2024 Preview: Battery Creek Dolphins

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ed Susi knows a thing or two about turning around programs. He left Fort Mill in 2017 as the second-winningest coach in school history. In 2021 and 2022, he turned around a Buford team that hadn't had a winning season since 2019. In 2022, Buford went 8-3 with a first-round playoff exit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year's 0-10 mark in his first season at Battery Creek was unexpected despite the Dolphins not having a winning season since 2002 and they last didn't have a losing season in 2012 when they went 6-6. Susi expects a lot more in his second season as the head man.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“They're tired of hearing about losing and I'm tired of hearing about it,” Susi said a couple of weeks ago. “We made a pact that we don't want to hear about 0-10 anymore. I don't care about it. I just hope that chip on their shoulder carries over into how we play this season.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The message has been simple in how to correct that conversation. Injuries were another issue and Susi only knows one way to help with that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Our entire offseason is based on the weight room,” Susi continued. “If they don't know that by now, they're in the wrong place. We need to get stronger and learn how to block and tackle. We got beat up front last season, so we know we must get better there. The X's and O's don't matter until we can get stronger.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Susi has plenty of experience back from last season and he feels he has a better understanding of the players, and they understand him better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There were a couple of near misses last season – a two-point loss to Ridgeland-Hardeeville and a six-point setback to North Charleston.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players like senior slot receiver <strong>Derrick Smalls</strong> want to change the culture before he departs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We just want to show everyone we aren't what our record showed last year,” Smalls said. “We have something to prove. We need to let people know we're better than an 0-10 season. We want to change the culture and how everyone looks at Battery Creek.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smalls will play in the slot with <strong>Ty Simmons</strong> and <strong>Jamari Bronner</strong> also being targets at receiver. Quarterback <strong>Chase Olsen</strong> returns as does senior running back <strong>Damien Freeman</strong>. There are skill guys in place. The offensive line of <strong>Jordon Washington</strong>, <strong>Andrew Clark</strong> and <strong>Alex Bain</strong> will be keys to the success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Washington, Smalls, Simmons and Freeman will also play key roles on defense. <strong>Ethan Cox</strong> is another two-way guy at tight end and defensive line. <strong>Kevin Willis</strong> will be counted on at defensive end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We need to see something positive, so they know the coach isn't full of crap,” Susi reiterated.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Damien Freeman </strong>RB, 2025 – Freeman runs with a physical style, and he can be effective with the ball in his hands or as a lead blocker. He also is the emergency quarterback so his skill set will be a key to the Dolphins' success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jordon Washington</strong> OL/DL, 2025 – Washington is one of the kids that the weight room has paid off. He's much stronger than he was a season ago and that will help him play both ways on the line of scrimmage. He has a lower center of gravity and could be a force this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ethan Cox</strong> DL/TE, 2025 – Cox is tall and lean and could become a huge factor at tight end. He's a basketball player as well and could develop into using his body to become a better pass catching threat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ty Simmons</strong> WR/DB – Simmons will help at the slot position and in the secondary. He's quick, can make guys miss and gives the Dolphins another vertical threat. He reads and reacts in coverage well. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Derrick Smalls </strong>ATH, 2025 – Smalls is a threat to take it the distance anytime he touches the ball. He's a huge threat in the return game and it's unlikely teams will kick his direction this season. He also plays the slot and can make plays on short or long passes. Expect the ball to be in his hands as much as possible.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16475975/65b0991bd2259f1474a79d6d' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-669868f6228ed"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSS(es)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Alex Vega </strong>DB/WR – Vega was one of the few seniors on last year's team. He played both ways and provided leadership to the younger Dolphins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Michael Cohen</strong> LB/TE, 2027 – Cohen will be a name to become familiar with this season. He will provide depth on both sides of the ball and could develop into one of the better defenders by season's end. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1717743' first='Eddie' last='Heyward']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Battery Creek","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-669868f62408b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Heyward has a bright future and it's still undetermined if he's better on offense or defense. He has great vision and a lower center that makes it hard to get a clean shot at him when he runs the ball. On defense, he arrives quickly and with a purpose. He will only get better the next three seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->