Bishop Media Sports Network
What’s Next?
By: Jeff Doke
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
When Frederica Academy fell to the eventual State Champion Valwood Valiants in the semifinals last year, the mood was still celebratory.
Jordan Triplett had set numerous state records for both the season and his career. His high school football career, however, was over, and the question started to get asked. It’s a question that Coach Brandon Derrick is used to hearing. ”What is next year going to be like?”
“Well, we’re going to be young, very, very young,” Coach Derrick told me recently. “You know, I think that’s our biggest thing is youth.”
And as usual, he’s not kidding. Heading into final preseason practices, the Frederica roster consists of four seniors, three juniors, 12 or 13 sophomores, and 8 or 9 freshmen.
For those of you scoring at home, that’s a best-case scenario roster size of 29 players. Another season of being David to everyone else’s Goliath seems to be on tap.
“Well, the way it’s set up right now offensively, we’re going to have to have multiple people,” Coach Derrick explained.
“(QB/DB) Jaylin Baldwin’s going to have to be a big-time player. He’s got to make big plays. (WR/DB) Jayden Gibson’s got to make big plays. He’s got to be very productive, and he’s worked on it. He’s really worked on being a bigger part of the offense because he was just really focused on defense a lot last year as a freshman. So, he’s focused this year on the offensive side of things.”
One new face on the offense that should make some noise is rising Sophomore WR Jordyn Rollins, a transfer from Brunswick High.
According to Coach Derrick, “he’s pretty athletic and could be a really, really good player. He’s just got to get in there and get in the weight room and be physical and learn what we’re doing.”
Rounding out what Coach Derrick refers to as the “4 Js” is 6’4” 200 lb freshman JC Wessel. The Coach explains that “he hasn’t played football in a while, but he’s a guy that could be a big-time player.”
And then of course Hayes Carter. “He’s played the sniper back and blocked for Jordan Triplett the last two or three years, but he’s got to be able to run the ball some, and he’s going to be moving to different spots on offense,” Derrick says. “But we’ve got to keep him healthy, too, because he and Gavin Grantham are the two anchors on the defensive side, too. We’ve got to be very good at what we do.”
Thankfully, one of the strong points of the ’24 Frederica squad will be the lines. “Our biggest area that we have depth is the offensive and defensive line, which is helpful” according to Coach Derrick.
“That’s where our most experience is going to be. We’ve got three of our seniors that are offensive and defensive line, and so, that’s big for us. But, you know, those young kids have been working pretty hard. So, I feel pretty good about playing some of those sophomores in their offensive line right now as well. They’ve done a good job this off-season. The ones that have been here really have focused on what they need to do.”
Coming into the final weeks of the offseason, the main person they’ll be protecting is still up in the air.
“Right now, it’s a three-dog race for QB – Jaylin (Baldwin), Davis Durkin, and Braxton Sykes.”
On special teams, Mary Ford Fitzjurls should be returning if her national soccer team responsibilities don’t overwhelm (they shouldn’t), and A.J. Manning has been working on punting duties as well.
The schedule will be your typical Frederica buzzsaw lineup. The Knights will have scrimmages against Bethesda and Brantley. And then, Savannah High’s going to come in and West Nassau’s going to be big and athletic. Frederica also has Valwood, who’s the state champ. Not to mention games against Pinewood and Bulloch Academy.
In short, expect more fun, Frederica style football from the boys (and girl) in green and grey.
Big 12 Going Big Time?
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Before FSU and Clemson can make a single business decision, they have to resolve their lawsuits with the ACC. That could take months if they settle, and years if they have their day in court.
“What’s going to happen?” That’s the $130 million dollar question these days in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
An important date is looming for the entire ACC: February 2025. The day ESPN has a “look-in” and will decide whether they continue the ACC’s contract until 2036.
If relationships were stable (and I mean completely), it would be a no-brainer for Disney to keep things as is. ESPN enjoys the locked-in price, especially with the revenue it makes from the ACC Network.
Considering their current relationship, if the network opts out … chaos in the streets. Today’s dynamic between media companies and NCAA could change in an instant if the ACC implodes.
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey stated at Media Day this week, “Our focus is on our 16 members.”
