2024 Preview: Ben Lippen Falcons

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>COLUMBIA | </strong>After a 5-6 season, Ben Lippen has focused on two areas for the upcoming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We feel like the biggest thing we need to improve on is leadership and focus on team in the lockerrom,” Falcons head coach Bennett Weigle said. “I think we've hammered that in the season this summer and I think our guys are playing together. Playing for each other, not playing for themselves. I think that's a big part of football.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players like wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1099127' first='Jamere' last='Crooks'] and defensive end Kellen George (pictured) has helped exemplify that team work ethic. Along with providing leadership, both have set an example in terms of working themselves into top physical condition.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Our speed and strength coach is really making sure that we're in the best shape that we can possibly be for the season, so that we can go both ways and have high energy for the entire game.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Along with depth challenges, Ben Lippen will spend the preseason with a battle for the starting quarterback job. With the transfer of [player_tooltip player_id='284134' first='Jayvon' last='Gilmore'] to Gaffney, Weigle has four candidates ranging from eight grade (Asher Haselden) and freshman (KJ Dupree) to upperclassmen (Ben Cole and [player_tooltip player_id='1219568' first='John' last='Cheng']).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='618763' first='Jamari' last='Carmichael'], Kellen George and Sam Catoe will lead the offensive and defensive lines and tight end Holden Parnell provides another receiving weapon on offense. On defense, the Falcons return Josh Cobbs and [player_tooltip player_id='1165156' first='Drake' last='Porter'] and will have Conner, Collin Geiger and Michael Traynum in the secondary.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254058' first='Jordan' last='Conner'] </strong>LB 2025 – Coach Weigle has been impressed with his work this summer. He finished last season with 27 receptions for 509 yards and six touchdowns and will see double duty this year again at safety.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kellen George</strong> DL 2025 – A fierce competitor in the trenches who's always moving forward to make a tackle. At 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, he's one of the biggest defensive linemen on the Falcons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Holden Parnell</strong> TE 2026 – A physical player both at tight end and defensive end. He's also a receiving threat on screen passes and play action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1099127' first='Jamere' last='Crooks'] </strong>WR 2026 –The 6-foot 160-pound rising junior is one of the fastest players on the team. He's utilized as both a deep threat and on short passes which he's able to turn into long runs after catches. He's also a “ball hawk” on defense at free safety.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19498535/6547d7db688e3509744f6e2a' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-669561f6874df"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSS (es)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='284134' first='Jayvon' last='Gilmore'] </strong>QB – In his lone season with the Falcons, threw for 1,767 yards and 22 touchdowns. He's now at Gaffney.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blake Bost </strong>WR– He posted a team-high 38 receptions for 634 yards and eight touchdowns last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jed Essig </strong>LB – He tallied 175 tackles in two seasons and led the Falcons with nine sacks last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sam Catoe </strong>OL 2027 –. The two-sport athlete has drawn the coaching staff's attention this summer. At 5-foot-9 and 163 pounds, he's expected to see action at free safety and wide receiver</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='618763' first='Jamari' last='Carmichael']</strong> OL, 2027 – The hard-hitting rising sophomore looks to break into the starting lineup</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='1165156' first='Drake' last='Porter']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"160","_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":"Ben Lippen","_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-669561f688c02"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The rising junior is a tackling machine for the Falcons. He led the team with 133 last season at inside linebacker. His quickness to make a tackle and ability to pressure the quarterback makes him valuable in helping to get the Ben Lippen defense off the field. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17652446/654ea18cda50b80a3059851a' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-669561f688c2f"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->