2024 Preview: Philip Simmons Iron Horses

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Philip Simmons has good reason not to focus on everything it lost from last year's team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In fact, the Iron Horses have a whole bunch of reasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Because while Eric Bendig's squad will move on without two tailbacks who rushed for 3,300 yards and 45 touchdowns, two linebackers who put up monster figures, a top-flight corner and receiver who signed with Georgia Tech and a starting tackle who transferred to IMG Academy (as well as the back-up quarterback, who did the same), this team isn't exactly starting from scratch. Not physically, and certainly not mentally.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We're out here to win a state championship,” junior H-Back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592547' first='Brody' last='Tonon']</strong> said. “That's everyone's goal. It's just about all of us working hard and trusting each other. If that ends up happening, we're going to win.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When pressed about a realistic ceiling for this team, Tonon didn't hesitate to repeat himself.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“It's a state championship,” he said. “That's what we're striving for.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Those lofty goals are even plausible thanks to a large crop of returning starters on both sides of the ball. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='502413' first='Tavien' last='Orellana'] will be in his third year as the starter. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='473030' first='Quamaine' last='Vaughn'] will hold down one of the tackle spots for the second straight season, and he'll be joined by returning starters <strong>Danny Scarth</strong>, <strong>Gabe Fingar</strong> and <strong>Tajuan Gibbs</strong>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tonon will be a floating H-Back/full back hybrid capable of adding to the blocking component.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, seven players who started at least a handful of games will be back, led by [player_tooltip player_id='1254044' first='Kolten' last='Kellermann'] (pictured) at safety and Darriel Porcher and linebacker. Defensive linemen <strong>Jaquan Shephard</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1271251' first='Jordan' last='Johnson']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473026' first='Michael' last='Garnett']</strong> are also all back.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Those returning players in the trench might ultimately tell the true story.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We're starting to get bigger bodies, guys who have been playing a lot and been in the system a while,” Bendig said.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It allows the rebuild of sorts at some of the skill positions to feel a little more fluid.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“The one thing I've been impressed with is we've lost those runners but we've got some guys to fill those roles,” Bendig said of departing tailbacks KJ Asbury and Sharod Williams - who put up all those rushing yards. “Now, do you really replace them? Not the kids, but possibly you can replace the production. We know we've got four guys who do different things.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='502413' first='Tavien' last='Orellana'] QB, 2025 - The ultra-efficient quarterback was asked to pick his spots last year while the aforementioned tailbacks did most of the work. It's tough to not give Orellana credit for cutting his interception total from eight (2022) to one (2023) while still throwing 15 touchdowns.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='473030' first='Quamaine' last='Vaughn'] OL, 2026 - The 6-foot-2, 285-pound left tackle is a much better pass blocker than we've had the opportunity to see on a consistent basis. But he's absolutely one of the best lineman in a loaded class of 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254044' first='Kolten' last='Kellermann'] DB/WR, 2025 - The safety in Kellerman is the Iron Horses' top returning tackler. The receiver in Kellerman turned his seven receptions into three touchdowns a year ago.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Darriel Porcher</strong> LB/RB, 2025 - Porcher is going to go from one of the best depth pieces Philip Simmons had last year at both positions to a huge contributor at both. He's got some fire and provides some serious pop, whether he's going for a tackle or carrying the rock.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='473026' first='Michael' last='Garnett'] DL, 2026 - It's hard to imagine that Garnett has two years of high school football remaining. He got significant reps in 10 games as a freshman and then became a regular starter as a sophomore. He takes up a lot of room in the middle of the line and is often the uncredited player responsible for whatever play an end or linebacker makes behind him.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16519740/65788a79dfd8d50a34178535' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-668771bac8937"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSSES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>KJ Asbury and Sherod Williams </strong>RBs - The two-headed rushing monster tallied just shy of 3,300 yards and 45 touchdowns on the ground during their senior seasons.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Troy Stevenson</strong> DB/WR - The dynamic two-way threat headed to Georgia Tech after being a lock down corner and the team's top receiver.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1271251' first='Jordan' last='Johnson']</strong> DL, 2027 - Johnson is 6-foot-2 and 290 pounds and alongside Garnett helps form an impressive front wall with a ton of eligibility remaining.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1271262' first='Alex' last='Tchoryk']</strong> DL, 2027 - So, we were saying… Tchoryk is a 6-foot-4, 200-pound edge rusher who only appeared in three games but now has his coaches' attention after the offseason.&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":1322402,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1592547' first='Brody' last='Tonon']","_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":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"180","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2407","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Philip Simmons","_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-668771bac9f16"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">You're just going to have trust us that Tonon can block, no matter if he's lining up as a traditional tight end, H-Back or full back. But what we want to see more of is plays like the one below. Tonon can be the guy who no one sees coming, making a big offensive play or two every game to ensure the rest of the offense has even more room to do its thing.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14927439/652bcf73bee17601308f35f4' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-668771bac9f43"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->