2024 Talent compared to 2023
- Thread starter TD-FridayNight
- Start date
I think we're going to have more talent at East than people realize. I heard we might run the ball a little bit more. I would say the most talented player regardless of position is the Joyce kid and the martin kid from Mount Airy. Heard the Joyce kid is about 230 now 6 foot 2. Ran a laser 4.5 40. Not sadly but toughly for the rest of us they are loaded. They have the Floyd kid on the line. Their quarterback's going to be able to throw the ball which gives them another dimension. I was wishing that keener would stay I think he's super talented but it sounds like he's going to West Stokes. Starmount has some good players it sounds like.. Don't know about anybody else..
Iredell Co:
Mooresville - Team is still solid with a good core returning - This year I feel like we have some better options in TE/WR area. Our QB is very good and area to improve but He one of the best we have seen in a while. Defense should still be good. I think last yr team slightly more stout on Defense of side but This team will be close and should go 11-0 / 10-1 or 9-2 in all reality.
Statesville: Will be better then last yr . They got some transfers in and there QB in Ethan Peet who did not play football last yr will return for his senior year. Statesville looks to be a possible threat but NL, Hickory And possibly EL stands in their way. Statesville should be balance and they have the talent to make a good playoff run.
Lake Norman: YOUTH! LN will be young this yr and a lot new faces in roles. They got some pieces back but OL will be the area of ?. LN is always competitive and ready to go but with a stout Non conference with Asheville , Marvin Ridge those are 2 tough games out the gate. Gotta win the ones they should win if they wanna have a winning record so they will be DOWN this yr
West Iredell; They are the outlier for me; They have some talent there but A lot new faces on the team n staff so there a ton of ?s - They did pick up Community School of Davidson for week 1 so that game should give us a small indication of
where west iredell will be as CSD has been pretty solid last couple of years.
North Iredell: I just don’t see much improvement in Raider Nation - I don’t know much about this year team and I know they lost some talent due to graduation and they just lost a kid due to transfer so I don’t see much improvement for North.
PLP: Will be a down year but they have the talent to still be competitive and still win their conference but going to be a different looking team - OL will be the ? And how well the new guys fit into their roles. I think they will be Fine but idk if I would stay they are as good as they have been but only time will tell
Catawba:
St Stephens ; Foard ; N-C ; Bunker Hill will be down and I think it will take time for them to get better.
Bandys - Youth on D will be the ? If they are good or not. Offensively they will be able to score but can their D hold so there ain’t many high score affairs.
Maiden is Maiden they are always in the conversation and they have talent.
Hickory - Ever so slightly down but They will be just as good as last yr. they are favorites once again in 3A
Mooresville - Team is still solid with a good core returning - This year I feel like we have some better options in TE/WR area. Our QB is very good and area to improve but He one of the best we have seen in a while. Defense should still be good. I think last yr team slightly more stout on Defense of side but This team will be close and should go 11-0 / 10-1 or 9-2 in all reality.
Statesville: Will be better then last yr . They got some transfers in and there QB in Ethan Peet who did not play football last yr will return for his senior year. Statesville looks to be a possible threat but NL, Hickory And possibly EL stands in their way. Statesville should be balance and they have the talent to make a good playoff run.
Lake Norman: YOUTH! LN will be young this yr and a lot new faces in roles. They got some pieces back but OL will be the area of ?. LN is always competitive and ready to go but with a stout Non conference with Asheville , Marvin Ridge those are 2 tough games out the gate. Gotta win the ones they should win if they wanna have a winning record so they will be DOWN this yr
West Iredell; They are the outlier for me; They have some talent there but A lot new faces on the team n staff so there a ton of ?s - They did pick up Community School of Davidson for week 1 so that game should give us a small indication of
where west iredell will be as CSD has been pretty solid last couple of years.
North Iredell: I just don’t see much improvement in Raider Nation - I don’t know much about this year team and I know they lost some talent due to graduation and they just lost a kid due to transfer so I don’t see much improvement for North.
PLP: Will be a down year but they have the talent to still be competitive and still win their conference but going to be a different looking team - OL will be the ? And how well the new guys fit into their roles. I think they will be Fine but idk if I would stay they are as good as they have been but only time will tell
Catawba:
St Stephens ; Foard ; N-C ; Bunker Hill will be down and I think it will take time for them to get better.
Bandys - Youth on D will be the ? If they are good or not. Offensively they will be able to score but can their D hold so there ain’t many high score affairs.
Maiden is Maiden they are always in the conversation and they have talent.
Hickory - Ever so slightly down but They will be just as good as last yr. they are favorites once again in 3A
Overall for the SMC most teams offensive lines will be experienced and probably the best part of the teams.
Robbinsville- will have a very good offensive line. They have a talented young man if they move him up from JV at RB. Very hard to replace the backfield they had last year but seam to never skip a beat.
Swain- again will have a very big and probably the most experienced Offensive lines in the conference. mostly seniors this year if I’m not mistaken. With expectation of one #55 I believe.
Murphy- Returns some key starters, it looks like they are adding some weight in the weight room. returns a RB that will be a sophomore with plenty of experience in the backfield.
Andrews- lost a few big time lineman. They are young but also return a very experienced back.