Big Ten’s Tony Petitti will likely side with Sankey next week, but for different reasons. Big Ten’s focus is not on realignment. There’s no realistic alternative at their level. The Big Ten Conference will likely do whatever Fox tells it to do, and this may well covet a powerhouse program that gets it into a hugely populous state.
That seems a more viable option than the SEC, which already has schools in Florida and South Carolina and whose partner, ESPN, has no incentive to pay more money to show Florida State and Clemson than it does now.
So where do they go? The Big 12 presents an interesting, less plausible alternative. On the one hand, The Big 12 Conference makes no more revenue than the ACC does now, so, what’s the point, right?
If Brett Yormark gets his wish and his presidents sign off on a private equity deal. Florida State and Clemson could get paid a lot more than they make now, and that’s before negotiating a new TV deal.
If the Big 12 follows through, all schools could possibly make Big Ten/SEC money without having to play a Big Ten/SEC schedule.
Why haven’t they done it already? Moving to the Big 12 is challenging. For Florida State and Clemson to be interested in making that move, they likely would demand to be paid closer to what the schools in the biggest two conferences are making each year.
They also would likely ask for financial help to pay their exit fees, penalties, and whatever else they could think of. FSU and Clemson are expensive programs.
While landing the Seminoles and Tigers would definitely be a game-changer for the Big 12 as a conference. At the university-level, teams and offices might balk at receiving significantly lower distributions each year, and we’re back to the unrest we’re at today.
Personally, I find it hard to imagine those schools wanting to join a less-glamorous conference. Perhaps an invite serves as leverage to gain better terms from the ACC.
Chasing Perfection
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The “buzz” (pun intended) around Brooklet is palpable heading into the 2024 season.
Although the 4-6 finish in 2023 for the Southeast Bulloch Yellow Jackets wasn’t the wins and losses numbers that Jackets Country was hoping for, SEB was in the running for a playoff spot until the final horn of the season in arguably the most difficult region in the GHSA.
Entering 2024, SEB seems poised to make a huge jump in the win column and looks to hold Head Coach Jared Zito’s 2024 slogan true and be “Chasing Perfection.”
GHSA reclassification and restructuring greatly impacts the Jackets schedule in a few different ways.
First off, SEB won’t be running through the gauntlet of the former region 3 in the 4A ranks. Reclassified to 3A, SEB enters region 3 with high hopes in 2024.
The other significant impact of the state restructuring is the sheer size of the new region. Region 3 consists of ten teams and with that Southeast Bulloch’s schedule will feature nine region contests and only non-region affair.
Although there is only one non-region contest on the regular season schedule for SEB, it’s a big one! The Jackets will host nearby rival Statesboro at Fred Shaver field to kick off the season on August 16th.
The two rekindled the rivalry back in 2022 after not playing for just shy of 20 years. After the past two years took place as part of the Erk Russell Classic at Allen E. Paulson Stadium, this year’s matchup will head back to campus in Brooklet.
The past two years have gone the Blue Devil’s way with 2022 meeting going sideways to the tune of 55-14 Statesboro. That said, SEB was a late fumble away from upsetting the 5A Blue Devils while driving inside of two minutes left in the game, but fell 12-7
After starting the season 4-2 in 2023, SEB fell in their final four games last season, but learned a lot about what the future holds.
The most notable lesson learned is what the quarterback position looks like (hopefully) for the next couple of years. Former quarterback Will Nelson missed the final two games of the regular season with an injury and allowed the Jacket faithful to see then freshman Rhett Morgan.
Morgan split time with Colby Smith as signal caller against Wayne County then started his first varsity game against Burke in the finale.
Between the two, Morgan rushed for over 100 yards combined, which doesn’t jump off the page, but the way he commanded the offense as a freshman was impressive. All indications coming from Brooklet say that Morgan has physically made huge jumps and look to have a big year as a sophomore for the blue and gold.
The past couple of years, many folks around the SEB football program have said that the 2024 season will be one to watch.
A huge core of Jackets will hit their senior years in 2024 led by linebacker Kyle O’Brien who finished 2023 with 98 tackles and 6 TFLs.
A few other names that will be playing their final season in Brooklet are wide receiver Easton Phillips, tight end/defensive lineman Forest Fretwell along with linemen Jotavion Gaines, Deacon Craig, and Michael Dixon.
