Southern Sports Edition
Rebuilding The Armor
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The 2025 season forecasts a pivotal chapter for the UCF Knights, as former head coach Scott Frost returns to Orlando aiming to reignite the magic from his undefeated 2017 campaign.
Armed with a five-year contract through 2029, Frost brings hope and history to a program that stumbled to a disappointing 4–8 finish in 2024.
Frost’s reappointment rekindles optimism among fans and players alike. His previous tenure at UCF produced a 13-0 record, and despite struggles at Nebraska, his return carries the potential of that golden era.
He fortified his staff with trusted confidants like McKenzie Milton as quarterbacks coach and associate head coach Sean Beckton, who now oversees the receiver corps.
The ground game remains the heart of UCF’s offensive identity.
In 2024, RJ Harvey rushed for 1,577 yards, ranking sixth in the FBS, before declaring for the NFL. The torch now passes to Myles Montgomery, a steady transfer from Cincinnati with a history of contribution, and Jaden Nixon from Western Michigan.
Although neither may replicate Harvey’s dominance, their physicality and versatility offer hope for improvement.
The offensive line will be key. New O-line coach Shawn Clark, known for molding NFL linemen, arrives with only one player, Paul Rubelt, as a returning starter. Building cohesion early will be vital for protecting quarterbacks and halfbacks.
UCF’s aerial attack averaged under 200 passing yards per game in 2024, a low point in recent memory. To improve, Frost needs production from a revamped receiving corps—Marcus Burke, DJ Black, and Duane Thomas Jr.—who are touted as fast and intriguing targets.
At quarterback, the competition includes transfers Tayven Jackson (Indiana), Cam Fancher (Marshall/FAU), and returner Jacurri Brown. Tayven Jackson brings starting experience and high efficiency.
On defense, turnover creation was scarce in 2024—only 11 in 12 games, ranking near the bottom nationally.
Frost has hired Brandon Harris to revitalize the secondary, blending experience with speedy, hungry returnees like the Henderson twins and Braeden Marshall, along with an impressive slate of transfers.
The linebacker corps has reason for optimism, led by Keli Lawson (Virginia Tech transfer), Jayden McDonald, and TJ Bullard, supported by newcomers Lewis Carter and others.
The D-tackles, represent continuity and grit—forged by veteran staffer Kenny Martin and bolstered by experienced returnees like John Walker. Newcomers like Horace Lockett and R.J. Jackson will be great additions.
Externally, expectations are modest. RJ Young’s “Ultimate 136” ranks UCF 74th nationally, down from 54th last year, projecting a win total slightly over 5.5. PFF gives a similar outlook, projecting around 6.3 wins for the season.
Meanwhile, the Big 12 preseason media polls (via aggregated outlets) place UCF between 15th–16th in the conference.
UCF opens at home against Jacksonville State (Aug 28), then hosts North Carolina A&T before a challenging test at North Carolina (Sept 20) and at Kansas State (Sept 27).
A strong start could build momentum, while losses would underscore the rebuild ahead.
2025 is a season of reset and cautious hope for the Knights. Frost’s return brings familiarity and a blueprint for success, but roster turnover and inexperience at key positions pose real challenges.
If the offensive line gels, the running backs provide consistency, the quarterbacks mature, and the defense creates turnovers, UCF could surprise.
A 5–7 or 6–6 record, flirting with bowl eligibility, seems like a fair forecast—and a solid step toward reintroducing the Knights’ winning identity.
Brantley County Herons Coach’s Show w David Shores August 21 2025
Jason Bishop Show August 21 2025
Frederica Academy Knights Coach’s Show w Brandon Derrick August 20 2025
Brunswick High Pirates Coach’s Show w Garrett Grady August 19 2025
Above The Radar
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The buzz around South Carolina football is as loud as it’s been in a long time.
After rattling off six straight wins to close the 2024 season, finishing 9-3, and just missing out on a playoff spot, the Gamecocks have folks thinking this could be the year they break through.
Shane Beamer is heading into his fifth season in Columbia, and his message to the team has been simple: take it a step further.
Beamer’s already done plenty to get the program trending up. His 29 wins in four seasons are more than any South Carolina coach has ever managed in that span, even Steve Spurrier. He’s also notched seven wins over ranked teams, three of them against top-10 opponents.
In today’s college football world of transfer portals, NIL deals, and constant roster changes, Beamer has kept things steady with a team-first culture.
Even with 39 letterwinners moving on, the staff is mostly intact, and the roster has been bolstered through both high school recruiting and the transfer portal.
The biggest reason for optimism? Quarterback LaNorris Sellers.
