2024 Preview: Cross Trojans

Cross coach Shaun Wright's team was playing a late-June 7-on-7 when one of those rare moments happened. His Class A program was up against a Class 5A squad.   And the bigger school was double-teaming receiver [player_tooltip player_id='473021' first='Caden' last='Ramsey'] on just about every play.   In many ways, the two-way standout has become a focal point, not only for college recruiters, but opposing teams.    “Players from other schools, they'll talk trash and try to take you down,” Ramsey said. “It means a lot. It means I'm good.”   Yes, Ramsey is a huge part of this team. He's a legitimate Power 4 prospect who is being evaluated by those colleges at four or five different positions. But make no mistake, Cross isn't just about Ramsey (pictured).   The Trojans have won 11 games in each of the past two seasons. Over that span, they're a perfect 8-0 against region opponents while outscoring them by an overall score of 403-6. Cross also reached at least the third round of the playoffs both years.   Flash forward to 2024, and Wright expects nothing to change.   “Those guys who graduate, they come back. They'll be in the weight room. They come to practice. They'll get onto those guys,” he said. “So it's kinda like ‘I don't want to let the class that graduated before me down.' From a coaching standpoint, we don't want to hear the excuse that we're young or we're this or we're that. Nobody wants to hear the labor pains. Just deliver the baby.”   On a team loaded with talented sophomores and juniors, the proverbial big brother's watchful eye isn't ignored by the current players, either.    “I know what they expect from me, what to do on the field and off the field,” Ramsey said. “When they come back and I make a mistake, they tell me. I fix it.”   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='473021' first='Caden' last='Ramsey'] DB/WR, 2026 - There's no telling just how good Ramsey could be now that he's an upperclassman. He's an every down type of player on offense and defense and a match-up nightmare for opposing coordinators trying to neutralize him.    [player_tooltip player_id='1012859' first='Karmello' last='Jones'] RB, 2025 - The shifty tailback led the Trojans with more than 700 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns last fall. He also returns the occasional punt or kickoff and is dynamic once he gets into the open field. Not enough? He's a starter at linebacker most games, too.   [player_tooltip player_id='1172364' first='Mah'ky' last='Green'] RB, 2027 - Still a little undervalued because of his 5-foot-8, 155-pound frame, Green has elite speed and averaged 12 yards per carry last season while spelling Jones. He also eclipsed 700 yards and reached the end zone 10 times.   [player_tooltip player_id='1360087' first='David' last='Wigfall'] LB, 2025 - By far the team's leading tackler in 2023, Wigfall finished with 80 total stops to go along with nine tackles for loss, two picks, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and a sack.    FILM REVIEW   [player_tooltip player_id='1360328' first='Preston' last='Fuller'] LB/DB/WR, 2025 - Fuller is one of the glue guys that allows the staff to tinker with other parts of the offense and defense. He can line up as an H-Back, in the slot or out wide on offense. On defense, he can crash the line, drop into coverage or float in the middle. His senior season is primed to be a good one.    BIGGEST LOSS   Tyler Mungin QB - The Trojans' signal caller threw for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns (against just three interceptions) while also rushing for 600 yards and 12 more scores.    UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL   [player_tooltip player_id='1639766' first='William' last='Grant'] LB, 2026 - Relatively small at 5-foot-6 and 150 pounds, Grant is a spark plug who is capable of coming off the edge and getting to the quarterback. He had 11 tackles for loss and three sacks as a sophomore.    [player_tooltip player_id='1422604' first='Jailyn' last='Broughton'] OL/DL, 2027 - A two-way starter by the end of his freshman season, Broughton is the lone returner on the offensive line and now charged with getting that group up to speed.     Levine missed nearly all of his freshman season after tearing his MCL in the third game of the year. Prior to that, he'd responded well to the competition level and looked to be a rising star. Now, he's healthy again and is being labeled as one of the best athletes on the entire roster.