Through spring football and summer workouts a number of players have made a huge jump and are expected to make an impact in 2024.
Tyrone McGee is a junior wide receiver standing 6’2” and just shy of 200 pounds and has burst onto the scene. While a couple of receivers have looked good, the success of SEB looks to stay in the backfield as Jayden Murphy, Colby Smith, Quentin Reed, Chase Douglas, and Rhett Morgan seem to be the names to look for running the football in 2024.
The last few years, you have seen flashes from the Jackets, but 2024 seems to be the season that SEB puts those flashes and pieces together. Less than a month away from kickoff and the Brooklet community can’t wait to get back into Fred Shaver Field and “Chase Perfection”!
The Wildcat Way
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Following the retirement of legendary Wildcats head coach Jeff Herron at the end of 2023 high school football season, which included a trip the GHSA 7A semifinals last November and a career that included three state championships at Camden, the Wildcat Way is going to have a new look for 2024.
Enter new Camden head coach, Travis Roland.
After spending a little time with him, you begin to understand that he doesn’t feel the need to fill the huge shoes left by his predecessor. Instead, the 2023 Florida High School Athletic Association 3S Coach of the Year is bringing his own pair of shoes to Kingsland.
Roland comes to Camden County after three years as the head man at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, FL where his Buccaneers finished last season as the Florida 3S state champions after a dramatic come-from-behind victory against St. Augustine.
Daytona was home for Coach Roland and he finished his time at Mainland High School, which is also his alma mater, with a 30-10 record. Prior to Mainland, he spent four years as the head coach at Flagler Palm Coast. His career record as head coach stands at an impressive 58-22.
Anyone who has followed Camden County football over the years knows that the Wildcats’ signature has been as a power running team, mostly operating in the Wing-T. Coach Roland will begin to evolve that system by including more passing concepts and spread formations.
The Wildcats also have a new offensive coordinator in Grant Alford, who comes to Kingsland after spending eight years as an assistant coach at Florida’s Lake Minneola High School.
Starting quarterback Parks Riendeau returns for his junior season and is looking to continue the momentum from last year’s deep playoff run.
Riendeau is a tough-as-nails kid with all the leadership qualities you could ask for.
In addition to the QB, the Wildcats offense will undoubtedly benefit from the play of senior athlete, Elyiss Williams. The 6-foot-7, 235-pound tight end has a 5-star rating from most major recruiting services and has committed to play for Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs beginning in 2025.
Coach Roland is known as a defensive coach, and all signs point to him being the one to call plays on that side of the ball.
The Wildcats will be looking to replace the entire defensive front as that group consisted of all seniors last season.
Big things will be expected this coming year from Jam and Jav, the Daley twins, who are rising seniors. Ja’maric Daley saw action last year at the safety position, while twin brother, Ja’varis Daley, contributed as a linebacker.
Xavier Brown should step in and fill the spot at inside linebacker for his junior year, but I expect this defense to be led by senior Wayne Austell who showed incredible improvement throughout the season last year as an outside linebacker.
The Wildcats finished last season with an overall record of 10-4, earning playoff victories against Newton, McEachern and Mill Creek before losing to Walton in the state class 7A semifinal.
After all of that, Camden will enter the 2024 season in a new classification. The Georgia High School Association has done away with class 7A in an effort to decrease the distances between schools in its highest classification for football, which will now be 6A.
In addition to Camden County, the new Region 1-6A will include Richmond Hill, Colquitt County, Lowndes, Valdosta, and the return of old region foe, Tift County.
The top four teams in the region will be eligible for the 2024 playoffs.
The Wildcats schedule for 2024 is:
8/9 at Benedictine (Savannah) Scrimmage
8/16 at Brunswick HS Brunswick, GA
8/23 vs East Lake HS, FL Kingsland, GA
8/30 vs West Broward HS, FL Kingsland, GA
9/6 vs Ribault HS, FL Kingsland, GA
9/13 vs Spruce Creek HS, FL Kingsland, GA
9/27 at Valdosta HS (Region) Valdosta, GA
10/4 vs Richmond Hill (Region) Kingsland, GA
10/11 at Lowndes HS (Region) Valdosta, GA
10/25 vs Colquitt HS (Region) Kingsland, GA
11/1 vs Tift County HS (Region) Kingsland, GA
Soaring Eagles
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Last season Milton won the final 7A state championship.
