Roger Lee
Senior Donny McElveen transferred to Summerville this year and is expected to have an immediate impact on the Green Wave team.

Green Wave making adjustments

Summerville’s go-to guy is gone as All-American receiver A.J. Green heads the list of 42 players who graduated last spring.

Others who are no longer on the team include the Wave’s two other primary receivers, two-year starting quarterback Reid McCollum and David Behr, a kicker/punter who was a four-year starter.

Summerville only has three starters returning on each side of the ball. However, it has approximately a dozen players returning with considerable experience. At least in the first half of the season, expect the Wave to have a different look on offense as it relies less on the deep pass and more on its running game and quick passing strikes.

“We won’t be as much of a big-play team and we will count on our running backs to make more plays,” coach John McKissick said. “We are going to sprint out more on the passes and throw action passes and shorter passes. But, in the 7-on-7s, our quarterbacks showed they can go long if we need them to.”

 A major concern for the team is whether anyone will be able to fill the void left by the departures of Green, Marcus Morris and LaQuan Gilliard. The Wave doesn’t have any tested receivers, but that doesn’t mean one or two won’t be able to become playmakers once they are comfortable in the system.

McKissick is confident that if the receivers do develop, the Wave will be able to successfully throw the ball. Donny McElveen (6-3, 190), McKissick’s grandson, transferred to Summerville for his senior season and brings experience to the quarterback position. Last year, he threw for more than 1,000 yards while leading the Mount Tabor High School team to the North Carolina 4-A state championship game. Senior Andrew Hancox (5-10, 170) is also expected to vie for time under center.

“Donny has quick feet and he sprints out well,” McKissick said. “Hancox has improved 100 percent from last year. Both of them are good athletes and hard-nosed kids.”

The Wave has both experience and depth at the running back position. Returning starter Tyler Veronee (5-11, 170) is back for his senior year after finishing as the team’s second leading rusher last season. Also a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield, he had 530 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns last year. Daniel Edmonson (5-9,190) had some playing time last year and is looking to use his blazing speed more this season.

Returning starters Chad Brisben (6-5, 245) and Jacob Webb (6-2, 190) will provide leadership for an offensive line that is otherwise green. Brisben has already caught the eye of college scouts and Webb is a two-sport standout. However, much of the Wave’s season rides on how the less experienced linemen progress.

“The offensive line coming around will be the key to what we can do,” McKissick said. “I’m hoping the line will come through and the receivers will catch the ball. Those things are going to have to happen for us to have a decent team and we have to cut out the mistakes.”

Defense

The Wave defense should be a strength this season. The squad is stacked with talent up front and also has some playmakers in the back. While the secondary is a concern, it should be okay as it gains experience.

“We need a couple of linebackers to step up and provide depth and our secondary has some work to do,” McKissick said.

Returning starters Demetrius Sherman (6-2, 300) and Aaron Carter (6-2, 268) will anchor the line. Sherman is a hot college prospect who made 45 solo tackles last season, including four sacks. Carter was in on 42 tackles last season, including 19 solos and three sacks. The seniors will be joined by Brice Laughlin (6-3, 280), a junior who transferred back to Summerville after a short stint at Pinewood.

Ronnie Kirven (6-3, 210) and Rondrick Tucker (6-0, 210) will lead the linebacker corps. Kirven is a senior with some experience and Tucker is a junior who made 28 solo tackles and two sacks last year.

Returning starter Michael Varner (5-10, 170) brings experience to an otherwise untested secondary. He was the Wave’s third-leading tackler last season with 54 tackles and 25 assists. He also had two interceptions and seven breakups.

Special teams returners include place kicker/punter Dylan Zimmerman (5-11, 160) and holder Kevin Baker (5-11, 140). Both are seniors. Last year, Zimmerman averaged 42 yards per punt while seeing limited action.

Contact Roger Lee @ 873-9424 ext. 213 or rlee@journalscene.com.