2024 Preview: Marion Swamp Foxes

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marion went 10-2 last season but there is no question there is plenty of change for the Swamp Foxes heading into 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First off, coach Brian Hennecy must find a way to replace 19 players off last season's roster. Several of those players were key contributors and left huge holes in the Swamp Foxes attack. Second, because of realignment, Marion has four new region opponents and seven new games overall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That brings about a challenge Hennecy hasn't faced in his 12 years at the school.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We lost half our team from last year due to graduation or some other situations,” he said. “We have a great group of kids returning with experience though. We have some freshmen stepping into some key roles, and we have some guys that haven't played in a while coming back.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Swamp Foxes only return seven full-time starters from last season, three on offense and four on defense. And some of those returners are in new positions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tyrice Davis (pictured) moves from wide receiver to take over the primary role at quarterback. He played wide receiver last year and still might line up there in certain situations. Jamerson Davis and [player_tooltip player_id='824759' first='Amari' last='Green'] are returning on the offensive line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We know we have to replace a lot of guys, but I think we're up to the challenge,” Tyrice Davis said. “We're trying to show the young guys what it takes to be successful. It's from the playbook to the weight room. All of it matters.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tyrice Davis will also play some defensive back with Jamerson Davis and Green also playing defensive line. The linebacker group and edge rushers have the most experience with the return of four players. Dramere Pearson and Jaquan Ritter are back at linebacker while Jahmere Tart and Juwan Buey return at defensive ends.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The new region will include newcomers East Clarendon, Manning, Atlantic Collegiate and Lake City. Mullins and Kingstree round out the strong Region 7-AA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We have some challenges, but these kids have always stepped up and accepted everything,” Hennecy said. “We've had a great summer and had some new leaders emerge so it's exciting to get things started.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tyrice Davis&nbsp;</strong>QB-WR, 2025 – Tyrice Davis primarily played wide receiver but is making the move to quarterback this season. He only played in eight games last season so staying healthy will be key. He's spent the summer working on his mechanics and has emerged as a true leader with 19 players who departed after last year. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jamerson Davis</strong>&nbsp;OL/DL, 2025 – Jamerson Davis has been a mainstay in the trenches. He's slightly undersized at 6-foot, 215 pounds but plays with a tenacity that makes him a natural leader. He has a high motor that translates well. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jaquan Ritter</strong>&nbsp;LB, 2025 – Ritter is a menace, flying around making plays and throwing his body into piles with much bigger players. He's 5-foot-8, 160 pounds but plays much bigger. He recorded 31 tackles and a fumble recovery in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jahmere Tart</strong>&nbsp;DE/RB, 2026 – Tart ended 2023 with 45 tackles, seven tackles for loss and an interception. He plays with great aggression and takes a quick first step as he reads and reacts to plays. He plays very physically on both sides of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dramere Pearson</strong>&nbsp;LB, 2025 – It's always good when your leading tackler returns, and Pearson fits that bill. He had 95 stops last season with 11 tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick. He plays bigger than his 5-foot-11, 220-pound frame but uses his quickness to make plays sidelines to sidelines.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17412718/650f6a0b2ab1640408624d36' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66bcf414bcc3a"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSS(es)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rasheed Scott&nbsp;</strong>DB/WR – Scott was a big-play waiting to happen at wide receiver, averaging nearly 30 yards per reception on his 26 catches. He scored nine touchdowns. He added 63 tackles and three interceptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>&nbsp;<strong>Gabriel Cusack</strong>&nbsp;QB – Cusack threw for 1,788 yards and 19 touchdowns while also being the leading rusher with 683 yards and another 14 scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Benjamin Watford</strong>&nbsp;RB/LB, 2027 – Watford saw limited action as a freshman but that should change in 2024. He can ease in the rotation at linebacker but might be counted on more in the backfield in the early going.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leon Tart</strong>&nbsp;WR/LB, 2026 – Tart is a fluid receiver that should see plenty of action this season. He's going to help the Swamp Foxes on both sides of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='824759' first='Amari' last='Green']</strong> OL, 2027 – </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='824759' first='Amari' last='Green']","_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":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"190","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Marion","_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-66bcf414be5d3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Green stepped in as a freshman and contributed right away on the offensive line. He manned the center spot for most of the season and the best way to describe his play is being a fighter. Green stands his ground against much bigger opponents and finds a way to make a great push. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19777256/667e3deec126b5f9dee19d77' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66bcf414be607"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->