They beat Walton 31-21 to capture their second state championship. They also won the state championship in 2018. It looks like Milton has become an elite program.
They have a lot of talented players that are looking to repeat as state champions in 2024.
Tight end Ethan Barbour is the 18th ranked player in Georgia for the class of 2025. The four-star tight end is 6’3, 235 pounds and he’s a great pass catching tight end. Last season he had 49 catches for 966 yards and 12 touchdowns. He’s committed to UGA and he also plays basketball.
As good as Barbour is he’s the second target on this team. Four-star wide receiver CJ Wiley is the primary target. He’s 6’4, 195 lbs. and he has the great combination of size and speed. He also runs track and he ran 100 meters in 10.83 seconds. In 2023 he had 68 receptions, 1,473 yards, 14 TD’s and he averaged 21.7 yards per catch. He’s committed to Florida State.
Quarterback Luke Nickel is a three-star recruit. The 6’2, 205 pound signal caller made the Elite 11 finals roster in 2024. He was named MaxPreps Junior All-American second-team in 2023. Last season he passed for 3,914 yards, 39 touchdowns, 5 interceptions and he completed 66.1% of his passes. He also ran for 181 yards and 6 scores. He’s committed to Miami.
Three-star tight end Ryan Ghea should see his role expand this season. In 2023 he caught 32 passes for 273 yards (18.2 ypc) and 3 TD’s. He’s 6’5, 231 pounds and he also plays basketball and baseball. He’s committed to Auburn.
Corner back Tyler Redmond is a three-star recruit and he’s committed to Tennessee. He’s 6’1 so he’s a big corner.
Defensive lineman Caleb Bell is also a three-star player. At 6’3, 270 pounds he’s one of the biggest guys on the field at the high school level. He’s committed to Arkansas.
They have another corner back that’s also committed to Tennessee, Dylan Lewis.
Safety Ma’khi Jones is a three-star player that’s committed to Duke.
This is their schedule:
August 16- Buford: This will be a tough game. The Wolves were 11-2 last year and one of the most talented teams in the state. I give Milton the slight edge since their at home.
August 23- American Heritage (Plantation, Fl): The Patriots were 10-2 last year and they are an elite program from Florida. I think American Heritage will win this game.
August 30- Alpharetta: The Raiders are solid but no match for Milton.
September 13- @Blessed Trinity: The Titans are pretty good but the Eagles will win.
September 20- Chattahoochee: The Cougars have been struggling recently so this is an easy win.
September 27- @Seckinger: Seckinger is the newest school in Gwinnett and they just started playing football in 2022. This is a blowout win.
October 4- @Lanier: The Longhorns are tough but give the W to Milton.
October 11- @Gainesville: The Red Elephants were 12-1 in 2023. This will be a close game but I give the edge to Milton.
October 25- Johns Creek: This is another blowout win.
November 11- Roswell: This might be for the region title. The Hornets were 11-2 last year. This is too close to call.
I believe the Eagles will finish the regular season with eight wins and repeat as state champions.
Diamond Draft
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Just as the MLB All-Star Weekend kicks underway deep in the heart of Texas, the 2024 MLB Draft got underway on day one on Sunday night.
Shortly after 7pm Sunday, Commissioner Rob Manfred approached to kick off the first 74 picks from the Fort Worth Stock Yards and Cowtown Coliseum, so let’s dive into the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft.
The Guardians had the largest bonus pool in the draft with over $18 million and had the first overall selection. Cleveland called the name of Travis Bazzana from Oregon State. The final Pac-12 Player of the Year was also selected as a Golden Spikes Award Finalist after blasting 28 homeruns which set the Oregon State record in a season and most in the Pac-12 in 25 years.
The Cincinnati Reds didn’t waste much time raising some eyebrows when they took Chase Burns out of Wake Forest with the second pick of the draft.
Burns was dominant at times in his career as a Demon Deacon. Burns had been susceptible to giving up homeruns in his career, but the Reds deemed the upside was more important.
The third pick on Sunday went to the Colorado Rockies and some would say the Rockies got a gift that Charlie Condon was still on the board to be selected.
Colorado jumped on the opportunity. We have well documented the fantastic story Charlie Condon has become in the past few years at Georgia.
