We tell you everything you need to know about the 2022 Turner County 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: 6-7
- Points Scored: 367
- Points Against: 435
Key Losses
Former head coach Kentavious Johnson is no longer at the helm of Turner County, and his key assistant and defensive coordinator, Demario Jones, is also gone. As for the player personnel Turner County loses, it starts with RB Elijah Stephens, who was one of Turner’s County go-to guys on offense. Stephens carried the ball a staggering 445 times for 2,810 yards and 30 TDs. He also caught 53 passes for 623 yards receiving and five TDs. Stephens added 90 yards on kickoff returns, giving him 3,523 purpose yards for his career. Stephens will be headed to Savannah State to continue his football career.
The other key piece in terms of all-around production for the Titans was ATH/RB/QB Azari Smith, who did a little bit of everything last season, throwing for 137 yards with a TD as the team’s part-time QB, and rushing 26 times last season, averaging 7.4 yards per carry with two TDs. His primary responsibility was at receiver, where he caught 24 passes for 547 yards and eight TDs. He even served as the team’s punter, averaging 25.8 yards per punt, with a long punt of 53 yards. As the team’s kicker, Smith was 9/14 on PATs, but on field goal attempts he was a perfect 4/4. Smith is headed off to Etowah Community College to further his education and football career.
WR/CB Montarious Norris and his contributions will be missed as well. He had 40 catches for 469 yards receiving and three TDs. Norris was effective defensively with 73 tackles, four fumble recoveries, and three forced fumbles.
Who’s Back
Returning to greet new head coach Ben Simmons are two key elements that any coach would be glad to have. QB Amarion Blanks will enter his third straight season as the Turner County QB, and Simmons said he really likes having Blanks’ talent as well as his experience at the position. The senior signal-caller has 3,417 passing yards over the last two seasons, with 35 TDs. His completion percentage is 63%, which is outstanding for a QB yet to begin his final season. Blanks can tuck it down and run it if he needs to, as his 300 rushing yards attest. He has three rushing TDs as he enters his senior season.
Simmons pointed out that most of his returning offensive line is back, which is a plus. They are Cameron Parker, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound LT; senior guard Corey Jordan, a starter from last season; and Mitchell Parker, who Simmons says will continue to play both OG and DE. A returning outside receiver that Simmons says “is the spark to our offense” is Kaleb Joiner. He will also be counted on at CB.
Two LBs who return are seniors Ace Rushin and Zavaad Bynum. Rushin has been a force on both sides of the ball, racking up 132 tackles from his LB post, while catching 20 passes for 263 receiving yards. Bynum has 46 tackles with a fumble recovery. DB Shawn Nelson returns to the defensive backfield, as does sophomore Cedric Hilmon, who will also see time at QB.
What To Expect
Look for Turner County to continue the momentum created last year with a seven-win season that took the Titans deep into the playoffs, including two road playoff wins. The Titans lost just 10 seniors from last year, and have a lot of talent and contributors from last season coming back.
Ben Simmons brought this Turner program a lot of success in a short period of time when he was here in 2015 and 2016, and he actually comes into a better situation this time than he did then. Simmons has also brought in some veteran assistants, including Tully Payne and Kareem Hess. This is a team to watch in 2022.
Prediction
Look for a great season this year: I say 9-4 overall.
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