Greater Charlotte Athletic Conference Media Day Recap

<p>Recently, the six teams in the Greater Charlotte Athletic Conference- Hough, Myers Park, South Mecklenburg, Hopewell, West Mecklenburg, and Garinger had their annual Media Day at West Mecklenburg High School. We were able to talk with all the coaches and players in attendance, and we'll highlight a few players from the Media Day with some impressions we were able to gather from each team in attendance. </p>   <p><strong>Hough Huskies </strong></p>   <p>Head Coach Deshawn Baker<br>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1678655' first='Jahmere' last='Anderson']<br>OL<strong> </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1788164' first='Tauatevalu' last='Tuionetoa']<br>RB Jamarion Morrison<br>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1616141' first='Jonah' last='Holloway']<br><br>Head Coach Deshawn Baker was in great spirits, as you would expect with the kind of team he has returning this season. The defending 8A State Champions spoke humbly, yet confidently, about how the season has been going so far for them as we're getting started. OL [player_tooltip player_id='1788164' first='Tauatevalu' last='Tuionetoa'] returns at the Center position, and he'll be helping lead a BIG offensive line that's coming together quickly. DB [player_tooltip player_id='1616141' first='Jonah' last='Holloway'] knows that he will get a lot of attention in a secondary full of talented players, but he is confident in his abilities within the Huskies' secondary. </p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Jahmere recently committed to Western Carolina, and he shared why in our interview. Outside of that, Jahmere looks bigger physically than when I last saw him, and he is confident in his abilities overall as a receiver, as he should be. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/DbZGERUC9wR/ </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">I really enjoyed talking with Jamarion - I finally got the reason people call him by his nickname "Boogie" - it's a cool story you will see in the interview. Jamarion also spoke candidly about some early-season struggles he had before he broke out and took the starting running back position around midseason last year and kept it throughout the playoffs. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbZHjrmiWv0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== </div></figure>    <p><strong>Myers Park Mustangs <br></strong><br>Head Coach Duke Howell<br>QB [player_tooltip player_id='1953767' first='Ramir' last='Watson']<br>ATH Kam Guy<br>OL [player_tooltip player_id='1607856' first='Joseph' last='Meyer']<br>DL Bockarie Sesay</p>   <p>This was my first time meeting new Myers Park Head Coach Duke Howell, and he shared his excitement for the Myers Park Head Coaching Position, stating that the coaching staff has pretty much stayed the same and he's getting acclimated on the run. The players shared that Coach Howell likes to pick his spots to become vocal and send a message, and they are all very motivated to show that last year's run to the 3rd Round of the State Playoffs was not an accident. </p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Kam Guy was fun to talk to as he shared why he committed to play college football for Elon; I think a great fit for both the player and the school. Kam will be playing more on both sides of the ball this year, and I remember him coming up as a younger prospect as a receiver, and he's got some real ability with the ball in his hands. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbZLfFlCcMy/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">In speaking with Myers Park QB [player_tooltip player_id='1953767' first='Ramir' last='Watson'], he talked about his growth overall as a player, and it was interesting to hear how reflective he was of his own career so far. This is a big season for Ramir as he will need to have a big year to get the Mustangs back to the heights they experienced as a team last season. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbZJj9iCfPu/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== </div></figure>    <p><strong>South Mecklenburg Sabres</strong></p>   <p>Head Coach Joe Evans<br>OL [player_tooltip player_id='1617272' first='Brendan' last='Hall']<br>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1678651' first='Daniel' last='Bregman']<br>QB Aiden Bedford<br>DL Lamin Bangura</p>   <p>The Sabres were a quietly confident group, and they all looked like they had been living in the weight room this past offseason. Head Coach Joe Evans is a strong believer of that and talked about how this team is looking to build on the winning season they had last year. QB Aiden Bedford has grown up in the program and is going to get a chance to lead the offense after being patient and waiting his turn. I think DL Lamin Bangura can be a player that sneaks up on a lot of people this year. </p>    <p class="text-gray-700">This was my first time talking to Brendan for an extended period of time, and he's a highly intelligent and well-spoken young man. It just further enhanced why so many college football programs are interested in him from a recruiting perspective. Brendan talked about the recruiting process and a couple of other topics here. