Here’s everything you need to know about the 2024 Gainesville High School football team, including roster changes and what fans can expect from the Red Elephants this season.
2023 Stats
- Overall Record: 12-1
- Points Scored: 498
- Points Allowed: 162
Key Losses
The Red Elephants enter the 2024 season needing to replace their leading rusher, leading receiver, and starting quarterback from last season.
Gavin Hall, who rushed for 1,606 yards last season on 205 carries, averaged just over 123 yards rushing per game. He rushed for 24 touchdowns and caught four touchdowns with 379 yards as a receiver out of the backfield.
Replacing two-year starter Baxter Wright at quarterback will be key for head coach Josh Niblett this season. Wright threw for 5,535 yards with 64 touchdowns during his career as a Red Elephant.
Eric Hart, who led the team with 643 yards, and Sky Niblett, who led the team with 10 receiving touchdowns last year, are two key offensive pieces who will be missed in 2024.
Defensive back Zion Ferguson, who had five interceptions and 37 tackles in 2023, will also be missed.
Who’s Back
One key returner is senior defensive tackle Julius Columbus, who led the team with 17 sacks last year. The Duke Blue Devils commit gives Gainesville a major pass rush threat once again in 2024.
Linebacker Carmelo Byrd is another key defender returning. He led the team in tackles last year with 66, including six sacks.
Junior outside linebacker and defensive end Xavier Griffin, a four-star defensive standout who had nine sacks last year with 54 tackles, returns, along with edge Kadin Fossung.
On the offensive line, Gainesville welcomes back senior tackle Alex Payne, a University of North Carolina commit, and junior tackle Tyler Ford, who has multiple Division I offers.
Junior wide receiver Philip Williams returning will give the offense a weapon in the passing game.
What to Expect
The Red Elephants have a ton of talent returning in 2024, and they’ll need them as they switch to a new region (7-5A) that includes Milton and Roswell.
They also have a brutal schedule, one of the toughest in the state, with their first five games on the road.
But you can expect that coach Josh Niblett will have his team ready to compete for a region championship once again.
It appears that sophomore Kharim Hughley is in line to take over for the departed Wright at quarterback heading into the 2024 season. Hughley already has an offer from Georgia Southern University.
Yes, the region will be a tough one, but expect Gainesville to do well again this year.
Prediction
10-3 overall record
Game to Watch
Sept. 13 @ Carrollton