The redshirt sophomore turned heads last year after overcoming a rocky start. He threw for more than 2,500 yards and 18 touchdowns, ran for nearly 700 more, and finished the season looking like one of the SEC’s most dangerous dual threats.
Sellers is already popping up on Heisman watch lists, and if he takes another step, he could be the star that makes everything click.
The challenge is what’s around him. The Gamecocks lost Raheim “Rocket” Sanders, their top rusher, and tight end Josh Simon, who led the team in receiving.
Utah State transfer Rahsul Faison and returnee Oscar Adaway III are expected to handle much of the running game, but Sellers’ legs will be leaned on again.
At receiver, South Carolina has young talent waiting for a breakout. Nyck Harbor has the athleticism to be special, and freshman Donovan Murph could make noise right away.
Tight end Michael Smith is also back, giving Sellers a go-to target across the middle.
Defense is a bit more of a question mark.
Last year’s unit was nasty, finishing near the top of the SEC in sacks and interceptions.
But five key players are gone, including Nagurski Trophy winner Kyle Kennard and both starting linebackers. That leaves a lot of pressure on young guys to grow up quickly.
Edge rusher Dylan Stewart is the headliner after a huge freshman year, and Jalon Kilgore is a playmaker in the secondary.
The linebackers don’t have much experience, but defensive coordinator Clayton White has more overall depth to work with than in years past.
Special teams, normally a South Carolina strength under Beamer, will look a lot different.
All-American punter Kai Kroeger is gone, along with the starting kicker, holder, and snapper. Punter Mason Love is expected to hold things down, but other spots may take a few games to sort out.
As always, the schedule is a grind. Things start with a showcase game in Atlanta against Virginia Tech, followed by the home opener against South Carolina State.
Then comes a stretch with Vanderbilt, Missouri, and Kentucky—games the Gamecocks need to take care of before October arrives.
That’s when things get brutal: at LSU, then home games against Oklahoma and Alabama in back-to-back weeks.
November isn’t much easier with trips to Ole Miss and Texas A&M before closing with Coastal Carolina and the annual Palmetto State showdown against Clemson.
The formula for a playoff push is clear. If South Carolina can start 6-2 or better, they’ll have a shot to control their own destiny down the stretch.
Sellers gives them the kind of quarterback who can carry a team, Stewart is a budding star on defense, and Beamer has proven he knows how to get his players believing.
The question is whether this group can grow up fast enough in the right spots to survive the SEC grind.
One thing’s for sure the season. The Gamecocks won’t be flying under the radar in 2025.
Camden County Wildcats Coach’s Show w Travis Roland August 19 2025
Hootie-Who
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Kennesaw State went 2-10 last season. It was their first year as an FBS/Division 1A team. They play in Conference USA.
Head coach Brian Bohannon held that position from the inception of the program in 2013. The Owls began playing in 2015. He stepped down as the head coach November 10, 2024 after starting the season 1-8. His overall record is 72-38.
Jerry Mack was hired as the new head coach December 1, 2024. He was the head coach at North Carolina Central Univ. from 2014 to 2017 and his record was 31-15.
He was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Rice from 2018-20. He went to University of Tennessee as the running backs coach from 2021-23. He went to the Jacksonville Jaguars in February 2024 as the running backs coach.
He spoke at the Conference USA media day event and he said signing local talent is his priority.
“What we decided to do here at Kennesaw is basically draw about a four-hour radius and try to stay more regional than anything else from the standpoint of recruiting,” Mack said. “But with the transfer portal, we’re always going to venture out and try to take the best student-athletes to fit our style of play.”
The current roster features nine players from Cobb County or Cherokee County, 25 others from metro Atlanta and 21 more from the rest of Georgia.
An example of this is redshirt senior wide receiver Christian Moss. He was a three-star recruit from North Cobb High School and he committed to Virginia Tech. He transferred to KSU in 2024.
The Owls used to run the triple option under Bohannon. Mack plans to run a spread offense.
“It’s no secret that my background has always been more of a spread, no-huddle style of tempo,” said Mack. “I want to continue to try to incorporate those things and try to do those things here at Kennesaw. The plays are the plays, but the plays aren’t as good as the players, and as we continue to get better players, they’ll get a chance to grow and develop their craft.”
Senior QB Dexter Williams II was named the starting quarterback in the spring. Williams grew up in Macon and graduated from Mount de Sales, where he threw for 1,524 yards and 15 touchdowns and ran for 984 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior when he was named Middle Georgia Player of the Year by the Macon Telegraph.
