2025 Preview: Chester Cyclones

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A playoff victory last season was a step in the right direction for the Chester Cyclones, and they will look to get a step further in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The departure of quarterback <strong>Trooper Floyd</strong> will be hard to overcome but the team is confident they will be able to not necessarily replace him but have the guys necessary to produce at the same level that Floyd did.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='816734' first='Terry' last='Radford']</strong> will be at the forefront of Chester's success this season, along with <strong>Amari Nesmith</strong>, <strong>DE 'Imari Cockrell</strong>, <strong>Zytavious Whitlock</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165099' first='Darriyarn' last='Baxley']</strong> and <strong>Sintigo Caldwell</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The departure of the previously mentioned Floyd has caused changes that included an offensive scheme change, but the guys on the offensive side of the ball seem to be rather excited about it and have been enjoying learning it and going to work during the offseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We switched our offense up and we are putting in work and actually getting better," said Radford, a soon to be four-year starter. "We're grinding every day and are eager to learn this new system that's being put into place this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cockrell talked about the competitiveness that's been on the practice field this summer and how much the guys love competing every day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I'd say we are being more competitive with each other. We are always fighting and always competing with each other, and we are going to be better leaders for our teammates because of it, Cockrell said."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Omari Pendergrass</strong> ATH, 2026 - Pendergrass is listed an athlete, but he made most of his in the receiving game where he hauled in 32 catches for 380 yards and six touchdowns. Chester may turn toward him to try and replicate a bit of what Floyd did in the quarterback run game. Whatever way he is utilized, he is almost certain to do it well and be a playmaker on either side of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jayren Holly</strong> OL, 2026 - Holly will be the anchor of the offensive line again for Chester this season and would go unnoticed to the casual fan. He was a big part of Floyd's success last season and with a new quarterback this year, Holly's performance on the offensive line will once again be crucial. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603999' first='Caleb' last='Feaster']</strong> RB, 2027 - Feaster had an excellent season on the ground in 2024 and he can be expected to do much of the same again this year. He ran for 610 yards and eight touchdowns, both good for second on the team. The running back duo of he and [player_tooltip player_id='1592278' first='Hudhaifah' last='Taylor'] will be nearly unstoppable and a force to be reckoned with.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zytavious Whitlock</strong> LB/DE, 2026 - Much like Radford, Whitlock has already been mentioned once but being mentioned again is warranted. If it weren't for Radford, he would be considered the best player on the defense, and it may not be close. He racked up 104 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and three sacks. The three-headed monster of he, Radford and Baxley could wreak havoc and win a game for Chester on any given night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='816734' first='Terry' last='Radford']</strong> DL, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've already mentioned Radford (pictured above) one time, but he is certainly worth mentioning again. He had 16 sacks and 26 tackles for loss last season and wants to reach his major goal of 20 sacks this season. He is a true game wrecker and could flip any game upside down with just one play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16913137/6372439d8cde0f0d84ba9c35' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68628fd090999"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSSES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Trooper Floyd</strong> QB- Floyd was the best player and the leader of Chester in 2024 and we've already highlighted that it will be extremely difficult to replicate what he brought to the field. He accounted for 1,775 total yards and 22 total touchdowns for the season. Anyone playing under this center this season and coming close to that would feel like a successful season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Camron Wray</strong> ATH - Wray played multiple roles last season that included mainly running back as well as some production on the defensive side of the ball as well. He rushed for 164 yards and a touchdown along with collecting 43 tackles, three tackles for loss and three passes defended.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jakobe Starks</strong> ATH, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Starks' numbers don't jump off the page at you, but they are good enough to warrant a mention. As a sophomore last season, he had three interceptions, three passes defended, and 39 tackles on defense. Offensively, he had 122 total yards and two touchdowns. With some of the leading tackles, receivers and rushers now gone, Starks should see a major increase in production this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603965' first='Luke' last='Reed']</strong> DL, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Reed is on the defensive line with the same three-headed monster we mentioned earlier so it is easy for him to be a bit overlooked. He had an extremely solid year, though, with 39 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and four sacks. If he and the rest of the defensive line were able to have great summers with new schemes and improve on their weaknesses, they could very well have the best defensive line in the entire state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1165099"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68644b5acfc98"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Baxley is one of the best linebackers in the state and that is shown by his #4 ranking at the position for his class. His strength may be the best part of his game, and he shows that in other sports, as he has over 100 career wins as a wrestler at Chester.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->