2024 Smoky Mountain Conference Preseason Preview

Last year’s standings:

1. Robbinsville (5-0)
2. Swain County (4-1)
3. Murphy (3-2)
4. Hayesville (2-3)
5. Cherokee (1-4)
6. Andrews (0-5)

Preseason Player of The Year: Nse Uffort (Swain)

Preseason Offensive Player of The Year: Cameron Clem (Murphy)

Preseason Defensive Player of The Year: Tre Graves (Hayesville)

Preseason Lineman of The Year: Grady Lewis (Swain)

Preseason Athlete of The Year: Bryce Adams (Robbinsville)

2024 Preseason Rankings 

1. Swain
2. Robbinsville
3. Murphy
4. Hayesville
5. Cherokee
6. Swain

Andrews

Key Returners: Everett Tatham, Eli Aguilar, Jerry Cable, Will Roberts, Kencade Watkins

Key Losses: Dalton Rose, Sam Preston, Graham Burch, Tyler West

Over/Under Win Total: 4.5 

Big Games: 9/13 @ Mitchell, 10/11 @ Cherokee, 11/1 vs Hayesville

Best Case Scenario: 4th place finish in the Smoky Mountain Conference, 6-4 overall in regular season. 

Synopsis- The Cats struggled last season in conference play, finishing with an 0-5 record in the SMC. They were, however, able to stay within one score of Hayesville, Murphy, and Cherokee, taking the latter to overtime before falling at home. This season looks like more of the same for the red and black. Some non-conference success against Rosman, Southside Christian, and Calhoun Falls will have them feeling pretty good, but they will be tested in game 1 of SMC play when the Maroon Devils of Swain County come to town. I don’t think Andrews will be routed out of any game they play in this year, as they continue to bring that scrappy mentality week in and week out, but I don’t think they will have the size or depth to compete for an SMC crown in ‘24. I doubt we see a win-less record against SMC opponents like we did last year, but they will still finish near the bottom half of the conference.

 

Cherokee

Key Returners: Brandon Santiago, Luke Smith, Jonathan Saylor, Eli Lineberry, Shiloh Woodson

Key Losses: Jack Teesateskie, Michael Driver, Luke Climbingbear, Mato Grant, J’ron Lineberry

Over/Under Win Total: 3.5 

Big Games: 9/6 vs Choctaw, 10/11 vs Andrews

Best Case Scenario: 4th place finish in SMC, 6-4 overall in regular season.

Synopsis: The Braves lost a lot of talent to graduation and the transfer portal in 2023. They will have to replace their entire backfield, including a 1,000 yd passer and their 3 leading rushers. If they are able to find an answer at quarterback (maybe Jonathan Saylor?) then they definitely have the receiving talent to win some games in 2024. Eli Lineberry, Luke Smith, and Jonathan Saylor all had 20+ receptions for the Braves in 2023. SMC members aren’t used to seeing teams take to the air, so the Braves unique offensive scheme under Head Coach Tim Hawkins tips the scales in their favor ever so slightly. It all depends on if Cherokee can get the ball in their playmakers hands or not. 

 

Hayesville

Key Returners: Tre Graves, Tate Roberts, Michael Mauney, Dawson Devane, Will Brown

Key Losses: Taylor McClure, Isaac Chandler, Lane O’Dell, Seth Leek

Over/Under Win Total: 6.5

Big Games: 9/13 @ Pisgah, 10/11 @ Swain

Best Case Scenario: 7-3 Regular Season finish, 4-1 in SMC play with share of SMC Championship.

Synopsis- Tre Graves should be a 1,000 yard rusher for the Jackets come December. He will be running behind a pretty good Hayesville Oline, and if Tate Roberts can prove to defenses that he can be a threat with his arm, then I think the sky is the limit for this Hayesville team. Hayesville’s conference Championship hopes will be tested early, As they host Murphy on October 4th for their first conference bout of the season. Depth is always a question with teams like Hayesville, but it looks like they show 30 players on the 2024 Varsity roster. While a Guy like Taylor McClure is nearly impossible to replace, I don’t see the Jackets missing a beat on offense. His defensive presence is what the Jackets will be lacking in 2024. If they can find a guy to fill those shoes, then this team could look eerily similar to last years squad. 

Lest we forget, last year’s squad was 7 points away from beating Murphy on the road, 8 points away from beating Swain County, and 6 points away from beating Robbinsville at The Big Oaks. The Jackets are going to come with a vengeance in 2024. 

