We tell you everything you need to know about the 2022 Norcross football team in this preview. We take a look at roster changes and what fans can expect from the team this season.
2021 Stats
- Overall Record: 8-4
- Points Scored: 336
- Points Against: 177
Key Losses
The Norcross Blue Devils head into the upcoming season without the services of several key members of the last season’s eight-win team that came on strong as the season came to an end. The team was hit especially hard at the linebacker and running back positions, and will have to find some talent to come in and fill those voids.
Two primary LBs who have moved on to the college ranks are three-star Zakye Barker and Myles Allen. Barker is headed to East Carolina to play on the Pirates defense, while Allen remain in-state at LaGrange College. A couple of stellar defensive ends are also moving on in DE Jarren Shaw, who is attending Berry College, and Kaleb Adams, who will play for Guilford College.
Defensive back Bryghton Peters, who ended his Blue Devil career with 82 tackles and seven interceptions, will take his talents to Reinhardt College. On the offensive side, running backs Christian Williams and Tad Logan leave behind great careers at Norcross. Williams signed with Fort Valley State University, while Logan heads up to Maryville College in Tennessee.
Who’s Back
Leading the returning starters and main contributors from last season is senior RB/LB Jonathan Mathis, who enters his final season as a Blue Devil with 116 tackles, including 17 TFL, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries. He also returned an interception for a TD, and scored 2 TDs on offense as a running back.
Also back for his senior season is four-star tight end and H-back Lawson Luckie, who has 34 catches for 334 receiving yards and three TDs, and four rushing TDs for the Blue Devils. A few of the other seniors who return include WR Nakia Poole, who has caught 40 passes for 703 yards and 11 TDs; and a couple of big linemen in DT Sha’Kwan McKnight and OL Miada Jones, a 6-foot-5, 275-pound tackle who will offer solid protection for the running and passing games.
According to Norcross assistant coach Corey Richardson, Jones graded out at 82 percent blocking with 25 pancake blocks in 2021. McKnight meanwhile, has 70 tackles, including 18 TFL, and a blocked punt recovery.
Junior quarterback AJ Watkins is back, and based on his performance so far, he’ll truly be a dual threat to opposing defenses. Last season, Watkins threw for 756 yards and 10 TDs while running for 536 yards and six scores. Juniors Jackson Bussey and Antonio Molder also return for Norcross, and they have been a menace to opposing offenses so far. Bussey is a defensive end who collected 31 tackles, including seven TFL, two sacks, three QB hurries and one FR last season. Molder returns at his FS spot, where he put up 41 tackles with one TFL, a FF and a PBU.
What To Expect
Keith Maloof is an institution at Norcross. He’s been the Blue Devils’ head coach since 1999, and last season he picked up his 200th coaching victory in week one. He seems to have his Norcross team in the mix year after year, and there’s no reason to think they won’t compete for a region title in Class 7-7A this year.
Of course, Maloof and fans of the Blue Devils would like to see 2022 produce a state championship, which Norcross hasn’t won since capturing back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013. Having returning QB AJ Watkins back, along with his primary target, Nakia Poole, is a big help. The “X factor” for this team, however, will be Luckie, who is a threat to run it and catch it. Keep an eye out for this Norcross Blue Devil squad in 2022.
Prediction
Big expectations in Norcross this season. They should be. I like the Blue Devils to win 10 games.
Want to get the latest news and opinions in the Georgia high school sports world before anyone else? Subscribe to our email newsletter!
