We tell you everything you need to know about the 2022 Cedar Grove 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: 12-3
Points Scored: 654
Points Against: 189
Key Losses
The Saints are coming off another state title in 2021, which gave them their fourth state championship in the last five seasons. Several Saints who were a big part of last year’s title run as well as the years before have moved on to the college football world.
That includes four-star ATH Rashod Dubinion, who chose Arkansas from several colleges he was presented with. The standout Saint did a little bit of everything at Cedar Grove, including rushing for 1,923 yards on 245 carries in just two seasons. He also scored 29 TDs.
Another weapon that will be missed is WR Janiran Bonner, who signed with Nebraska this offseason. Bonner had 863 career receiving yards with nine TDs while at Cedar Grove.
The Saints will be without the services of two standout defenders who will both take their talents to the University of Georgia. The duo of four-star DE Christen Miller and OLB Carlton Madden, rated as the No. 21 LB in the country last season, will remain teammates in Athens.
Joshua White, who lined up on the opposite end from Miller but was just as ferocious, is headed to Memphis University to continue his college career.
Who’s Back
Coach John Adams and the Saints did indeed lose some major Division I talent, but they’ll reload with some strong returners, especially on defense.
Let’s start with senior LB Everett Roussaw, who decommitted from Arkansas in late June after initially committing in January earlier this year.
Joining Roussaw this year on defense will be returning edge rusher Adonijah Green, a 6-foot-5, 206-pound senior who has also announced his collegiate intention following his high school career. Green will attend the University of Louisville next year.
Another standout defensive player returning this season will be four-star CB Kayin Lee, who is coming off back-to-back standout seasons for the Saints. In his sophomore season, he was named the Region 5-3A Defensive Player of the Year with 27 tackles and three interceptions while appearing in just eight games. Last year, he continued to harass opposing receivers with seven INTs, two of which came against Carver in the Class 3A state title game.
In addition to his ball-hawking skills, he is also a physical corner and is considered to have excellent open field tackling skills. He announced this summer that he will be attending Ohio following his Cedar Grove career.
Three-star ATH Ricky Lee III gives the Saints a huge boost with his return this season. Expect to see the senior athlete line up everywhere for Cedar Grove. Lee has decided to take his football talents to the University of Connecticut after graduation.
Although he can make an impact anywhere, expect to see him line up primarily at the corner spot opposite the “other” Lee (Kayin) this fall.
Finally, Adams tells us that another top returner from last season will be three-star WR Barry Jackson. He is coming off a junior season that saw him haul in seven TD passes. He plans to play college ball at the University of Nebraska.
What To Expect
With the talent that Cedar Grove is returning in 2022, there’s very little reason to bet against Adams and the Saints to compete for another state title. They have won four in the last five seasons, and although they lost some big-time talent, they will have a lot returning. They say defense wins championships, and the overall strength of Cedar Grove both last year and this upcoming season is without a doubt on the defensive side of the ball.
Adams says he likes what he sees from his troops so far.
“We have had a great offseason,” he said. “We lost some great players to graduation, but I know we have some guys that will step up and fill these roles.”
As far as his thoughts on his team’s chances to make it five out of six titles?
“If we can stay healthy and the ball rolls our way, I believe we have a shot,” Adams said.
Prediction
The Saints are loaded, and I think they will be right there at the end. I see another 12-win season.
