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Lakewood Gators Head Coach Larry Cornelius is optimistic about the Gators’ seaon for 2022 because they have worked so hard in the off season.
“As most teams around the state, we’ve been working hard this past off-season,” said Cornelius. “Our biggest issue is depth, but I’m excited about our starters! We will have a lot of young men playing both sides, so a key emphasis this off-season was conditioning. We do have some depth at the WR, RB, and DB positions, whereas at OL and DL, we are searching for some of our “youngins” to grow up fast for depth.”
Returning senior starters are offenisve linemen Bryson Dickens (6’3,265), Keywon White (6’3,351), center Aveon McBride (5’7,295), RBs Divon Woods (5’10,175), Jayden Jones (5’9,185), and WRs Brandon Cisse (6’1,170), Ryen Ridgil (6’0,180) and Zion Cobb (5’10,165).
Most of those same faces will appear on defense. Brandon Cisse is the Midlands top defensive back and committed to NC State. Other two-way guys are Dickens at DT, White at DT, Woods at LB, Jones at LB, Ridgill at LB and they are joined by returning senior starter Tre Wright (5’11,150) at defensive back, Junior linebacker Seneca Moore (6’2,205), who is one of the top linebackers in the Midlands, and junior defensive end Tyjalek Isaac (6’1,215).
Newcomers that Cornelius expects to impact are sophomore QB J’Rae Mitchell (5’10,175), junior WR Javell Jones (5’10,155), senior OL/DL Markell Chapman (6’3,355), junior WR Deangelo Mack (5’10,140) and senior RB/LB Nicholas Evans (5’9,160) and junior WR Michael Ledett (6’4,180).
“Offensively, we will start at young, but capable QB in J’rae Mitchell, with experience surrounding him,” said Cornelius. “In the trenches, we will have 3 3 year starters, and two others with some varsity experience under their belt. We are big up front, maybe a little too big (need our guys to be able to move quickly).
In Specialties, Brandon Cisse will be the punter, punt returner, and kicker, with Ryen Ridgill returning for long snapping duties.”
