2025 Preview: North Myrtle Beach Chiefs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Myrtle Beach football coach Greg Hill was sort of philosophical when discussing the 26 seniors he lost for his 4-8 team a season ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coaches expect to have a year-to-year turnover, and a lot of any future success depends on how much that previous class contributed. The Chiefs lost several high-profile contributors, but Hill likes what he has returning and the roles they can fill in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The message hasn't changed but maybe the intensity that it's been delivered has jumped up a notch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“In our mind, it's been a lot of the same, but I think if you ask the kids, they say it's been a lot more grinding,” Hill said last month at Media Day at West Florence. “It's been more physical, our spring practice was really physical, than in years past. We wanted to come out of May and know where we are out. We had to find out who can and who wants to do.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players such as senior linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1639819' first='Michael' last='Cavallini']</strong>, senior athlete <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1738840' first='Bricey' last='Gore']</strong> and senior offensive lineman <strong>Thomas Moss</strong> have seen the difference. They also realize they're stepping into a leadership role that likely was handled by the previous senior class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“It's been different having to step into a leadership position,” Gore said. “There's adversity that every team faces and we're the group that has to address those things now. We're ready to step into that role and be great leaders. Our goal each week is to be better than we were the previous week.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This senior class is going to be heavily contributors as well. Outside of the three already mentioned, expect linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025820' first='Lamontae' last='Smith']</strong> and defensive lineman <strong>Keith Allison</strong> to play key roles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But the Chiefs will have a younger look as well. Junior running back/wide receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664629' first='Jaden' last='Chestnut']</strong>, junior wide receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1673915' first='Reo' last='Stevenson']</strong> and junior linebacker <strong>Jimmy McCullough</strong> are going to play plenty of meaningful snaps.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Myrtle Beach played for a state championship as recently as 2020 but haven't had a winning record since then. They did win a first-round playoff game last season but the hunger and want for more is there and the hope is the work put in is what puts the Chiefs back among the state's elite.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“It's a long learning process and a lot of new things we're doing but we're up to the challenge,” Moss said. “We want to get back to being talked about just not locally but across the state.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1639819' first='Michael' last='Cavallini'] </strong>LB/H-Back – Cavallini is 6-foot, 165 pounds and will likely be a two-way standout this season. He's already made his mark as a linebacker but will add H-Back duties to his resume this season. Despite being slightly undersized, he doesn't let that limit what he can do. The Chiefs are loaded at the linebacker spot so it wouldn't surprise us if Cavallini is more widely featured on the offensive side of the ball this coming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664629' first='Jaden' last='Chestnut'] </strong>RB/WR, 2027 - There's a chance that Chestnut will be featured in both the running and passing game. He's 5-foot-10, 165 pounds and has a quick first step from both positions. He is a mismatch against a linebacker or safety and uses his hands to catch the ball. When he's in the backfield, he runs North-South and lowers his shoulder for the extra yardage when needed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Thomas Moss</strong> OL, 2026 – Moss (pictured) is one of the more experienced players on the offensive front and that knowledge is going to be needed in 2025. He's 5-foot-10, 240 pounds but plays with a physicality that will be crucial.His leadership with younger players could go a long way in the success of the Chiefs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jayden Wilson</strong> LB, 2027 – Linebacker and safety might be the most experienced spot on the defense and Wilson could end up being one of the most talented at either of those positions. He's 5-foot-10, 180 pounds and that has the coaching staff excited about what Wilson can bring to the table. He has limited varsity experience, but the ceiling is high. He could also see time at running back. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1738840' first='Bricey' last='Gore']</strong> ATH, 2026 - It's safe to say the 5-foot-11, 178-pound Gore is going to contribute in several ways. He could be in the secondary at safety, but the short-term plan is to play him as an outside linebacker and that suits his mentality well. He plays with a nasty streak and is a big-time hitter when he arrives at the ball-carrier. Don't be surprised to see the senior contribute on the offensive side of the ball well, with wide receiver being the most likely spot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18125578/6705770c71175ecf7edf94bb' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68722482e4334"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSSES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jacqari Witherspoon </strong>OL/DL <strong>– </strong>Anytime you lose a 6-foot-2, 290-pounder pounder in the trenches, it's going to be a huge loss. Witherspoon has moved on to Newberry College and he's a huge void to fill on both sides of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brown Reaves </strong>DL/TE<strong> – </strong>The talented Reaves has taken his talents to Coastal Carolina and that type of player is going to be very difficult to replace. He contributed both ways but his loss on the defensive front is going to be the huge difference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Will McNeely</strong> QB/DL, 2027 – When is the last time you saw a defensive lineman make the transition to quarterback the following season. Hill lights up when discussing McNeely and what he brings to the table. He was a major contributor on the defensive line last season but will likely take over at least a portion of the quarterback duties this season. Hill said it's very likely McNeely will play several roles in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jasaun Bellamy</strong> 2027 DB/Safety – Bellamy is another player that made Hill light up when discussing his potential. The rising junior is going to be a mainstay in the secondary and Hill likes the way he handles himself. He is athletic but more importantly, he plays with great intelligence and a high football IQ that has the coaching staff excited.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1673915"],"_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-68722482e6988"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Stevenson is hard to cover regardless of if he's lined up out wide or in the slot. He's shifty and is a great route runner with outstanding hands. He catches everything that comes near him and can take a short pass for a big play. His shiftiness and vision make him a huge threat in the return game as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->