He played at Indiana from 2020-23 but missed 2021 because of a season-ending ACL injury that occurred in the spring. He transferred to Georgia Southern in 2024 and played in five games.
The Owls added 16 transfer players in 2025. Some of the standouts are S Isiah Thomas (Miami), IOL Brandon Best (Georgia Tech), DL Donovan Westmoreland (South Carolina), CB Alexander Ford (Western Kentucky) and RB Coleman Bennett (Rice).
The season begins August 29th at Wake Forest. The next week is at #20 Indiana.
They play two more non-conference games after that against Merrimack and Arkansas State. Both of these are home games.
After Week 4 KSU will face Conference USA opponents. They will play Middle Tennessee, Louisiana Tech, at FIU, UTEP, at New Mexico State, at Jacksonville State, Missouri State and at Liberty.
Kennesaw State should be better in 2025 but that might not equal a winning season.
McIntosh County Academy Buccaneers Coach’s Show w Bradley Warren August 18 2025
Back To The Top?
By: Joe Delaney
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
War damn Eagle! After a disappointing 2024 season the Auburn Tigers are looking to take a step back up to the first tier in the SEC.
The slide over the last few years has been directly correlated to an overall lack of talent and depth for the Tigers.
The Bryan Harsin debacle was just that. Two straight 7-loss seasons got him a pink slip and the real issue was Hugh Freeze stepped into a mess.
If you look at the two seasons under Freeze you still see 7 losses in 2023 and 2024. Not any better? The difference is that Freeze is rebuilding the program.
Most pundits think this is the year that the Tigers step back up. Freeze has done a great job recruiting with two top ten classes and some stellar portal additions. The Tigers will be dangerous this year.
That all starts with transfer Jackson Arnold at Quarterback. The former Oklahoma QB is a killer dual threat, ask Alabama.
In the 2024 Oklahoma Alabama game, Arnold rushed for 131 yards and was 9 of 11 throwing it. The result was a 24-3 thumping of the Tide.
Receivers for Auburn will be a strength. Cam Coleman, Malcom Simmons are All-SEC caliber players. Add in portal addition Eric Singleton Jr and this group ranks as one of the best in the country. There is depth and talent here.
Back at tight end is Brandon Frazier after missing much of 2024 with an injury.
The running backs are solid though not spectacular. Look for Damari Alston and Jeremiah Cobb to tote the load. Jarquez Hunter will be missed.
The line should be solid with Dillon Wade, Connor Lew, and Jeremiah Wright all back. Add in Xavier Chaplin and Mason Murphy via the portal and you have 5 returning starters.
The bottom line is that this should be a much better offense. If Jackson Arnold brings it, then the Tigers should be very good. This will also help the defense who played steady last year.
The Auburn defense was solid in 2024. Can they do the same in 2025?
They have one guy who says YES. That’s Keldrick Faulk. The Jr. defensive end is a Bonafide All American.
At 6’6” and 270 lbs he looks the part and plays the part. He has NFL written all over him. Throw in Malik Blocton and Bobby Jamison-Travis and the Tigers will be solid on the defensive line.
Auburn does have to replace talent at the linebackers. Demarcus Riddick was an ALL-SEC freshman last year and will be joined by Caleb Wheatland and Champ Anthony who is returning from an injury.
If this group steps up then the Tigers may be able to keep opponents at that 21.3 points per game on defense that they surrendered last year. That was good for 28th in the country. We’ll see.
All the Defensive Backs return. Kayin Lee, Jay Crawford, Kaleb Harris, and Sylvester Smith are solid and this should be a team strength. Add in Champ Anthony back from an injury at Nickel Back and this is one of the better groups in the league.
Back for the Special Teams is Alex McPherson. McPherson was one of the best around before a severe illness sidelined him for much of the 2024 campaign. His return brings stability back.
In 2023 he was 13 for 13 on FG’s and 40 for 40 on PAT’s.
Hudson Kaak takes over the punting chores and Jeremiah Cobb is slated to kick return although one of the talented wideouts could make a move here.
The schedule is grueling. Welcome to the SEC.
A season opener against Baylor on the road will be telling. Then throw in road trips to Oklahoma and Texas A&M before the end of September. Ouch.
Add in Georgia, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt and there is no rest for the weary. Ohhhh, and Auburn hosts Alabama at Jordan-Hare for the Iron Bowl. A game that Auburn has not won in 5 years.
The bottom line is that this should be Hugh Freeze’s best team. There are quality players throughout the roster.
Freeze has recruited well and worked the portal hard. Now let’s see if the Tigers can start winning again.
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