Wide receiver Ny Carr , is committed to Georgia and is one of the state ’ s top prospects .
Carr caught 62 passes last year , including 11 in the state semifinal . His 105 career pass receptions already rank No . 6 in Packer history .
But the Colquitt receiving corps also has depth , with senior Zy Williams returning after catching 35 balls last year .
Fellow seniors Markese Wilson and Jaden Fowler also give opposing defense plenty to be concerned about .
Colquitt County did lose to graduation running back Charlie Pace , who rushed for 3,026 yards and 36 touchdowns in his career .
But Calhoun and offensive coordinator John Cooper like their junior tandem of Ramsey Dennis , who rushed for 373 yards and three touchdowns last season , and Day ’ Shawn Brown , who carried 56 times for 298 yards and five scored in 2022 .
“ They got a lot of playing time last year and that was the plan ,” Cooper said . “ And they are coming on . I think we will have a 1-2 punch .” The offensive line returns three starters , including senior tackle Ja ’ Quavian “ Turk ” Daniels , who has started 35 straight games for the Packers and has received college offers .
He has moved from right tackle to the left side this season .
Center Jay ’ Den Williams and guard Ja ’ Nas Daniels also return .
Taking over one of the guard positions will be Khalil Collins , who got significant playing time as a sophomore last year .
Xavier Nickerson , who missed much of last year with injuries , will move into the right tackle spot .
Bryce Giddens , a former All-State Colquitt County center who is back for his second season as the Packers offensive line coach , has high expectations for his 2023 group .
“ They all five understand what everybody is doing on every play ,” Giddens said . “ They know the big picture .
“ They know their job first , of course , but they know what the guy next to him is responsible for too .”
When the Packers offense stalls , Colquitt will turn to junior Brett Fitzgerald to try to tack on three points .
The younger brother of former Colquitt County and current Florida State kicker Ryan Fitzgerald , Brett has converted 110-of-113 extra point attempts and 20-of-25 field goal attempts over the last two seasons .
He is taking aim at the school records of 324 kicking points , 171 extra points and 51 field goals , all held by his older brother .
Fitzgerald also is likely to handle the kickoffs and punting as well .
Jack Luttrell , who left Colquitt County in December to join the University of Tennessee football team , was the Packers punter last season .
Battling for the starting snapper duties replacing Will Tapscott are Logan Morris and Chason Glenn .
The biggest question marks are on defense , where just three starters return , and only one of them is expected to be in the same position this season .
“ We ’ ll be a work in progress as these guys mature ,” defensive coordina-
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8 2023 SOUTH GEORGIA FOOTBALL