Dragons ready to put tough 2022 finish in the past

It was a roller coaster 2022 season for Jefferson, which won the Region 8-5A title after winning six straight down the stretch.

However, a stunning 27-17 loss to Region 7-5A No. 4 seed Cass in the opening round of the playoffs actually told a truer story of what was one of the most difficult seasons ever for first-year Jefferson coach Travis Noland. The shooting death of senior receiver Elijah DeWitt on Oct. 5 during an off-week cast a pall over the rest of the season.

“That was just a tough, tough situation for everyone involved,” Noland said. “It was a tough ending to the season. Emotionally, mentally, it took a huge toll on all of us over those last five weeks. Our tank was pretty empty by the playoffs.”

The Dragons have put all of that in the rearview mirror for 2023 but also come in with more than a few question marks as they graduated the bulk of their experience from last year.

Dynamic two-way player Sammy Brown, the nation’s No. 1 linebacker prospect and a Clemson-commit, returns after a monster season. He rushed for 1,449 yards and 21 TDs and added another 246 yards and 3 TDs receiving. That was on top of his 113 tackles on defense.

However, they will be breaking in a new quarterback in junior Gavin Markey, who won a spirited quarterback battle over the summer. They also will have to replace their entire defensive line and three of four starters in the secondary.

All that being said, Noland said the summer for his Dragons, who once again are predicted to win Region 8-5A, “has gone well.”

“We still have some questions coming into the season for sure,” Noland said. “There are a lot of open competitions for several spots. But we have been very pleased with the consistency during the practices. The kids are really working hard.”

While finding suitable replacements on the defensive side is a huge priority, also finding someone to lighten the load for Brown on the offensive end could be a key as they try to keep him as fresh as possible.

“(The D-line) guys have worked hard, but a lot of guys are rotating in right now,” Noland said. “We just need to find out who can play and what the right combinations are.”

A trio of younger, inexperienced players -- juniors Rhett Hemphill and Mickell Pittman and sophomore Dallas Russell -- will be looked upon to provide some help in the backfield as well.

“All three of those guys are really making progress, and I think all of them will get some playing time for sure,” Noland said. “All three could be very good if they continue to work hard. Overall, we have several younger guys that are showing promise across the team as we get closer to the season.”

GRADUATION STINGS
QB Max Aldridge, RBs Shontez Porter, Vermarion Davis and Isaiah Copeland all are gone after rushing for a combined 659 yards and 6 TDs backing up Brown. DE Oscar Escobedo is gone as well. 

GETTING BROWN SOME HELP
A priority for the Dragons will have to be finding some quality carries in the backfield other than Brown and getting Markey as comfortable as possible under center as quickly as they can.
“Markey has had a good summer and is progressing well,” Noland said. “But we’re also very inexperienced at receiver with only one guy [Zay Minish 18 rec., 249 yards, 1 TD] back. I feel like we’ve done a good job of getting the younger guys ready but it may be a work in progress early on.”

WHO’S ON DEFENSE?
The Dragons have Brown and junior Jaden Yang (59 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 sacks) returning and Rhett Hemphill may be ready for a breakout season at LB. However, they are having to replace their entire starting defensive line and 3 of 4 in the secondary from a unit that allowed just 137 points (12.4 points/game) last year. Skyler Zimmerman is the only player back with any real experience up front. Junior Kelan Butler does return but missed the entire 2022 campaign due to injury. Noland said they have “six or seven guys battling in the secondary” but said they may not be ready to determine starters until the opening week of the season.

STRENGTHS UP-FRONT
Offensive line, Sammy Brown, LB – Brown can change a game at any moment and will have an experienced O-Line up front running behind seniors Brian Senter (6-foot-3, 305 pounds) and Bryant Cox (6-0, 245) and juniors Ashley Eckert (6-5, 255) and Ty Oglesby (6-2, 260). Juniors Cole Kemp (6-1, 270) and John Morgan and senior tight ends Skyler Zimmerman and Chris Law should offer plenty of quality depth. Brown, Yang, and Hemphill could be the best linebacker group in the region and will have to carry them early.

PLENTY OF QUESTIONS
Markey is talented but unproven and other than Minish has an inexperienced receiving core overall with juniors Hemphill and Mickell Pittman and sophomore Dallas Russell. How quickly they can put together the D-line and secondary also could be a key to being able to defend their region title.

TOUGH SCHEDULE ONCE AGAIN
They will get a brutal opening test against an Alpharetta team that posted a season-high 47 on them last year. Then road games to Wren (S.C.) and St. Pius before eventually opening region play against Clarke Central at Memorial Stadium. They will have to travel to Winder-Barrow, Loganville, and Eastside in region play.

WHAT’S TRENDING
The Dragons have been trending up for years. But two straight first-round playoff losses have taken some of the luster off their 2020 trip to the Class 4A state championship game. They have the region’s best player in Sammy Brown but will have to rely on a young but talented crop of newcomers as they try to defend a region title and keep a streak of 12 straight postseason appearances alive.