Cross coach Shaun Wright's team was playing a late-June 7-on-7 when one of those rare moments happened. His Class A program was up against a Class 5A squad.

And the bigger school was double-teaming receiver Caden Ramsey Caden Ramsey 6'5" | 205 lbs | DB Cross | 2026 State SC on just about every play.

In many ways, the two-way standout has become a focal point, not only for college recruiters, but opposing teams.

“Players from other schools, they'll talk trash and try to take you down,” Ramsey said. “It means a lot. It means I'm good.”

Yes, Ramsey is a huge part of this team. He's a legitimate Power 4 prospect who is being evaluated by those colleges at four or five different positions. But make no mistake, Cross isn't just about Ramsey (pictured).

The Trojans have won 11 games in each of the past two seasons. Over that span, they're a perfect 8-0 against region opponents while outscoring them by an overall score of 403-6. Cross also reached at least the third round of the playoffs both years.

Flash forward to 2024, and Wright expects nothing to change.

“Those guys who graduate, they come back. They'll be in the weight room. They come to practice. They'll get onto those guys,” he said. “So it's kinda like ‘I don't want to let the class that graduated before me down.' From a coaching standpoint, we don't want to hear the excuse that we're young or we're this or we're that. Nobody wants to hear the labor pains. Just deliver the baby.”

On a team loaded with talented sophomores and juniors, the proverbial big brother's watchful eye isn't ignored by the current players, either.

“I know what they expect from me, what to do on the field and off the field,” Ramsey said. “When they come back and I make a mistake, they tell me. I fix it.”

STARS SET TO SHINE

Caden Ramsey Caden Ramsey 6'5" | 205 lbs | DB Cross | 2026 State SC DB/WR, 2026 - There's no telling just how good Ramsey could be now that he's an upperclassman. He's an every down type of player on offense and defense and a match-up nightmare for opposing coordinators trying to neutralize him.

Karmello Jones Karmello Jones 5'9" | 175 lbs | ATH Cross | 2025 State SC RB, 2025 - The shifty tailback led the Trojans with more than 700 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns last fall. He also returns the occasional punt or kickoff and is dynamic once he gets into the open field. Not enough? He's a starter at linebacker most games, too.

Mah’ky Green Mah’ky Green 5'9" | 160 lbs | RB Cross | 2027 State SC RB, 2027 - Still a little undervalued because of his 5-foot-8, 155-pound frame, Green has elite speed and averaged 12 yards per carry last season while spelling Jones. He also eclipsed 700 yards and reached the end zone 10 times.

David Wigfall David Wigfall 5'11" | 225 lbs | LB Cross | 2025 State SC LB, 2025 - By far the team's leading tackler in 2023, Wigfall finished with 80 total stops to go along with nine tackles for loss, two picks, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and a sack.

FILM REVIEW

Preston Fuller Preston Fuller 6'0" | 180 lbs | LB Cross | 2025 State SC LB/DB/WR, 2025 - Fuller is one of the glue guys that allows the staff to tinker with other parts of the offense and defense. He can line up as an H-Back, in the slot or out wide on offense. On defense, he can crash the line, drop into coverage or float in the middle. His senior season is primed to be a good one.

BIGGEST LOSS

Tyler Mungin QB - The Trojans' signal caller threw for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns (against just three interceptions) while also rushing for 600 yards and 12 more scores.

UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL

William Grant William Grant 5'6" | 150 lbs | LB Cross | 2026 State SC LB, 2026 - Relatively small at 5-foot-6 and 150 pounds, Grant is a spark plug who is capable of coming off the edge and getting to the quarterback. He had 11 tackles for loss and three sacks as a sophomore.

Jailyn Broughton Jailyn Broughton 6'0" | 215 lbs | DL Cross | 2027 State SC OL/DL, 2027 - A two-way starter by the end of his freshman season, Broughton is the lone returner on the offensive line and now charged with getting that group up to speed.