To me, this will prove long term to be the “steal of the draft.” I understand that the third pick isn’t stealing much, but Charlie Condon was thought to be a projected number one overall by many publications.
More proven talent (at the college level at least) would follow with the next few picks. Wake Forest would see the second Demon Deacon off the board in the first four selections with Nick Kurtz heading to the Athletics.
Arkansas Razorback ace Hagen Smith was taken off the board by the Chicago White Sox before Florida’s two-way talent Jac Cagliaone would put on the “KC” cap after being selected by the Royals.
The Big 12 saw their first selection in pick number 7 from St. Louis with the Cardinals calling JJ Wetherholt’s name after leading the nation with a .449 average for the West Virginia Mountaineers.
In a draft where it was projected by many to be one of the most “college player heavy” that the MLB Draft has seen in recent memory at least, it held true in Round 1.
The first high school prospect that was selected in the draft was the 9th selection when the Pirates drafted Konnor Griffin out of Jackson Prep HS in Mississippi.
Wake Forest really were feeling well when the third Demon Deacon was taken in the top 10 picks when Seaver King was taken off the board.
Wake Forest became just the second school to have three players selected in the first 10 picks. King was the vocal and emotional leader for the Deacs after transferring from Division II Wingate University prior to the 2024 season.
The Atlanta Braves had the 24th pick of the day and went the lefthander from Saguaro High in Arizona in Cam Caminiti. Caminiti is the cousin of former MLB All-Star third baseman Ken Caminiti who was the 1996 NL MVP.
Overall, the first round saw the first 30 names taken in the 2024 Draft with only 10 of those being high school prospects and the remaining 20 coming from the college ranks.
Wake Forest led the way with three players taken in the first round for the most by one team. Florida State would follow with two consecutive picks with James Tibbs III going to San Francisco with the 13th pick and Cam Smith selected by the Cubs with the 14th.
The SEC took the top spot, seeing seven players off the board from SEC institutions, with the ACC close behind with six.
To me, the MLB Draft is one of the more exciting days (yes, I know I may be a baseball dork), but it’s a fantastic time to see the college game and the pro game come together.
In a weekend where the Pirates’ Paul Skenes, the 2023 MLB Draft 1st overall selection, will be starting the 2024 MLB All-Star Game on the mound, the future of the game takes one of the most crucial steps in their careers on a special night deep in the heart of Texas.
Buc-ing The Trend
By: Jason Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
There was a point, not too long ago, where the McIntosh Academy Buccaneers’ football program was as unstable as it came. The Bucs football program suffered through 5 head football coaches in 7 years.
Then entered Bradley Warren. Warren has now been the head man in Darien entering his sixth season. During that stretch the Bucs have made the playoffs every year that Warren has been the coach for MCA.
This season’s expectations are no different. Every year for the past several MCA has been talked about as being capable of making a deep run in the playoffs and even a dark horse for a state title.
Last season, it was a bit of an underwhelming season, at least by the standards that now exist with the Bucs program. MCA went 4-6 in the regular season, including a 14-6 loss to 6A Glynn Academy and a loss to 5A Bradwell Institute. McIntosh Couty Academy also suffered a loss to rival Emanuel County Institute and took shut-out losses from Lanier, Jenkins County, and Portal.
Despite the tough losses, MCA still made the playoffs as a lower seed. However, just to add insult to a far less than stellar year, the Bucs were eliminated in the first round by Clinch County. It was the third time in four years that Clinch had eliminated the Bucs from the playoffs. Rough.
MCA was young in 2023 and 2024 promises to field a much more mature and older group. I actually think this team will be contending for a region title in 2024.
New regions were announced for the next seasons and MCA’s region (Region 3A DII) will consist of Bryan County, Claxton, ECI, Jenkins County, Metter, Portal and Savannah
Here is the schedule.
August 16-@ Islands
August 23-Charlton @ The Ship
August 30-Bye
September 6-@ ECI
September 13-Claxton @ The Ship
September 20-@ Screven
September 27-Bye
October 4-Jenkins County @ The Ship
October 11-@Bryan County
October 18-Metter @ The Ship
October 25-Savannah @ The Ship
November 1-@ Portal
Again, I think MCA will be very good and contend for a region title. It will be tough though. That region is stacked.
