2024 Preview: Calhoun County Saints

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ST. MATTHEWS | </strong>Calhoun County was one of three Region IV-A teams to win 10 ore more games next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All of the teams will now compete in Region III-A. While the region is expected to be competitive once again, the Saints will have a different look under center with a familiar last name.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising freshman <strong>Darren Ben </strong>is now at the starting quarterback position. The nephew of former Calhoun County, University of South Carolina and NFL Super Bowl Champion Alshon Jeffrey has quickly impressed the coaching staff since moving up from middle school and looks to provide as similar an impact as his predecessor <strong>Tykest Davenport</strong>, who was also an All-State defensive back last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“As soon as June 1, when he became a true freshman, we gave the ball to him and he's going to be good,” Saints assistant coach [player_tooltip player_id='763831' first='John' last='Stokes'] said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Calhoun County will also have a brand-new starting backfield with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1220232' first='Christopher' last='Glover'] </strong>and <strong>Devonty Daniel</strong>. The Saints' offensive line includes returning starter [player_tooltip player_id='1223929' first='Markest' last='Davenport'] and seniors <strong>Camri Whitmore</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1203703' first='Isaiah' last='Johnson']</strong>, <strong>J'Din Scott</strong>, <strong>Langston Glover </strong>and <strong>Zymere Canty</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Saints will also have a mix of experience and youth at wide receiver. This group includes <strong>Wayne Farmer</strong>, the junior son of the head coach.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson and Davenport will both see action upfront on defense. Rising senior and leading tackler Glover will lead the linebackers and <strong>Amir Guinyard </strong>is back in the secondary.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class A All-State specialist <strong>Martin Gutierrez </strong>will handle the kicking duties.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With Christ Church and Southside Christian moving up in classifications, the Saints hope to further advance in the post-season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We feel like we can go very far with the realignment,” Glover said. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1203703' first='Isaiah' last='Johnson'] </strong>DL 2025 – He was a presence upfront with 52 tackles and four sacks. In the weight room, his squat is 450 pounds, and he can bench 275 pounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Camri Whitmore</strong> OL 2025 – A mainstay on the offensive line, he graded 84 percent and finished with 17 pancake blocks last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marquez Gutierrez</strong> K 2025 – A Class A All-State selection who's proven very reliable on PATs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1220232' first='Christopher' last='Glover'] </strong>LB 2026 – A three-year starter, the 5-foot-8, 210-pound rising senior plays bigger than his measured height. He leads by example in reading offensive plays and making quick decisions. He was an All-Region IV-A all-region selection with 104 tackles and three sacks last season. He's also expected to get his share of carries at running back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17934370/654b9f2f34530403ecac72a0' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6696e48c78600"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSS (es)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tykest Davenport </strong>QB – The catalyst of a Saints' offense which produced over 5,000 total yards and 60 touchdowns last season. He's now enrolled at The Citadel.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Christian Zachary </strong>RB – A Shrine Bowl selection and Region IV-A Wide Receiver of the Year, the North Carolina State signee had 41 receptions for over 800 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Amare Haynes </strong>LB– The All-State Class A selection paired with Glover to help form a potent linebacking unit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jayshawn Benjamin </strong>OL – A two-way Class 2A All-State selection whose blocking helped spearhead the offensive success the past two seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Darren Ben </strong>WR 2028 –. The rising freshman has the pedigree of a father and three uncles who have excelled in two sports for the Saints</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1223929"],"_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-6696e61716ee9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Both Palmetto State schools have shown increased intenest in the rising sophomore. Possessing quick instincts and a strong upper body, his mission is to complete all blocking assignment. Whether it's containing blitzing linebackers or overwhelming the tackle or end in his way, Davenport is up for the challenge. He graded out at 87-percent last season with 17 pancake blocks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19812189/653e7b03478cf5046ca55cb1' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6696e61717073"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->