearson played more defense than offense a year ago, but that role is going to flip flop. He'll become the team's starting tailback after rushing for 258 yards on 53 carries last fall. He'll still pitch in on defense, where he had 46 total tackles and a sack as a sophomore.    FILM REVIEW   [player_tooltip player_id='1157982' first='Montrelle' last='Keys'] LB, 2025 - Every team needs a player like Keys. He's a phenomenal stand-up edge rusher when he needs to be. Yet, he can drop back into a traditional linebacker placement and do his thing there, too. He's flexible because he's so athletic. And he's dangerous because his hitting ability can create turnovers and significant loss of yardage.    BIGGEST LOSS(es)   Dylan Barbrey OL - The Appalachian State freshman was named to the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl after locking down the right tackle spot.    Jesse Hoover QB - As a senior, Hoover threw for 13 touchdowns and 1,400 yards. The left was a steadying force in year one for the program under Shane Fidler.    Trey Neil LB - The team's second-leading tackler from a year ago graduated after putting up 105 total stops, 10 tackles for loss, six sacks, a forced fumble and six QB hurries.    UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL   Justin Conyers LB, 2027 - The sophomore is going to add even more range to the edges of the field. He's got a nose for the football and won't be asked to be the guy while playing alongside Cherry and Keys.   Daniel Butts OL/DL, 2027 - Butts saw some decent playing time as a freshman last year, when he 22 total tackles and three sacks. There's a good chance he'll play on both sides of the line early and often as a sophomore.    Eady already has the size (6-foot-1, 165 pounds) to play the varsity level. He's also got a good combination of throwing and running ability to make this work. If he catches on this year, watch out.

The long-term plan for the Airport offense is ready to be put into effect.