I think MCA will go 8-2 in the regular season.
Maybe the Bucs will see Clinch in the playoffs and shake that albatross on the way to a state title.
Dollar Delivery
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
In Mandalay Bay (Las Vegas) last week, the impending House settlement dominated conversations at the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics convention.
Panels were filled with questions, and not many answers. The top leaders in college sports don’t know the exact date when revenue sharing and the new world order will begin – speculation is the 2025-26 academic year.
Meanwhile, others are trying to figure out how much revenue they can share while keeping an athletic department up and running.
Alongside this, another major question remains: How will revenue actually be split up?
The NCAA and Power 5 conferences voted to sign off on the settlement agreement in May, agreeing to pay $2.77 billion in back damages to athletes over 10 years. The second piece of the agreement is revenue sharing, allowing institutions to pay $20-22 million annually to athletes.
How plaintiff attorneys divide back damages is expected to be how schools approach Title IX. This might shape a framework for revenue sharing. The settlement is on track to disperse 75% of TV revenue in back damages to football. From there, 15% would be funneled to men’s basketball, 5% to women’s basketball and the final 5% divided by the remaining athletes.
As administrators try to figure out how to split up revenue-sharing dollars, if Judge Claudia Wilken ratifies this portion of back damages it’s expected to be looked at as a “framework for the future”, antitrust attorney Jay M. Ezelle believes. The Birmingham, Alabama, based litigator with Starnes Law has advised NIL collectives and institutions in the NIL Era. Additionally, Ezell previously worked on NCAA investigations.
If Wilken ratifies a settlement that follows a similar breakdown of TV revenue, Ezelle believes it could help institutions navigate Title IX
.“Title IX pervades everything you do and an athletic department has to be in compliance with Title IX,” he said. “So, it is thoughtful and the right thing to do to be considerate. This is an issue that has not been litigated. And so, that presents uncertainty.
You have to address that uncertainty. That being said, the people who just say, ‘Let’s just distribute this 50-50 in order to comply with Title IX’ are not looking at the flip side of that. Because if you do it that way, you may actually be in violation of antitrust laws. Because you’re doing something that’s against the market.
The top-funded NIL collectives are spending between $13 to $20 million annually on football rosters at the moment. In basketball, the highest spending programs are pushing $5 million.
Ezelle believes splitting revenue evenly will only necessitate the need for collectives to step up. And it would also open up the possibility for football players to rationalize how much money they’re receiving vs. the revenue they’re producing.
For reference, The Big Ten announced a seven-year, $8 billion media deal with CBS, NBC and Fox in 2022. The SEC starts its new deal with ESPN this season, expected to be worth around $811 million annually.
The industry-wide financial stress test created by the House settlement is forcing campus leaders to look in the mirror and see the same image many have identified for years: bloated athletic departments.
Expenses must be adjusted in a new financial model, of course, and the safe bet is fat will be trimmed behind the desks and not the sidelines – and college sports will continue to flourish.
SEC Media Days
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
If you are a die-hard fan of collegiate sports just like I am, then you certainly feel the current doldrums. The College World Series is over. The volleyball, softball and tennis seasons are in the books. July can feel so empty.
But just when it feels that all hope is lost, we can count on college football Media Days to turn our attention to the unofficial start of the football season, or at least the “talking season”.
With the start of the 2024 college football season just around the corner, the excitement is building as the SEC gets ready for its annual Media Days from July 15-18 in Dallas.
This year’s event is extra special since it’s the first time Texas and Oklahoma will be part of the mix. Each of the 14 schools is sending three players, making up a total of 42 athletes.
Interestingly, 11 quarterbacks will be there, but Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, South Carolina, and Kentucky decided not to send their QBs. Instead, many schools are spotlighting their defensive talent, with 10 linebackers and nine defensive linemen on the list.
SEC Media Days is one of the biggest preseason events where players and coaches chat about their expectations and plans for the upcoming season.
Some of the standout players attending include Alabama’s Jalen Milroe (QB), Arkansas’s Taylen Green (QB), Auburn’s Payton Thorne (QB), Florida’s Graham Mertz (QB), Georgia’s Carson Beck (QB), and LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier (QB). On the defensive side, players to watch include Alabama’s Malachi Moore (DB), Auburn’s Keldric Faulk (DE), Florida’s Shemar James (ILB), and Georgia’s Mykel Williams (DL). Each school is bringing a mix of talent that highlights their strengths and sets the stage for a competitive season.