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbZMI3tiv_M/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">Daniel has quietly been one of the most consistent defensive backs in Charlotte over the past couple of years. Daniel talks about his game overall with us, and I think he's got a great chance to be an All-Conference player this upcoming season. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbZMde2iBin/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== </div></figure>    <p><strong>Hopewell Titans </strong></p>   <p>Head Coach Brandon Sneed<br>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1896558' first='Naiel' last='Brooks']<br>ATH [player_tooltip player_id='2159145' first='Miles' last='Vanderspuy']<br>QB Antonio Jenkins<br>OL/DL Brad Kule</p>   <p>Titans Head Coach Brandon Sneed didn't mince words when asked what his team's goals were this season. Coach Sneed said that their big goal is to host a playoff game at home, and he shared that the Titans have never hosted a home playoff game in school history. Hopewell has been around since 2001, so it's quite remarkable that, in 25 years with the expanded playoffs that hasn't happened. This group was locked in for their interviews, and you can tell they are eager to build off of last year's playoff berth. </p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Sometimes you get caught up in film, and seeing players in person reminds you that they are indeed just teenagers. Naiel was very laid back when I talked to him, and that gives me the impression that he's one of those players who flips a switch when the lights are brightest on Friday Nights. Check out his interview. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbZlwAsCeAL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">You can tell that Miles is going to be one of the leaders on this team, and once again this season, expect him to play a variety of roles on both offense and defense. Miles spoke confidently about the best things he does on the field in his interview. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbZl9d3iGv-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== </div></figure>    <p><strong>West Mecklenburg Hawks<br></strong><br>Head Coach Randall Ingram Jr. <br>WR [player_tooltip player_id='2264336' first='Camron' last='Wright']<br>DL Cameron Walker<br>LB Martiques Taylor<br>DB Amaree Jones<br><br>First-Year Head Coach Randall Ingram Jr. is excited about taking on the challenge of building the Hawks program up. Ingram shared that he has a young quarterback who is growing by the day, and that he's enjoying the process and learning on the run with his first program. Ingram learned from some really good coaches, most notably former Vance/Chambers Head Coach Aaron Brand, who's currently at Irmo (SC), a powerhouse he has built as well. </p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Even in years of doing this, you always come across a first. This was the first time I've interviewed a family member of mine - as Camron is my cousin! He comes to West Meck from Northwestern (SC), and I expect him to be an important piece of what the Hawks do offensively. Expect Camron to have some impacts in the Special Teams return areas as well. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbZnIibirh-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== </div></figure>    <p><br></p>   <p>Garinger Wildcats<br><br>Head Coach Jupiter Wilson<br>WR [player_tooltip player_id='2123326' first='Laro' last='Thompson']<br>DB [player_tooltip player_id='2264337' first='Delorence' last='Henderson']<br>ATH Jacob Andrews<br>OL Z'kuario Woods<br><br>The Garinger Wildcats are in Year 2 under Head Coach Jupiter Wilson, and these guys were a fun group to talk to. They understand where they are as a team, and they take the small victories every day, which Wilson talked about in my interview with him. OL Z'kuario Woods is going to be an important piece on both sides of the ball, with his size and strength up front helping set the tone for the Wildcats. Speaking with WR [player_tooltip player_id='2123326' first='Laro' last='Thompson'], his football intelligence was strong, and ATH Jacob Andrews is going to play everywhere. </p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Delorence was a player who made impact plays last season - I was there when he got a Pick 6 against West Mecklenburg last season, for example. Coach Wilson feels like Delorence is good enough that he can leave him on an island against a team's best receiver, and he will get the job done. Check out our interview with him here. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbZox1ainlm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== </div></figure>    <p></p>

Recently, the six teams in the Greater Charlotte Athletic Conference- Hough, Myers Park, South Mecklenburg, Hopewell, West Mecklenburg, and Garinger had their annual Media Day at West Mecklenburg High School. We were able to talk with all the coaches and players in attendance, and we'll highlight a few players from the Media Day with some impressions we were able to gather from each team in attendance.