After three consecutive 2-8 campaigns, expectations are not high for Carroll County's football team heading into the 2024 season.
That's just fine according to new Cavalier head coach Seth Greer, who believes this version of Carroll County football could turn a few heads and surprise some people.
"Absolutely. The kids have worked hard enough to see results from it. We worry about every day, trying to get better each day, and from January when I got here, there was no rebellion in it," Greer said. "These kids want to win. So I like that most people count us out. We kind of like that. That is our thing. We close our doors and we work hard everyday and we like that no one is paying us attention."
Schematically, much has changed under Greer, including a pistol power offense that will feature a lot of inside zone, power options, and probably throw the football a little bit more than Carroll has traditionally. Defensively, Greer was thrilled with what he saw in the team's first live action, an intrasquad scrimmage August 9 in Hillsville.
"We saw things we were looking for. We did not miss many tackles. We are happy about that. We tackled well and we were pretty happy with our physicality and our competitiveness," Greer said. "It may have been an intrasquad scrimmage but they were getting after it and chasing each other down. There were a lot of effort plays that I don't know if you typically see in some scrimmages given where you are at, so we are really happy with the competitiveness of it and how competitive we were. We already had an idea of our depth chart and where a lot of guys were but it was nice to have some verification on it and to look at some things."
Leading the way will be senior Mason Crockett, a 6-4, 272-pound behemoth who led the state in tackles at the end of the regular season with 161.
Carroll County’s football season may be over, but junior linebacker Mason Crockett is starting to get attention as the top tackler in the state of Virginia and one of the top leading tacklers in the entire nation. Crockett had an incredible season for the Cavaliers across the board with over 100 solo stops, 12 tackles for loss, eight sacks, four caused fumbles, four blocked punts and two blocked field goals. Greer is proud of how others have stepped up as well and taken on leadership roles.
"Mason will be counted on heavily but we have had some other guys step up and everyone of them is a different kind of leader. Bryce Smoot is doing a tremendous job. He is a competitor. From day one when I got here he had a role in mind and man, he has filled it out. He leads with a cool head. Mason is a little more vocal," Greer said. "We have had some other seniors step up. Hayden Lowe, he is a 6-4, 320-pound left tackle. He is one of those quiet guys, but he is a technician and he goes to work every day. We have had a few that have kind of stepped up and earned their role in different position groups, which is really nice. I really like where those guys are at."
Crockett was already a tank to have to deal with last season as a 245-pound linebacker. He's added 27 pounds and will be playing defensive end for Carroll, a position he is mainly being recruited for in college.
"We like the weight room," Greer said of Crockett's gains. "His hand will be in the dirt. That is not only for us schematically to help us, but that is also for him. He is being looked at the next level as a defensive lineman. No one has made any bones about that. That is where he wants to play and there is no sense in prolonging that. I think that fits him better anyway. He likes it and he is excited about it so that is where he is at. He is hard to block."
Offensively, Crockett will play an H-back role split outside the box as a true tight end/fullback hybrid. Carroll County will also have good size up front, but Greer is excited about the skill players the Cavaliers will have in 2024.
"I really like our skill position players. I feel like we have got guys we can spread out and spread the stress of the ball around, so I feel like our skill position players is one of our stronger points. We've got guys like Isaiah Easter out wide, Cole Ward and Cash Crotts. We have some guys in space," Greer said. "So our skill position guys and Bryce at quarterback, I just think it helps take stress away from one person. So that is a pretty strong group for us. We are working as an offensive line as a unit trying to get better every day. We have good size upfront and those guys are physical. I think they like that and have embraced that as kind of the identity they want right now."
Assuming quarterback duties for the Cavaliers in 2024 will be senior Bryce Smoot, a three-sport standout who should be very familiar with Carroll fans. Smoot was one of the team's top playmakers the last three years. Now that ability, and a wealth of football knowledge, will be used under center.
"Bryce has worked at it since January, becoming a quarterback, and his versatility, not just throwing the ball well, but you can pull him on a read option. He is just really versatile. He can run the ball, he can throw the ball. He can make a play when it breaks down, and he is cool. He is a competitor," Greer said. "He has been on the football field for a long time, and in every sport he is super competitive. He is guy when things go wrong, Bryce is at an age where he is just like the cool breeze. He doesn't get really rattled."
Junior Sam McGrady has pushed Smoot big-time and has done a great job at the position as well, according to the Carroll skipper.
"We had a good little battle at quarterback," Greer said. "Sam on the other hand is our mike linebacker, no question about it. He has embraced that role. He likes to bring it there so we have two guys that are sort of quarterbacking each side of the ball. But we are really happy with where Bryce is."
Up front, the offensive line will feature the massive Lowe at left tackle, junior Tucker Hylton at left guard, senior Hayden Brooks at center, sophomore Axel Canales at right guard, and sophomore Austin Marshall at right tackle.
"Axel is the smallest guy of the group at about 254 pounds," Greer said. "The rest of them are all right at 300. We have two seniors and the rest are underclassmen. This is where we want to keep building and where we want to start."
Most of those same guys will rote on the defensive line alongside Crockett. Greer said Hylton will be on the line and a couple of players will rotate with Brooks and Ivan Reyes (who Greer calls our big guy in the middle).
"We like to rotate our defense and our defensive line and keep them fresh. Linebackers behind them are Grady Quesenberry and Sam McGrady. And then our outside linebacker is also our tailback, Ayden Dickerson," Greer said. "He may surprise some people. He put on 20-some pounds and Aiden can move. He is figuring it out right now, but he's going to be alright. He is a sophomore. We have got a little competition at some of these other backer spots to see who is going to end up being that guy. We like our secondary."
Junior E.J. Conner is handling most of the kicking duties at the moment, though Greer said the kicking game is still a work in progress.
In total, Greer said there are currently 68 kids in the program with a near-even split between varsity and JV numbers. He said he has a tremendous coaching staff.
"My idea of putting a staff were who were men I would want my son around. That is kind of my thing," Greer said. "Some of them if you don't know as much football as someone else, that is fine. Is it somebody that is going to work and I want my son around?"
Carroll County is slated to open the season Thursday, August 29 in Hillsville against Grundy, followed by games at Grayson and back at home against Galax and George Wythe. Greer knows it will not be easy going up against that lineup as well as the Three Rivers District portion of the schedule.
"It is a good football district. I am excited for six home games. We really are going to take it a week at a time. That is about the best I can say right there because sometimes its not always what you've got, it's what other people have got as well," Greer said. "I will tell you this, if we weren't to see the success we hope for it is not for lack of work. And I don't just say that. Our kids have worked. Not only is our district a pretty competitive football district, there is some good football coaches in our area. Shane Allen at Galax is one of the best football coaches you will find. Brandon (Harner) does a tremendous job at George Wythe. There is two that we face early, so there is no easy. We don't get any easy, but we are excited about that. We don't want easy."
More than anything, Greer wants to see this Carroll County team achieve success and surprise the masses because of the amount of blood, sweat and tears they've put into it this offseason.
"These kids have worked their rear ends off and you build comradery and rapport with them and you want to see them do well because you feel like they have earned it. And the higher up the chain you go, I feel like you feel that a little more," Greer said. "It does start with me, and it should. But you want to see the kids rewarded for what they have put into it."
Allen Worrell can be reached at (276) 779-4062 or on X@AWorrellTCN
Most Popular
Comments / 0