25 Teams in 25 Days: Young Ocean Springs looks to build on run of success

The Ocean Springs football team has become one of the more consistent programs on the Coast in the five years that head coach Ryan Ross has been on the job.

In 2016, the Greyhounds have the task of building on that success while replacing many of the key players who helped the team to a 19-6 mark over the last two years.

“The class we graduated last year played a lot of football together,” Ross said. “I think it’s basically getting out there and getting some games under our belt. I think we’re as athletic as we’ve been, maybe more.”

One position where Ocean Springs will be more athletic this season is at quarterback, where junior Malcolm Magee takes over for Drew Windham, who started the last two years and provided stability at the position.

Magee will also see time in the secondary on defense, where he made a significant contribution last season.

“Malcolm, he’s very athletic,” Ross said. “He’s got a good head on his shoulders. I think he understands everything that’s going on.”

While Magee is more of a running threat than Windham, he’ll still be looking for senior receiver Austin Williams down field. Williams is a 6-foot-3, 210 Mississippi State commit who caught 56 passes for 928 yards and seven touchdowns a year ago.

Williams, who is one of only two starters back on offense, is confident that Magee will fit in well behind center.

“He’s a leader, always has been,” Williams said. “You can tell from his personality. He’ll let you know he’s in charge of something.”

Senior receiver Davontay Keys and senior tight end Peyton Sams will also be receiving targets for Ocean Springs this year, but Williams will be the focus of opposing defenses all season.

A pair of seniors began fall camp at the top of the depth chart at running back in Travis Pugh and Yasim Simpson. Pugh ran 37 times for 144 yards and four touchdowns last season.

Ocean Springs is replacing the production of Matthew Pleasant, who accounted for 1,196 yards and nine touchdowns last season.

“We’ve got four or five guys we can kind of rotate in there in our split backfield,” Ross said. “I feel good about them. They’ve done a good job as far as learning what to do, stepping in there and hopefully being physical.”

Right tackle Thaddeus King, who stands 6-foot-3, 263 pounds, will be the leader of the offensive line as the only returning starter. Six-foot-3, 265-pound Christian Barnes will take over at the left tackle spot. Senior Andrew Lee and junior James Fahnestock will be the two guards and senior Caleb Messer is at center.

Ocean Springs is slightly more experienced on defense with four starters back – senior defensive end Blake Westbrook, senior nose tackle Caullin Lewis, senior linebacker Brandon Smith and junior defensive back Aaron Stovall.

“We’ve got a few defensive linemen back that have got some experience and played well for us,” Ross said. “The linebacker group is going to be new along with some of the secondary. The way everybody tries to throw the ball, we’ve got to get settled in there in a hurry and figure out our strengths.”

Senior defensive end Taft Dixon (6-1, 215) is the new starter on the three-man defensive line.

Jyquezz Cook-Turner, junior Isaiah Hughes and junior Brandon Walker are the new names in the linebacking corps.

Senior Eric Stovall, junior Ethan Ramsey and junior Lance Wright are the new starters in the secondary.

“Our defense has got to set the tone,” Williams said. “When they do make a stop, we’ve got to make sure to kill the clock.”

This story was originally published August 7, 2016 at 5:00 AM with the headline "25 Teams in 25 Days: Young Ocean Springs looks to build on run of success."