2024 Preview: Green Sea Floyds Trojans

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Green Sea Floyds coach Patrick Martin never had a plan like this but it's just the way things are working out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Trojans limped home last season with a 2-8 record and missed the postseason. In 2024, Green Sea Floyds will have eight total returning starters but a host of youngsters that hopefully can turn things around quickly. But they know playing in the region with the likes of Johnsonville, Lake View and Latta, it could be treacherous going.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We're trying to instill in ourselves in believing and knowing that we can do it,” Martin said. “We just want to keep working hard, keep believing and know that we can do it. We're very young but those kids have bought in and hope to be fine in a very tough region.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Martin will look to seniors <strong>Isaac Hewitt</strong>, a two-way starter at running back and defensive tackle, offensive and defensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603727' first='Alex' last='Johnson']</strong> along with junior defensive lineman <strong>Dy'lon White</strong> to lead the way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We know we must show up, work hard and grind in the offseason better than we have in the past” Hewitt said. “As seniors, we're trying to be leaders and bring the younger guys along to be better. We're going to have to count on a lot of those younger guys this season.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore <strong>Cameron Jones</strong> returns along the offensive line and receiver sophomore <strong>London McClellan</strong> are two returning starters on offense. Sophomore <strong>Thomas Gunnells</strong> will do a little bit of everything for the Trojans. He could play quarterback, running back and defensive back before it's all said and done. Freshman <strong>Jack Shelley</strong> will also get a look at quarterback.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore <strong>Judah Lee</strong> is back at defensive back, and he should see time at running back as well. Junior <strong>Ryder Buffkin</strong> returns in the secondary. White started on the defensive line last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Isaac Hewitt </strong>RB/DT, 2025 – Hewitt (pictured) is a throwback of some sort. He began last season wearing No. 54 to highlight his time on the defensive line. But as the season progressed, he saw himself more and more in the backfield. He's a downhill runner that is hard to bring down. On defense, he can shed blocks to make plays at or near the line of scrimmage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dy'lon White</strong> DL, 2026 – White is 6-foot-3, 320 pounds and plays with a mean streak. He clogs up the middle but can also run down plays from behind. He's athletic enough to make plays in the open field as well. He plays until the whistle blows and is aggressive from whistle to whistle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Thomas Gunnells</strong> RB/QB/DB, 2027 – Gunnells might end up doing a lot of different things for the Trojans this season. He played mostly running back and defensive back in 2023 but he likely will see snaps at quarterback as well. He's another hard-nosed kid that maximizes his ability.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603727' first='Alex' last='Johnson'] </strong>OL/DL, 2025 – Johnson plays on the interior and uses his sheer strength to make plays on both sides of the ball. He's physical and doesn't mind doing the dirty work in the trenches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Judah Lee</strong> RB/DB, 2027 – Lee plays well in the secondary, playing safety and reading plays quickly. He shows good hips on film, adjusting smoothly. He has great vision at running back and special team's returner so he can make people miss when needed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19394738/6535939038642e037cc799d1' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66b1822b3e725"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSS(es)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ben Thompson </strong>LB – Thompson totaled 65 tackles last season, but his importance was more of being a coach on the field. He made sure everyone was lined up correctly and knew their assignment.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mario Castillo</strong> K – Castillo was an All-State selection at kicker last season after connecting on 6-of-6 field goals with a long of 47 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jackson Morgan</strong> RB/LB, 2027 – Morgan gained experience as a freshman and was a standout special teams' contributor last season. He tackles well in the open field and needs to bring that ability to the linebacker spot this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>London McClellan</strong> WR/DB, 2027 – McClellan was another player that was thrown into the fire as a freshman. He should be better prepared for the physicality and will be a key contributor on both sides of the ball.</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":"Jack Shelley","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_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":"2409","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Green Sea Floyds","_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-66b1822b4027e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Collin Buffkin graduated and that leaves the starting QB spot open and while Gunnells will see some snaps, Shelly might be the eventual starter. He's tall, shows a strong, lively arm and can run a little bit. He has already seen varsity playing experience as he was a standout on the baseball team in the spring. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->