 

Murphy

Key Returners: Will Shore, Ryan Payne, Cameron Clem, Brady Grant, Kadence Leatherwood, Brody Orton, Jonah Hedden, Camden Breazeale, Jude Pinkerton, Landen Lape

Key Losses: Hunter Stalcup, Will Joyner, Trenton Russell, Zack Skogen 

Over/Under Win Total: 7.5

Big Games: 9/6 @ West Henderson, 10/4 @ Hayesville, 10/11 @ Robbinsville

Best Case Scenario: 8-2 Regular Season finish, 5-0 in SMC play with first SMC title since 2018. 

Synopsis- The Dogs have less questions to answer than any other team in the SMC in my opinion. I’m not saying they’re the best team, I’m just saying they have a better idea of the product they are going to put on the field than anyone else. Cameron Clem should replace Hunter Stalcup’s production out of the backfield, and Brady Grant and Ryan Payne are also key skill players who are returning in 2024. The offensive and defensive lines should be better than they were last season, and the defensive secondary looks outstanding with Clem, Chandler Nernes, Payne, and Will Shore.

The biggest question mark for this Bulldog team for me is: Can they hold onto the dang football?

Murphy had 24 (TWENTY-FOUR) turnovers in 13 games last season. You can’t turn the ball over twice a game and expect to beat good teams. Of those 24 turnovers, 17 were fumbles. Of those 17 fumbles, Grant had 6 and Clem had 4. Grant and Clem will be the two main guys handling the ball in 2024, so they will have to sure up those hands if Murphy wants to bring home their first SMC title in 6 years. 

I think Junior QB Brady Grant has taken a step forward this offseason, & he will have a chance to prove me right (or wrong) early on in the 2024 schedule. The Dogs will have to be successful through the air to compete with Heard County and West Henderson, & Grant’s decision making in those games will be a tell-tell sign of how the 2024 season will play out. 

 

Robbinsville

Key Returners: Bryce Adams, Roman Jones Tytan Teesateskie, Tanner Hedden, Quinn Jumper, Darion Ledbetter

Key Losses: Cuttler Adams, Kage Williams, Donovan Carpenter, Chase Calhoun, Koleson Dooley

Over/Under Win Total: 7.5

Big Games: 8/23 @ East Surry, 9/6 vs Mtn Heritage, 9/20 @ Trion (GA), 10/11 vs Murphy

Best Case Scenario: 8-2 Regular Season finish with an undefeated Conference Record and another SMC Title back to The Ville.

Synopsis: Life without Cuttler Adams begins in Graham County. As much as Adams meant to Robbinsville on the field, he was even more important in the locker room as a leader and voice of the team. The Knights season all depends on how they come out of the gate. They could enter SMC Play with a 4-1 record, or they could just as easily be 2-3. If they head into SMC play gelling and full of confidence, then the Knights could be looking at another SMC title. On the other hand, if they stumble out of the gate and mail it in, they could be in line for a 3rd or 4th place conference finish. 

They have some of the top returning Lineman in the SMC coming back for 2024, but much like Swain County, they will have to find someone to tote the rock behind those hogs. Bryce Adams and Darion Ledbetter are the best QB-WR duo in the SMC, But everybody knows you have to be able to run the football to stand at the top of this conference. 

Robbinsville’s season depends on two things:

Can they find a consistent ball carrier who can hold onto the football?

And

Can they answer the call early against a tough non-conference schedule?

 

Swain

Key Returners: Zeke Glaspie, Keyanthae Graham, Nse Uffort, Grady Lewis, Skeet Cook, LD Lequire, Drew Scaggs, Andreas Cisneros

Key Losses: Josiah Glaspie, Josh Collins, Reese Winchester, Nolan Fisher, James Stroman, Cole Wikle, Brandon Frost

Over/Under Win Total: 7.5 

Big Games: 9/13 vs Tuscola, 10/11 vs Hayesville, 10/18 @ Murphy, 11/1 vs Robbinsville

Best Case Scenario: 8-2 overall with a 4-1 SMC record.. 

Synopsis- Swain will be the best team in the conference in the trenches this year due to the return of Nse Uffort, LD Lequire, Drew Scaggs & Andreas Cisneros. The question for the Maroon Devils in 2024 is how they will replace the 3,500 yards of offensive production they lost to graduation last year. 

With Andruw Cody set to be the Devils signal caller, it will be interesting to see who he hands the ball off to. Zeke Glaspie should see a number of opportunities, as should Keyanthae Graham & Corey Stillwell. 

The Devils kick the season off with a favorable Non-Conference Schedule, and should head into the Tuscola game with a 3-0 record. It Is very possible they are 5-1 heading into their Oct. 11th contest vs SMC foe Hayesville at home. Playing Hayesville And Murphy in back-to-back weeks will be the toughest stretch of the Devils Schedule. 

As far as competing for a conference title, it all comes down to the skill players. It is TBD who will answer The call and become “the guy” on offense for the Maroon Machine, and their Conference title hopes fall on that guy’s shoulders.