2025 Preview: TL Hanna Yellow Jackets

TL Hanna is well aware of how close they've come in the playoffs over the last several years.   The Yellow Jackets finished the 2024 season with an overall record of 9-4 and lost to Gaffney in the third round of the playoffs.   But that was last year, and now as the 2025 season approaches with the opener nearly a month away on the road at Byrnes on August 22, the Yellow Jackets are focused on handling adverse situations better so they can be better and get over the third round hump.   “We've been there a couple times (and) haven't been able to get past it here lately. But, it's like some of these guys said earlier, you know, we're focusing on being able to handle adversity better, becoming (a) more tight knit group so that when we run into the situations, like we had at Gaffney last year, we can persevere, overcome those situations and come out with a victory,” TL Hanna offensive coordinator Drake McCauley told us at the Prep Redzone Media Day at Hillcrest on June 27.   The Jackets will be strong up front in 2025 beginning with Cole Hopper, Nate Malcolm and Malachi Miles on the offensive line. McCauley told us the staff is counting a guy like Thomas Williams to fill the gap left by graduated senior KD Patterson. There's one more we'll get to in a moment.   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='302810' first='Emari' last='Nance'] DB, 2026 – Nance will be one of the leaders in the secondary for the Yellow Jackets. He finished with 20 total tackles in 2024. He can cover well from free safety and read and recognize routes quickly. There weren't many passes completed when the ball came his way in 2024, and we expect that to continue in 2025. He currently holds an offer from Erskine.   Improvements heading into 2025: “I'd say (having) the juniors becoming more of the leaders. We lost a lot of seniors so just step up more.”   [player_tooltip player_id='1579733' first='Walker' last='Kelley'] LB, 2026 – Kelley finished with 24 tackles and two tackles for a loss in 2024. He comes at full speed to the ball and pursues the ball carrier well. He can also cover well out in space and is a hard hitter when it comes to one-on-one coverage, particularly with short passing routes. Kelley committed to Wofford in early June.   Improvements heading to 2025: “I would definitely say we're trying to control what we can control but coach (Jason) Tone always says stay in the circle and control what you can control, like our attitude, effort and behavior. We're just trying to control what we can control and how that affects our team.”   [player_tooltip player_id='1592687' first='Jameerion' last='Oliver'] LB, 2026 – Oliver (pictured above) will accompany Kelley at linebacker for his senior season as well. He finished his junior season with 20 tackles and one tackle for a loss. His play recognition is excellent to knock balls away on defense. But don't discount his ability to make plays on offense. He can line up at the fullback position in the Jackets' Wing-T offense and get a solid five to 10 yards a carry.   Improvements heading into 2025: “Getting the younger guys ready for how fast we play because varsity football is a whole different ball game than JV from just physical wise, so (we're) just trying to get those guys ready for what's coming.”   [player_tooltip player_id='595709' first='Gavin' last='Magin'] QB, 2026 – Magin has a nice arm at the quarterback position. He sells the play action fake well that many times when we went back and watched his film, receivers are running wide open. Now that he is the starting quarterback, he'll have the keys to the car of the Wing-T offense for the Jackets.   Improvements heading into 2025: “I'd definitely say the bonding. When things go wrong, we want to be a team. We don't want to point to each other and blame each other, so we are working together to build that brotherhood.”   KEY LOSSES   KD Patterson RB – Patterson was the team's leading rusher in 2024 as a senior, rushing for 328 yards and five touchdowns on the season, while also recording 137 yards receiving.    Cameron Strong RB – The NC State signee was a dynamic player. He fit the Wing-T offensive scheme running back – he was tough to tackle once he got into the open field and he had great speed to boot.   FILM REVIEW   JaMichael Jones OL, 2026 – Jones is one of the returning starters back on the offensive line for the Yellow Jackets this fall. He will be counted on at the center position to open holes for the Wing-T attack and he did a solid job of that in 2024. He attacks the defensive linemen with violent hands and can move guys out from the snap of the ball. He has good leg drive and has great size for the position.    UP AND COMING POTENTIAL   Quay Reid DB, 2027 – Reid is a solid corner who can stay stride for stride with defenders. He can stay in the receiver's hip pocket and recognize the routes. He also does a good job of coming up in run support to limit the gain.   Isaac Galloway RB, 2026 – Galloway is another guy along with Williams that we mentioned earlier that the offensive staff is looking to fill the void left by KD Patterson. Galloway is tough to bring down at first contact. He's patient enough to wait for his blocks to develop and then he explodes for a big gain, most times it's a touchdown.    Tripp will anchor things up front on the defensive line. He is tough to block from his defensive tackle position right over the center. He uses his hands to fight off the block of the opposing offensive lineman and get into the backfield – we noticed most runners couldn't get past the line of scrimmage once he got a hold of them.   He's also effective in the special teams' game. He had two blocks when we watched his film where he got a hand on the ball.

TL Hanna is well aware of how close they've come in the playoffs over the last several years.