In a lot of ways, Donnie Mays is starting over at South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä.
Mays, who guided the Black Eagles for nine successful seasons prior to his recent groundbreaking stint at Hurricane, has returned to SC, where he faces a major rebuilding job.
The Black Eagles enter this year with 22 straight losses and are 1-34 over their last 35 games, but Mays knows the lay of the land and what it takes to win at South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä.
In his previous tour of duty (2013-21), Mays took SC to the playoffs eight times in nine seasons, including a berth in the 2014 Class AAA championship game, and also captured the 2020 state title during that year’s COVID-19-shortened postseason. His overall record at SC stands at 55-43.
“I know we’re taking over a team that hasn’t won a game in a couple years,’’ Mays said of his return, “but we’re trying to create a winning culture there with what we have.’’
Mays certainly enhanced the winning ways at Hurricane, which went 27-10 in his three years there. He twice guided the Redskins to the playoff state semifinals – the two deepest runs ever for Hurricane.
In order to ramp up the improvement at South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä, Mays plans on having his players first battle from within.
“We want to see what we have,’’ Mays said. “At every position, it’s up for grabs and everything is a competition.
“Since Oct. 21 of [2022], they haven’t won a game. We’re trying to create competition among the positions so we can improve quickly -- so we can compete Week 1 against Ripley. I’m looking forward to it. I’m excited.’’
Mays thinks the Black Eagles have some talent and depth at the skill positions.
Sophomore quarterback Met “Ceno’’ Riley (6-foot-1, 165 pounds) got a lot of playing time last season and is ahead of freshman Landon Workman (6-2, 185) for that spot. Another QB, sophomore Jacari Goode, is a possible transfer candidate.
Carrying the ball will be “a whole slew of running backs,’’ Mays said. “We’ve got seven, eight competing, but they’re all good players. We’re looking at all of them to see what they can do.’’
Leading the way is senior Malcolm Brown (5-10, 175) and he’s joined by senior Brayden Zuniga (5-8, 200), junior Malichai Hall (6-0, 187), sophomore Damian Chaney (5-10, 165) and a pair of freshmen – Elijah Mason (6-0, 230) and Kaden Thomas (5-7, 160).
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Likewise, the receiving corps is well populated with prospects. “We have a bunch of young guys there who are going to be really talented players,’’ Mays said.
Mays has been impressed with SC's freshman wideouts, including Devin Lazo (6-0, 170) and Amari Valentine (5-10, 165), the son of former Nitro all-stater Marcos Valentine. Mason and Thomas, two more frosh, could also get reps at receiver as well as running back, along with Brown.
Other receiving candidates are senior Marcel Newell (5-8, 190), juniors Christian Perkins (5-11, 160) and Mike’kai Gordon (5-9, 160), sophomores Mondre Foster (5-10, 160) and Elijah Cossin (5-11, 147) and freshman Byron Freeman (5-8, 140).
Manning the tight end spot will be senior Kayden Hackman (6-2, 210) and sophomore Miles Terry (6-2, 225), backed by senior Dwayne Ruffin (6-5, 210) and freshman Brady Riggs (5-11, 170).
The “most secure position’’ on the offensive line, in Mays’ words, belongs to junior tackle Morgan Watts (6-6, 260), and he’ll be joined by junior center Elijah Bausley (6-2, 270) and junior tackle Dylan Walls (5-11, 210).
Their respective backups are freshman DeAngelo Davis (6-4, 250), junior Kaiden Wilborne (6-0, 300) and sophomore Dakarai Okafor-dogan (6-2, 180).
Competing at guard, in no particular order according to Mays, are senior Jusiah Hicks (5-8, 230) and juniors Lincoln Johnson (6-4, 310), Jackson Slack (5-10, 225) and Hayden Short (5-9, 191).
On defense, Terry and Okafor-dogan are at end, backed by Ruffin and junior Morgan Watts (6-5, 270). On the interior are Bausley and Mason, with Johnson, Wilborne, Walls and Slack as understudies.
Zuniga and Hall man the inside linebacker posts, backed by Thomas, Short and sophomore Jermain Smith (5-8, 160). At the outside backer spots will be Hackman and Chaney, with Newell, Mason and junior Brayden Workman (5-8, 160) in reserve.
Valentine and Cossin will likely start at cornerback, with Brown at safety.
Most of the receivers also play in the secondary, including Lazo, Foster, Perkins, Gordon, Freeman, junior Karon Johnson (5-6, 110) and sophomore Jreson Joplin (5-6, 124).
Working as kickers are senior baseball and soccer standout Braxton Burke (5-9, 155) and sophomore Brodie Myers (6-1, 175).
