Savannah Christian coach Baker Woodward has been blessed with one of the best defensive lines in high school football with a group featuring 5-star senior Elijah Griffin, sophomore sensation Damion Guyton, who has 19 Power 4 offers, Logan Brooking (committed to Clemson as a tight end) and Isaiah Redmond, who has an offer from Savannah State.
The unit played a huge role in Savannah Christian’s impressive run to the Class 3A state championship game last season that included three road playoff wins. The Raiders lost to perennial power Cedar Grove 49-28 in the final.
Baker laughed when describing the group, mentioning a problem it brings to practices.
“They are so good, that when we have our first teams scrimmaging, it’s hard to tell if our offense is any good ― because they are getting stuffed on nearly every run play,” Woodward said.
But it’s a good problem to have for Woodward and his staff, who are excited about getting the season started as Savannah Christian has dropped to Class A Division I for the next two seasons in the new GHSA reclassification.
The Raiders finished last season with a 12-3 record and lost two stars in David Bucey (South Carolina) and Jamari McIvory (Northern Illinois) to graduation, but have a lot of talent returning.
Lurking behind the defensive line is a strong group of linebackers led by senior Jaden Miles, who led the team with 145 tackles last season. Junior Reid Penrose is back after a solid sophomore campaign where he racked up 100 stops and John Gross is also set to start.
The defensive backfield will be led by jack of all trades Kenry Wall at corner, with junior Athen Hudspeth back at strong safety. Wall is a versatile playmaker who excels offensively from the slot position. Last season, he rushed for 1,116 yards (10.1 YPC), with 19 catches for 500 yards and 24 total touchdowns ― including three punt returns for scores and a pick six.
“Everyone talks about our defense and it is one of the best in the state,” said Wall, whose offers include Erskine and Shorter University. “But we’ve got a balanced offense that can move the ball with the run game or the pass.”
Anchoring the unit is an impressive offensive line with three starters returning in right tackle Jordan Dillon, a 6-foot-4, 305-pound sophomore with offers including USF and Cincinnati, junior right guard JT Howell (6-2, 300) and senior center Luke Gunn (5-10, 230). The Raiders have a star on the rise in freshman RJ Brown Jr., a 6-2, 300-pound left tackle who already has offers including Florida State and Arkansas. Junior Davian Melton (6-2, 240) is set to start at left guard.
Add Brooking (6-5, 220) into the mix at tight end, where he caught 38 passes for 544 yards and three scores, and the foundation for success is set.
Junior Blaise Thomas is back in his second year as the starting quarterback. He threw for 1,968 yards last season while completing 66% of his passes with 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He’s looking to be even better this year.
“I got some new glasses, they’re goggles that I’m going to wear that will help with my eyesight and help me see the field better,” Thomas said. “I think I’ve improved with my reads and understanding defenses. Our offensive line is tough. We’re a power running team, but we can throw the ball too. Everything has been coming together in our practices.”
Senior running back Zo Smalls is the catalyst in the run game. The 5-foot-9, 195-pounder racked up 34 total touchdowns last season as he averaged 7.2 yards per carry and rushed for 1,903 yards. He recently committed to play at Charleston Southern.
Weston Hughes and Carson Taylor are set to be starting as wide receivers.
“We’ve got a lot of talent coming back and I think we’re ahead of where we were last year at this point, especially defensively,” Woodward said. “We have an experienced group, and we’re looking for the veterans to become more vocal leaders this season.”
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: A Savannah Christian football team talented in the trenches ready for 2024
