2024 Preview: Mauldin Mavericks

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After Mauldin lost to Boiling Springs to begin the 2023 season, Mavericks head coach Andre Cook asked his team how many played for the first time on that Friday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All but about six players raised their hands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mauldin finished winless in 2023, but Cook says there has been a culture change and the commitment from the players has had a different feel to it. The confidence and trust has grown as they now look to translate the offseason work into positive results on the field in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I don't want us to get satisfied with where we are right now because we still haven't proven anything. I want us to show who we've become and what we're capable of but we haven't done that yet. These guys have to stay hungry and continue to work on the little things and execution and that's really been our main focus: Fellas, we have to execute at a high level. If you don't have the discipline and execute, then you're going to go through a lot of growing pains and so if we can continue to just try to get better every day. We talk about getting 1% better every day and if the kids can do that, I feel like we'll be ready come August 23 when we open up at home against Riverside. I know our kids are looking forward to that and our community is and I am as well,” Cook said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Looking ahead to 2024, the Mavericks return a total of 18 starters from 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mauldin's offense will return four starters up front on the offensive line including <strong>Elijah Robinson, Charles Griffin </strong>and<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1592598' first='Cade' last='Spencer']</strong>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cook expects the Mavericks to run the ball first and then open things up in the passing game. A quartet of receivers return including <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822852' first='Taurus' last='Thomason']</strong>, <strong>Devon Wilson and Tristan Nash.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On defense, <strong>Blake Scott</strong> played linebacker last year and will move to safety in 2024. Cook says he's done an outstanding job of being able to track the ball and make plays on the back end and understands where people are supposed to be. Other returners include<strong> Javari Henderson</strong> and <strong>Austin Cummings</strong> on the defensive line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Reddick Langston </strong>QB, 2026 – Langston<strong> </strong>returns at quarterback, who started the last four games of the season. He has an impressive arm with the ability to step into his throws and make accurate throws downfield. We were also impressed with his ability to scramble and make plays on the run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nemo Floyd</strong> RB, 2025 – Cook calls Floyd (pictured above) a natural leader who has great hands and the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. He will be coming back from minor surgery this offseason. He also serves as the student body president off the field. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Floyd on what he's been focusing on heading into 2024: “My speed. You never can get too fast so really just my speed and trying to be more explosive.”</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254103' first='Trey' last='Moon']</strong>, OL, 2025 – An All-Region performer last year who can move well and who held his own against opposing defensive lineman in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AJ Norfus</strong>, LB/DL, 2025 – Norfus will transition to the defensive line in 2024 after spending time at linebacker in 2023. He finished with 40 solo tackles and 1 fumble recovery and 1 forced fumble.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Shawn Harris</strong> CB, 2025 – Harris was an All Region cornerback in 2023 and he will play safety in 2024. He can stay stride for stride with receivers and has good instincts to react to the ball in the air. He shows good technique in recognizing routes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17672173/653ffb442ab1070a883cbbe9' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-668dda8175e74"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>KEY LOSSES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Barrett Sweden</strong> TE/WR – Sweden had 3 touchdown catches in the season finale against Woodmont. Cook says he was an outstanding blocker in the screen game and run game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP AND COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jackson Campbell </strong>K, 2025 – Cook calls him one of the strongest and most athletic kids in the program and he's getting a lot of interest from colleges.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Evan Hruska </strong>LB, 2026 – Hruska is an attacking linebacker who can make life difficult for opposing offenses. He shot the gaps well against Dorman last year and got into the backfield quickly whenever the Cavs tried to run the ball, from what we saw on film.</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":"Zaiden Addison","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_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":"2495","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Mauldin","_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-668dda8178183"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, Addison is athletic and can run and jump. From what we saw on film, he tracks the ball well and can make plays on the ball when it is in the air. He got involved at receiver a bit last year so it will be interesting to see if he's used some there in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17832098/667a2f7ec126b5f9dede32f6' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003ern","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-668dda81781cb"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->