The coaches will also be there to talk about their teams. Brian Kelly of LSU will start things off on Monday, followed by Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss), Shane Beamer (South Carolina), and Clark Lea (Vanderbilt). On Tuesday, we’ll hear from Kirby Smart (Georgia), Eliah Drinkwitz (Missouri), Brent Venables (Oklahoma), and Josh Heupel (Tennessee). Wednesday’s lineup includes Kalen DeBoer (Alabama), Billy Napier (Florida), Jeff Lebby (Mississippi State), and Steve Sarkisian (Texas). The event wraps up on Thursday with Sam Pittman (Arkansas), Hugh Freeze (Auburn), Mark Stoops (Kentucky), and Mike Elko (Texas A&M).
Besides the formal sessions, the vibe around Media Days is always electric. Fans, media, and analysts are eager to hear from the key players and coaches about their strategies, challenges, and outlooks for the season.
This year’s event promises plenty of buzz and storylines as teams gear up for what’s expected to be an intensely competitive season.
The SEC Network will have extensive coverage all four days. With live broadcasts and analysis, viewers can expect to get insights into each team’s preparations and prospects. Special editions of SEC Now and other shows will provide a platform for expert opinions, predictions, and behind-the-scenes looks at the event.
In short, the 2024 SEC Media Days in Dallas will be a major event featuring a strong lineup of quarterbacks and defensive players from all 14 schools, extensive media coverage, and a stellar roster of coaches ready to discuss the upcoming season. This year’s event highlights the evolving dynamics of the SEC, especially with Texas and Oklahoma joining in, promising an exciting preseason narrative for college football fans.
Get ready for an action-packed week of football talk, star players, and coach insights as the SEC sets the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable 2024 season.
Swamp Birds
By: Jason Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
In three years I want you to remember that you read what I am about to say here. The Brantley County Herons are going to be competing for region titles by 2026.
In this last cycle of coaching hires the Brantley County school system made the biggest hire in the state, they hired David Shores as their head football coach.
Who is David Shores you ask? Glad you asked. Shores is the best coach that has flown under the radar over the last five years.
Shores has former head coaching experience in Alabama and has coached at nothing but elite programs since. These stops include Hoover, DC at Lowndes, DC at Camden and Special Teams Coordinator at Brunswick High.
As a matter of fact, when Camden hired Jeff Herron a few years ago they almost hired David Shores instead. That is how good of a coach he is.
Most importantly, Shores has gotten a commitment from the Brantley County school system to commit resources to the football program, something that has not been common in Nahunta, GA.
Brantley is a huge county filled with that talent. That talent often finds its way onto other rosters that are not in Brantley County…..Ware, Pierce, Brunswick, Charlton, etc.
If Shores can keep his talent inside county lines you will see overnight success and improvement for the Heron program.
The Herons will play in a brand new region this season that will consist of Berrien, Bacon County, Fitzgerald, Jeff Davis, Thomasville and Worth County. This is Region 1-A Division 1.
While I don’t expect Brantley to be able to unseat Fitzgerald as the favorite in that region, I do think the playoffs are a reality for the ‘Swamp Birds’.
Last season the Herons went 5-5 overall and 2-4 in region play. A record of 5-5 isnt terrible but the losses are very telling. Against the better teams (Pierce, Toombs, Appling) on their schedule the Herons were outscored 148-20.
The Herons travel to Folkston to take on Charlton to open the season on August 16.
Brantley will also travel to Pierce, Worth, Thomasville, and Bacon County.
The Herons will host Windsor Forest, Vidalia, Jeff Davis, Fitzgerald and Berrien.
Probably the most crucial game on the schedule is going to be the Jeff Davis game. I think the winner of that game will finish with the #4 seed and a playoff berth, where the loser will have to look to 2025 for a playoff appearance.
In 2024 I will predict the Herons go 5-5 in 2024 and begin to build some special things in Nahunta.
By the way, former UGA QB Stetson Bennett is from Brantley but did not play for the Herons. Remember what I was saying about keeping talent inside county lines?
