2025 Preview: Marion Swamp Foxes

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marion football had something happen in 2024 that is rare for a high school football team. They lost 30 of 46 players on the roster from the previous season. That caused the Swamp Foxes to go from a veteran, senior-heavy team to a youth movement.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The results on the field showed that change. Marion went from a 10-2 record in 2023 to a woeful 1–9 mark last season. But one thing is for certain – those freshman and sophomores who were thrown into the fire had to grow up quickly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Last season is in the past,” junior wide receiver/defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1579223' first='Tyler' last='Nelson']</strong> said. “We've been grinding nonstop since the season ended. We've been to camps or the weight room and doing football related stuff all the time. We're ready to get back to it and forget about what happened last year. We had to grow up quickly and I think that will pay off for us now.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Swamp Foxes will field very few seniors again in 2025 but at least the guys returning have some experience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The skill position spot is going to have a lot of firepower. Teaming with Nelson as a receiver and defensive back will be junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1718520' first='Brennen' last='Wilson']</strong>, sophomore <strong>Maachi Graham</strong> and <strong>Alexander Roberts</strong>, another sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomores <strong>Kaleb Moore</strong> and <strong>Kameryn Davis</strong> will likely garner most of the snaps at running back. And expect Marion to start freshman <strong>Jay Nolan</strong> at quarterback.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Considering the Swamp Foxes only scored 72 points all last season, that firepower is welcomed by head coach Brian Hennecy. He said the offense lacked identity last season and that was something he was hoping to shore up this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Those guys got a lot of good experience and playing time last year, Hennecy said. “They played hard, never quit and prepared themselves for every game. It was difficult for most of them going up against juniors and seniors. We have very seniors returning so the strength is going to be our underclassmen, but we feel good about them because they know what it means to be playing on Friday night.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hennecy, who doubles as the Marion Athletics Director, said this offseason has been different from the past as well. The Swamp Foxes began preparing as soon as last season ended.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We had a young squad and very few seniors, so we started lifting weights when the season was over,” he said. “We've also added three more coaches to our staff, mainly on the offensive side of the ball. We had more time to practice in the spring because I wasn't as busy with athletic director duties this year.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Derion Baccous</strong> LB/DL, 2027 – Baccous came into his own towards the end of the season and was one of the better defensive players by the end of the season. He finished with 36 tackles and five tackles for loss in nine games. He also recovered two fumbles. He's been in the weight room this offseason and that should turn into more production this season. He's still just a junior but will be one of the more experienced players on the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jeremiah Eaddy</strong> LB/RB 2026 and <strong>Lydarius Hall</strong> WR, 2026 – We list Eaddy and Hall together for a couple of reasons. First, they're two of the few seniors that will be counted on heavily in the rotation. And secondly, they sat out of football last season after being contributors as sophomores. Eaddy will shore up the linebacking corps and shore up a running attack that accounted for just one rushing TD last season. Hall could turn into a big play receiver.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Malachi Graham</strong> WR/DB, 2028 – Graham took some snaps at quarterback last season but should focus his attention to wide receiver and defensive back this season. He had seven catches for 46 yards and a score last season along with 23 tackles and a fumble recovery. The Swamp Foxes are going to be strong at receiver and Graham could emerge as the top target.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1579223' first='Tyler' last='Nelson']</strong> WR, 2027 – Nelson (pictured) has attended several camps this summer and performed well at the Carolinas Coaches Combine. His pro shuttle was 4.51 so that shows he has some shiftiness in his movements and can find open holes in defenses. He's one of the more vocal leaders on a team of young players and that will always help.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1718520' first='Brennen' last='Wilson']</strong> DB, 2027 – Wilson finished last season with 31 tackles and two interceptions, one in which he returned for a touchdown. He reads the quarterback's eyes well and is quick to adjust on a route. He can play on an island or come up to offer run support. He never gives up on a play, and does a great job of closing on a ball carrier.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/23283423/673cfbf3d01aaf04f6af8e54' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68795f96a122b"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSSES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tyrice Davis</strong> QB – Davis was the main guy under center for the Swamp Foxes. He threw for 638 yards and six touchdowns and added 138 yards and another score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jaquan Ritter</strong> LB – Ritter combined with <strong>Dramere Pearson</strong> to be far and away the leading tacklers for Marion last season. Ritter led the way with 84 tackles, seven tackles for loss and a caused fumble.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAl</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Carter Shelley</strong> K, 2028 – Hennecy had high-praise for his kicker. Shelley was the placekicker from last season as a freshman, and he's only gotten stronger and more range on his kicks. He could be a huge asset to a team that struggled to score points last season. If he can add kickoff duties and punting to his repertoire, he will become ever more of a weapon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jayden Nowlin</strong> QB, 2029 – Nowlin was the quarterback for the middle school team last season and according to Hennecy, he likely could have taken some snaps with the varsity team. He's extremely athletic and already 6-foot tall. He's going to be able to throw it well and is going to add a dimension to the offense with his legs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1717453,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kaleb Moore","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"175","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Marion","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68795f96a4085"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Moore is very physical and never shies away from contact. He played in seven games last season and had 10 tackles, but he was a menace on special teams. He blocked a few kicks and made his presence felt in both the return and coverage teams. He's probably going to slide into a linebacker role that will fit his 5-foot-11, 175-pound frame very well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/22784614/673b66da533047bff8ca72e2' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68795f96a40c5"} /-->