2024 Preview: Byrnes Rebels

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year, Byrnes boasted one of the best defenses in the best defensive region in the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite heavy losses to graduation and transfers, the Rebels see no reason to change.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We don't want anybody to score," DT Sharrod Wilkins said of the Rebels' approach on the defensive side of the ball. We take the responsibility on ourselves. When we can get a stop on defense, the momentum just shifts. It's just big for us."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254251' first='Jaidyn' last='Ferguson'] and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='797155' first='Justice' last='Hopkins']</strong> will join Wilkins as returning starters on the defensive line, with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1575309' first='Shayne' last='Dixon']</strong> at LB. Offensively, RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036721' first='Tre' last='Segarra'] </strong>and WR <strong>Ta'Lik Dawkins</strong> will return, along with OL <strong>Jason Sullivan</strong> and <strong>Kylan Williams</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That's it for the Rebels returning, as they'll be breaking in a ton of new faces. That's fine with those defensive returners.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We want to prove everybody wrong," Ferguson said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ta'Lik Dawkins</strong> WR, 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dawkins is one of only two skill starters returning for the Rebels, and he's a good one. He had 552 combined yards last year with two TDs, and he'll be a much bigger part of the Byrnes offense this season. He's got good hands and plenty of speed, and he's particularly good in space.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sharrod Wilkins</strong> DL, 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When Byrnes' defense is at its best, there's usually a dominant guy at nose making things go up front. That's Wilkins. He's a disruptive force in the middle for the Rebels, routinely bulldozing multiple opponents on the same snap. He's a routine presence in opponents' backfields, he's got a remarkably quick first step, and he generally makes life difficult for offenses. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1254251' first='Jaidyn' last='Ferguson'] DE, 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ferguson had 45 tackles and seven sacks last season, and that was on a team that featured a couple other standout ends. He added 12.5 tackles for loss, three pass deflections, 11 hurries, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. His most impressive number might be his 78-inch wingspan, which allows him to disrupt passing lanes and create havoc off the edge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1036721' first='Tre' last='Segarra'] RB, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Segarra burst onto the scene as a freshman with more than 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns, and he's our top back in the state in his class and the second-ranked player overall. He's got an incredible mix of speed, power, and balance, and he's a threat to go to the house on every snap.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16924365/65b086219676171aa4c9a36b' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66bd1c348e0c8"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING-POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592388' first='Jonathan' last='Montgomery'] </strong>LB, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Montgomery will be a guy who can help plug the middle for the Rebels. He's quick and he diagnoses plays well, and has the ability to get off blocks to make plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Elijah Clark</strong> DB/WR, 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clark will be a playmaker on the back end for Byrnes. He covers well and has a great break on the ball, and will be heavily counted on with the absence of a number of players in the secondary.</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='1271241' first='Chanin' last='Harris']","_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":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"158","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Byrnes","_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-66bd1c349090a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Harris gives the Rebels a sure-handed target who's good in space and reliable. He's also tremendously physical, particularly when blocking downfield.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16728227/6522f53f4ba7e70660deb522' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66bd1c349094d"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->