2025 Preview: St. James Sharks

For a team coming off its third winless season in 20 years of varsity ball, St. James has little choice but to turn the corner.   Adding another role for one of its Big 3 has been a nice starting point.   Of all the hats Sharks senior [player_tooltip player_id='1145762' first='Hayes' last='Cochrane'] has worn during his time in the program, the newest one gives the oft-struggling program a different reason for hope. Cochrane, who has played offensive line, long snapper, multiple spots along the defensive line and most recently as the team's starting middle linebacker, will now add an H-Back role to his resume.   “He's a beast. He can play whatever he wants to,” quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1267347' first='Alex' last='Sandt'] said last week during the Prep RedZone Media Days series at West Florence. “You always know when Hayes is on the field. He's going to make an impact.”   Those two players - along with receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1592675' first='Zack' last='Zurawski'] - clearly all had starring roles as juniors last fall. But what they'd be more than happy with over the coming months is to start getting back into the win column. It won't be easy.   Size and depth in the trenches has been an ongoing issue for the school since it opened in 2003. Even in seasons when there is an abundance of skill players, the Sharks have been exposed in the thick of the action.   That brings us back to Cochrane. Formerly the team's starting center, he shed some weight over the past year while focusing on his defensive position (he led the team in tackles last year). He's also picked up a step or two while continuing to put his work ethic on display.   So St. James changed course with him, taking his stand-there-and-block one or two defenders mentality and getting him in a position where he can be moved around depending on the play.   For a program that still has those question marks along the line, the new approach could end up being huge. After all, Sandt, Zuwarski and the rest of the receivers can't really do their thing if Sandt isn't protected.   Cochrane will look like a traditional tight end at times, bookending a tackle. At others, he's going to be set in the I to provide a pave-clearer for the running backs. At others, he'll go laterally to pick up a blitz and buy Sandt some time.   “I want to show people that I'm a really hard worker,” he said. “I'm an athlete and I can play anywhere.”   His new offensive responsibilities be glorious, necessarily, but St. James realistically doesn't need the ultimate prize to consider 2025 a success.   This is, after all, a team that's next victory will be its first since October 6, 2023.   “Our kids haven't really said a word about 0-10. They know we were 0-10. Our coaches know we were 0-10," coach Tommy Norwood said. "But we really haven't concentrated on it. We didn't have a player coming back [for the 2024 season] that had scored a point. We were really young.”   In some respects, the Sharks still are, even with nine of the 11 starters back on offense. But finding a way to maximize the Big 3 in another way won't hurt a lick.    STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1267347' first='Alex' last='Sandt'] QB, 2026 - The big right arm of Sandt was too often seen last year after the Sharks fell behind and he was forced to make some throws he maybe otherwise wouldn't have attempted. This offense, though, is his to run and he gives St. James some big-play potential downfield. At the same time, this is a program that knows not every throw can be 40 yards from the line of scrimmage.   [player_tooltip player_id='1592675' first='Zack' last='Zurawski'] WR, 2026 - The 6-foot-1, 170-pound receiver is the team's clear-cut No. 1 and has been for the better part of the last two seasons. However, he's got more support at the position and even more of a connection with Sandt to help both of their causes. The duo can get streaky at times, something the Sharks need more of on that side of the ball.    [player_tooltip player_id='1145762' first='Hayes' last='Cochrane'] LB/TE, 2026 (pictured) - Cochrane has a ton of experience on the offensive line, but this year he'll be asked to be even more of a flexible blocker as an H-Back. That bodes well for Sandt's protection, as Cochrane isn't afraid to mix it up with defensive linemen bigger than he is. He's also the team's top returning tackler from his spot at middle linebacker.    Jefferson Sterling DL, 2026 - The 5-foot-11, 240-pound weight-room monster has put on some significant size since even his sophomore year and should be able to make some significant headway for this defense. He's going to start at tackle and could be among the more effective interior linemen in Horry County.   FILM REVIEW   Josh Harnish WR, 2026 - Harnish is a great complement to Zurawski in that both players possess similar skill sets. For Harnish, his biggest impact on this offense is when Sandt is forced to freelance. Harnish keeps his feet moving and it allows him to float into open space. At the same time, he's shifty enough to get around defenders to open up the long ball.     BIGGEST LOSSES   Nehishawn Hill ATH - While he suffered an arm injury that cost him half of his senior year, Hill was among the Sharks' bigger multi-faceted playmakers last fall, especially on offense.    Hunter Spurlin WR - The team's second-leading receiver a season ago finished off the year with 37 receptions or 491 yards and a pair of touchdowns.    UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL   Frank Glover RB/DB, 2027 - In many ways, Glover is going to resume the role that Hill was playing last year on both sides of the ball. He's going to get his carries, but he's also going to be expected to catch the ball out of the backfield on some screens and then let his momentum try to chew up some yards.    Alijah Ochoa WR, 2026 - Ochoa's introduction to the varsity level was a bit condensed last year, and he didn't do himself any favors with some early drops. But he's steadied himself this offseason and could be the team's No. 3 for much of fall.     Sumner isn't big in terms of weight, but he's got some length the Sharks desperately need at the tackle position. He's packaging his height with a 78.5-inch wingspan.   He's still got some room to grow stronger, and the more he develops the more St. James will be able to take advantage of his height.

For a team coming off its third winless season in 20 years of varsity ball, St. James has little choice but to turn the corner.