2024 Preview: Andrew Jackson Volunteers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Andrew Jackson made a solid run into the playoffs, before falling to Hampton County in the third round and finishing with an 8-4 record. Now as 2024 approaches, Volunteers head coach Jeremy Smith and his team has built on that experience in the offseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“(It's) not that we look at that as necessarily a lot of motivation going into the next season but, our guys have bought into the weight room, which is key and like I said this summer, we had some good 7-on-7s and stuff that led us up (to this point). We know what we've got to do to get ourselves ready at this point. Our guys understand that and have a lot of experience. They've started to understand, this is what we have to do to get ready,” Smith said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Volunteers' offense lost four starters up front on the offensive line from last year, and they'll be counting on JV experience to come up and fill in those voids with guys like <strong>Gage Lowery </strong>and <strong>Ethan Horton.</strong> But they have a good core of skill talent returning including <strong>Dallas Vick </strong>at quarterback, who had 35 yards on six carries last season. You can expect some of those skill guys to see time on defense as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the defensive side of the ball, the Volunteers return seven starters including <strong>Russian Gaither </strong>at cornerback. <strong>Curt Thomas Horton </strong>also returns at kicker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Andrew Jackson opens the 2024 season at home against Bluffton on August 30th.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tavarus Kelly </strong>OL, 2025 – Kelly will be a key leader up front on the offensive line. He can move well and get to the second level and he can also pull block well. He went to camp at the University of South Carolina and North Greenville University over the summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Improvements heading into 2024: “As an offensive line, we've been working on trying to be faster on the ball, get down and get set and be able to just move the ball and (be) faster than the defense.”</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jy'Kevius Johnson</strong> WR, 2025 – Johnson will be a three-year starter returning for his senior year. He recorded 12 receptions for 375 yards and five touchdowns. He will also see time on defense as well in the secondary in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Improvements heading into 2024: “Being in shape and being able to play all four quarters.”</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bryce Peterson </strong>WR, 2025 – Peterson (pictured above) will be another three-year starter who had a strong junior season. He had 26 receptions for 336 yards and two touchdowns. He attended camp at the University of South Carolina and went to the Carolinas Coaches Combine this past spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Improvements heading into 2024: “Being more of a leader out there on the field, getting my teammates involved and getting them ready for every game and every situation.”</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1394996' first='Damias' last='Seegars']</strong> LB, 2026 – While he primarily played on defense, Seegars saw time at running back as well, rushing for 472 yards on 52 carries for 7 touchdowns.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1395000' first='Kamron' last='McGill'] </strong>LB/DE, 2026 – McGill is a defender who has a motor that is always running. He can pursue opposing skill guys down well and he comes with relentless effort at all times. He has great speed with his ability to react to what the offense is presenting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18117230/66986a5bef052aa88684bba1' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66ad9bec54c58"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>KEY LOSS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Trey Thompson</strong> RB – Whenever you lose a guy who ran for 2,107 yards and 24 touchdowns, there's some serious production that will be hard to replace.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP AND COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Caden Langley </strong>DL, 2025 – Langley is a returning starter on the defensive line that will see time on lines of scrimmage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Qua'ran Hall </strong>LB/RB, 2025 – Hall is a guy who will see time in the offensive backfield in 2024 after playing in a reserve role.</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='1395019' first='Tyre' last='Gaddy']","_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":"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":"Andrew Jackson","_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":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66ad9bec56e09"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gaddy will play a vital role for the Volunteers secondary as one of the returning starters. He can get up high and leap for interceptions and reads pass plays well. Expect to see him on special teams as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18390400/6546d1d93deb520b887175b2' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003ern","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66ad9bec56e67"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->