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This year’s Nansemond River team will be without several key names who helped the Warriors reach the Region 5 Semifinals last season. The Warriors fell 34-14 to the eventual 5A Champion Maury Commodores, finishing the season 9-3, with other losses to King’s Fork and Indian River.

Still, head coach Alonzo Ricks says the foundation they laid for the young warriors is unmatched, and he hopes that this foundation will take the team to the next level. 

“Those young men have been staples and mainstays in the program, so to not see their faces out here with us, it’s a little shell-shocked. The young men that we have out here are doing things well, and they’re progressing, and I’m excited to see how it’s gonna be this year,” Ricks said.

OFFENSE

Nansemond River will line up in their familiar spread offense again this season. Although some names will be different, the philosophy will remain the same—Stand Together. Last season, the Warriors averaged 39 points on offense and will likely need to improve on that average to advance further in the postseason.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Nansemond River will look slightly different at the line of scrimmage on offense, with only one returning starter from last year’s Warrior team. James Lemer will not only lead this line, but he will also help solidify the defensive line. 

“We got a platoon. It’s kind of like hockey shifts right now,” Ricks said about the unit’s depth.

QUARTERBACK

The Warrior will have to replace the dynamic ability of Alkendric Overton, who threw for 2,197 yards and accounted for 455 yards on the ground. Nansemond River looks to I.C. Norcom transfer Tyrell Grant Jr to fill that void. At 6’1”, 185 lbs, Grant can flat-out spin the football, giving the Warriors a deep threat that will keep opposing secondaries on their heels. Grant can also get vertical in the running game as well. 

“He can do some of the same things [as Overton],” Ricks said. “Watching him with the timing, with our receiving core, and even the mesh point with our backs, it all works out well.”

RUNNING BACK

Three-year starter Melvin Brown will tote the rock for the Warriors. Brown is coming off a 2023 season that saw him average 10.2 yards per carry on the ground and collect just under 600 yards while splitting carries with Nick Grier. With a young offensive line, Brown must rely on his experience and physicality to find or even create his running lanes. Junior Matthew Shodunke, who has been in the Warrior program since eighth grade, will likely split carries with Brown.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Taivon Douglas will come into the season as WR1, taking over for now JMU Duke Emmanuel Ezegou, who led the Warriors with over 600 yards receiving and seven touchdowns. Douglas finished the 2023 campaign with just under 500 yards receiving and nine scores. Ricks is looking for senior Karon Madison to also play a significant role in the passing game.

“I can go on and on about the young man that we have out there on our edges, who can do some things,” Ricks said. With an arm talent under center, the receiving core will need just a few steps of separation to give Grant a window to drop the ball to them.

DEFENSE

The Warriors’ intensity starts on defense. While the defensive unit finished the 2023 season with 18 sacks and over 40 tackles for loss, it allowed an average of just 20 points per game. In 2024, the defense will need to apply more pressure to push this young team further into the postseason. 

DEFENSIVE LINE

The Warrior also will lean on Lemar’s experience with the defense. ‘He’s our he’s our go-to energy guy, and he’s gonna be our leader in the trenches, down low and I mean offensive line, defense line, that’s the guy, and the guys feed off him,” Ricks says of Lemar. “He coaches his teammates. They respond to him well, and he leads by example.”

LINEBACKERS

Juniors JKari Colden and Travis Freeman will set up in the middle of the formation. Colden finished 2023 with over 30 solo tackles. Ricks says they will have some packages calling on Nigel Grier at the backer position. 

SECONDARY

On the back end, Ricks says he has one of the best safeties in the area, Jeremy Lyons. Lyons can move up in run support and fall back in coverage, which is much needed considering some of the run-heavy teams Nansemond will face. Senior Rajae Jones and junior Tavion Douglas will also be out on an island for the Warriors.