We tell you everything you need to know about the 2022 Walton 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: 9-4
- Points Scored: 459
- Points Against: 368
Key Losses
The Walton Raiders bid farewell to quarterback Zak Roszman, who ends his Raiders career with 4,108 passing yards and 33 TDs. He also rushed for 473 yards and 12 rushing TDs. He signed with Georgia Southern.
The offense and the Walton special teams loses another playmaker with the graduation of Sutton Smith, who had 829 rushing yards and 18 TDs, as well as 752 receiving yards and five TDs from his RB spot. Smith also was quite effective as a return specialist. He had 742 return yards and a TD returning kicks, and as a punt returner, he had 496 return yards. Smith is headed to the University of Memphis to play for the Tigers.
The Raiders will miss two key members from their defensive backfield with the graduation of safety AJ Brown and cornerback Marcus Allen. Brown finished his career at Walton with 155 tackles, three INT and five forced fumbles, while Allen had 112 tackles, four INT, a forced fumble and four fumble recoveries. Allen also blocked two FG attempts. On offense, Allen had seven TDs on just 13 catches. He had 353 receiving yards during his Walton career.
The two standouts are headed off to play collegiately, with Brown signing with UAB, and Allen headed to Chapel Hill, NC, where he’ll play for the North Carolina Tar Heels. The offensive line loses 6-foot-7 OT Cason Henry to graduation, but he’s not done playing. Henry signed with the Gamecocks of South Carolina.
Who’s Back
Leading the offense will be returning QB Jeremy Hecklinski, who managed to throw for 2,232 yards and 18 TDs while sharing snaps with Roszman. The junior told ITG Next that he and his Raider teammates have been preparing hard for the season.
“It’s been non-stop with us, with OTAs, morning workouts, and 7v7s this offseason,” said the Raider QB.
As one of the team leaders, Hecklinski said he likes his team’s work ethic as they prepare for the season.
“Everything this offseason has been getting us prepared to beat Mill Creek in the Corky Kell on August 20,” he said with an air of confidence.
If you’re a Raider fan, that’s what you should expect from your starting QB.
Hecklinski will be taking snaps from returning center Philip Eichelzer, who has committed to Princeton University. Also returning on the O-line at TE is Hunter Teal, who will also play DE. He had 20 tackles with 1.5 sacks, and on offense he caught 22 passes with two TDs. On defense, three-star LB Ashton Woods is returning, along with standout DE Lota Ugokwe, a 6-foot-2 junior who had 33 tackles last season, including seven sacks.
What To Expect
Coach Daniel Bruner always seems to have his Raiders poised to make a deep playoff run in Class 7A year after year, just as they did last season, and 2022 could be another of those type seasons. The Raiders will be just fine despite the loss of Roszman to Georgia Southern, as junior QB Jeremy Hecklinski takes over the duties full-time. He and Roszman split time last season, but 2022 will be Hecklinski’s show. He’ll have TE Hunter Teal as a pass catching target, while the defense should be solid. Walton is just a solid program, and Bruner will have them right in the mix when playoff time comes around.
Prediction
10 or 11 wins from the Raiders in 2022.
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