2021 Season Preview: Chapman Panthers
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Following a loss to Daniel in the second round of last year’s 3A playoffs, there’s a lot of curiosity around how Chapman will bounce back in 2022. Well, there are teams who are loaded offensively, then there’s this season’s edition…
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Continue ReadingFollowing a loss to Daniel in the second round of last year’s 3A playoffs, there’s a lot of curiosity around how Chapman will bounce back in 2022.
Well, there are teams who are loaded offensively, then there’s this season’s edition of the Panthers.
Harry Cabaniss’ squad returns eight offensive players listed in Prep Redzone’s 2022 class rankings, including four skill players ranked in the top 25 at their position, and four offensive linemen all ranked in the position’s Top 40.
Drew Settle Drew Settle 6'2" | 175 lbs | QB Chapman | 2022 State SC will lead the way at quarterback, coming off a season that saw him throw for more than 1,600 yard and 18 touchdowns. Settle is ranked as the 15th-best senior quarterback, and 150th overall. He’ll have plenty of speed on the outside, with seniors Walt Waddell Walt Waddell 6'5" | 180 lbs | WR Chapman | 2022 State SC (ranked No. 94), D.J. Black (ranked No. 169), and Tim McClurkin Tim McClurkin 5'11" | 175 lbs | WR Chapman | 2022 State SC (ranked No. 186) all returning from a team that put up 44 points per game last season.
The Panthers’ other ranked returners are all up front, in four of the five spots on the offensive line. Sam Maloa Sam Maloa 6'2" | 270 lbs | OL Chapman | 2022 State SC , Nick Cox Nick Cox 6'2" | 235 lbs | OL Chapman | 2022 State SC , Dylan Moody Dylan Moody 6'0" | 280 lbs | OL Chapman | 2022 State SC , and Dylan Fortner Dylan Fortner 6'1" | 235 lbs | OL Chapman | 2022 State SC are ranked in the 22nd, 35th, 36th, and 37th spots, respectively.
Derek Miller was pressed into action as the team’s running back midway through the year following an injury, and responded with a fantastic season. He’ll return in the backfield, while Jaquel Pearson returns on the offensive line.
The Panthers also boast a ranked specialist, as kicker Ricky Montalvo Ricky Montalvo 6'0" | 180 lbs | K Chapman | 2022 State SC is the fifth-ranked kicker in the state. He was the Region 3-AAA Special Teams Player of the Year, connecting on all four of his FG attempts with a long of 45, 39-for-41 on extra points, and 29 touchbacks among his 50 kickoffs. As a punter, he averaged 33.9 yards with a long of 56.
Defensively, Chapman will have to replace its top three defensive players with the departure of Camden Gray Camden Gray 6'3" | 225 lbs | LB Chapman | 2021 State SC , Andrew Colasurdo Andrew Colasurdo 6'1" | 220 lbs | LB Chapman | 2021 State SC , and Gabe Watson. However, they’ve got a ranked returner in Abraham Fyffe Abraham Fyffe 5'10" | 230 lbs | DL Chapman | 2023 State SC , the 51st-ranked player and No. 7 defensive lineman in the 2023 class. They also return Lance Holden and Levi Smith on the defensive line, along with McClurkin, Andrew Melton, and Devin Roe in the secondary.
Chapman adds a trio of highly-regarded newcomers in receiver Shawn Cunningham, defensive back Nigel Pate, and athlete Coleman Gray.
Despite the loss of some outstanding players, Cabaniss is optimistic.
“We need to improve our depth, but we’re very excited to see this group of seniors,” he said. “We also have a large class who all played as juniors. We’re excited to watch them play.”