Hayesville- Brings back most of their team only to replace a few holes. Probably the best offensive line that Hayesville has had in years but that has yet to be determined. Also bringing back a pretty talented running back.
Cherokee- is a dangerous team could beat anyone at anytime. They seam a little young, but nevertheless will still be solid.
Robbinsville- will have a very good offensive line. They have a talented young man if they move him up from JV at RB. Very hard to replace the backfield they had last year but seam to never skip a beat.
Swain- again will have a very big and probably the most experienced Offensive lines in the conference. mostly seniors this year if I’m not mistaken. With expectation of one #55 I believe.
Murphy- Returns some key starters, it looks like they are adding some weight in the weight room. returns a RB that will be a sophomore with plenty of experience in the backfield.
Andrews- lost a few big time lineman. They are young but also return a very experienced back.
Hayesville- Brings back most of their team only to replace a few holes. Probably the best offensive line that Hayesville has had in years but that has yet to be determined. Also bringing back a pretty talented running back.
Cherokee- is a dangerous team could beat anyone at anytime. They seam a little young, but nevertheless will still be solid.
I could be wrong on this but I think Andrew has around 14 seniors returning this year. They did lose two very good players but have a lot coming back. The rose boy will be a great lineman this year and have experience in the backfield
So it seems only a few know what their teams have returning. I have seen in previous posts that Mount Airy has some outstanding players returning but I don't get out much to see people in the know so maybe someone will give us an idea of what we have returning. Good luck to everyone unless you play the BEARS and they should be fine but if anyone knows more please enlighten us.
9 more Friday nights to go, 1A Mount Airy vs 2A North Surry 8/23/24 to open the 2024 football season. What do we know about the NWC this year ? WOW, time has gone fast this year and it seems only a few months ago the BEARS won their back-to-back State Championship. I hope they can do a 3 peat this year ! Bears 1st 3 games are 2A followed by a 3A match before the conference season starts.
Mt Airy goes into this season, in my very humble opinion, with a lot excellent pieces, some known, some unknown.
I have said previous that I believe three things:
1. how long does it take for the team to jell. A new but known at QB. RB's that may be as good as the last couple of years if not better (believe it or not but I think YES, even odds on being better).
The question that has to be answered is; will the current Gallimore possess or develop the same leadership posture that the former Gallimore had? If yes, the Bears are going to be in full feeding mod.
2. I feel sure the overall defense will be tough on everybody. But will it be lock down mean, with pride? That answer most likely will depend on the strength of the secondary. Revels and Stroup are going to be very hard to replace. To me that is the real team, make or break, question.
Line and LB's are OMG good! for a 1A, 2A, school.
3. Every one I know in Mt Airy was very happy with the selection of the new Head Coach. However, as good as this young man appeared, as good as he clearly was as Number 2, Machiavelli said in The Prince, the only training for being King is To Be The King.
I have said previous that I believe three things:
1. how long does it take for the team to jell. A new but known at QB. RB's that may be as good as the last couple of years if not better (believe it or not but I think YES, even odds on being better).
The question that has to be answered is; will the current Gallimore possess or develop the same leadership posture that the former Gallimore had? If yes, the Bears are going to be in full feeding mod.
2. I feel sure the overall defense will be tough on everybody. But will it be lock down mean, with pride? That answer most likely will depend on the strength of the secondary. Revels and Stroup are going to be very hard to replace. To me that is the real team, make or break, question.
Line and LB's are OMG good! for a 1A, 2A, school.
3. Every one I know in Mt Airy was very happy with the selection of the new Head Coach. However, as good as this young man appeared, as good as he clearly was as Number 2, Machiavelli said in The Prince, the only training for being King is To Be The King.
I believe the regular season will come down to these games: 2A North Surry (hungry and ready to show out at their place and new field);
3A Ashe County (better in the past than people thought),
1A Starmount (new field, new coach, new year, playing them at their place, and Deana King giving them motivation),
and then the playoffs. We want as many home field games as possible.
3A Ashe County (better in the past than people thought),
1A Starmount (new field, new coach, new year, playing them at their place, and Deana King giving them motivation),
and then the playoffs. We want as many home field games as possible.
I think the bears toughest game will be starmpunt by far. That secondary with two of the four pieces back should be fine. But they'll get tested against North Surry and Ash for sure. Problem for those teams is I don't think either one of them has a running game. And if 22 and Dawkins and Floyd get to tee off they better get it off in 2 seconds.
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Look to me like the younger gallimore played very well when he started for his brother last year. I don't know what their depth is like. But I know they have a tremendous amount of linemen. A lot of strength and speed and size. I think the star male game is going to be really there only hurdle.
Could you expound on what you are saying in the last sentence? Thanks.
The Bears and Rams game may be one for the ages this year. Wouldn't surprise me if they don't end up being the 2 best teams in the 1a West.
Possibly. The Rams have to get over that hump. Really the last three times they've played it's just mistakes and getting dominated physically in the second half. They seem to have held their own in the first half in the last three games. That last playoff game 22 and 23 they played good in the first half.
MA line will be big but young. Lost some great kids to graduation.
Buzz, do you know what the line is projected to look like as far as grade and who is a returning starter?
Joyce is a big difference maker and can make up for a lot mistakes.
