2024 Preview: Northside Christian Crusaders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360013' first='Sam' last='Burks']</strong> is arguably Northside Christian Academy's most prolific offensive weapon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The close to 1,600 total yards amassed as a tailback and wide receiver accounted for almost half of the Crusaders' total offensive output in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“It's pretty hard, but it's good to set the example because everybody's watching you and you need to do your best,” Burks said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As college offers continue to increase for Burks, he's earned the highest praise from his head coach Dean Howell.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“[player_tooltip player_id='1360013' first='Sam' last='Burks'] is as good as I've ever coached on any level,” he said. “Whether 4A, 5A, any level. I think he's ready to prove that against bigger and better teams. He's going to be tough for people to tackle.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After two seasons in SCISA Class 2A, reaching the semifinals and finishing 6-5 last year, the Crusaders are moving up in classification. They will compete in Region II-3A with Trinity Collegiate, Florence Christian, Camden Military and Wilson Hall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's a challenge senior quarterback <strong>Jefferson McCallum</strong> believes his team is ready to undertake as they are “united to win” after years of playing together since middle school.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McCallum already has a strong connection with wide receivers Burks, <strong>Jake Jeffrey</strong> and <strong>John Lizewski</strong>. Northside Collegiate also returns four starters on the offensive line – tackles <strong>Hudson Shick</strong>, center <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1246773' first='Zachary' last='Gebhard']</strong> and guards <strong>Landon Folks</strong> and <strong>Jameson Bartlett</strong>.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Burks and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1399629' first='JR' last='Kinard']</strong> will once again team up in the backfield. They combined for 1,833 yards and 23 touchdowns last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Crusaders' defense will have a new lead coordinator in former Gilbert assistant Mark Cagle. Last year's SCISA Region Defensive Player of the Year tackle Shick creates “a mess on defense”, according to Howell. Gebhard will line up alongside him with Jeffrey and <strong>Logan Gouveia</strong> at the ends.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kinard and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578709' first='Trevor' last='Hoffman']</strong> will look to thrive at linebacker in Cagle's system and <strong>Clayton Myers</strong> and <strong>Logan Taylor</strong> will man the secondary.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Following the season-opener against Greenwood Christian Aug. 16, Northside Christian will not play another home game for a month. This includes a three-game stretch which ends with the region opener against region favorite Wilson Hall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jefferson McCallum </strong>QB 2025 – The 5-foot-9, 160-pound rising senior plays with confidence and displays toughness throwing out of the pocket. He threw for 1,174 yards and eight touchdowns last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hudson Shick </strong>OL 2025 – His team-high 120 tackles and six sacks showed how much he was a disruptor for the Crusaders' defense. He's also an effective run stopper and uses his 6-foot-2, 250-pound frame to close out rushing lanes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jake Jeffrey </strong>WR 2025 – At 6-foot-2 and 211 pounds, the rising senior has the size to play both at wide receiver and defensive end. He led the Crusaders with 21 receptions and eight sacks last season and also handles the punting duties.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360013' first='Sam' last='Burks'] </strong>WR 2025 – Gardner-Webb, Limestone and Erskine College are among the schools who've offered the versatile rising senior. At 5-foot-10 and 178 pounds, he's a home-run hitter carrying the football. Once he catches the football, he's very elusive against one-on-one coverage and is an active defender in the secondary as seen by his 36 tackles, four pass breakups and two interceptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://access.qwikcut.com/highlights/65722aa466437c0e1082d817">https://access.qwikcut.com/highlights/65722aa466437c0e1082d817</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dave Salazer </strong>OL –A starting right tackle the past two seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Matt Diaz</strong> RB – Northside Christian's third-leading rusher last season. .</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BJ Suits</strong> DB 2026 – The rising sophomore is expected to see more action as he prepares to succeed McCallum.</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":"Mani Lee","_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":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"197","_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":"Northside Christian ","_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-66a6fe32780d0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">With his size and athleticism, the rising sophomore provides an inside target for a team with speedy wide receivers. He also adds depth to the defensive line and someone to bring outside pressure from the end position. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->