The Union Yellowjackets enter the 2023 football season with high expectations and a ton of returning starters.
The Yellowjackets went 8-3 last season and won the Division 5-3A championship with an overtime win over Morton. But the season came to a quick end the next week with an overtime loss to Wesson.
The Yellowjackets moved down to Class 2A and are considered one of the favorites to contend in North 2A this year.
“I don’t think it’s a secret, we have most of our offensive guys back in some key areas like offensive line, quarterback and receiver,” Union coach Jordan Wren said. “We are going to be full of two and three-year starters on offense but we have shuffled some of those kids around on defense. We were really concerned about the front seven but have moved some kids around and made that group a lot older. We aren’t going to talk about what could be, we are just going to worry about what we have on week one. But yes, there are some high expectations for this season.”
The Yellowjackets return the majority of their offense from last season. Quarterback U’Darrian Hickman is back after throwing for 886 yards and 11 TDs last year and will be backed up by Mason Tucker and Myilan Moore. At running back, senior Xavier Boler had a big year rushing with 1,166 yards on 189 carries along with Ky’Yon Harris who had 427 yards on 67 carries. Also expected to get carries is freshman Quinn Harris and junior Vaiden Bouder.
Also returning for the Yellowjackets is Keon Hutchins, who is getting Division I interest after catching 32 passes for 621 yards last year. He will be backed up by Zi Buckley while Mason Tucker, Nathan Boone and Moore will be at the slot receiver. At H-back and tight end will be Tucker and Lane Dolan.
On the offensive line, senior Michael Gibson (6-2, 265) returns at tackle and is getting plenty of junior college interest while senior Jaylin Rogers (6-3, 270) will be at guard and is also getting Division I interest. They will be joined by senior Blane Cooper (5-10, 275), senior Alec Pintowski (6-0, 305) and sophomore Jacob Freeman (6-0, 230).
“I think this group reminds me of the group we had my first year,” Wren said. “I think it’s going to be a lot of pick your poison. If people want to load the box, it will be okay. I think we can throw it around and have some talented receivers. If they want to press us and take away the pass, we have a good offensive line and talented running backs. I think it will give us a lot of opportunities to do what the defense gives us. I think people will try to shut Keon down and we have to be prepared for that.”
On defense, junior Donovan Boler will be at nose guard and backed up by Weston Gore. At defensive end will be Aidan Davis and Jordan Smith. At outside linebacker will be Kale Grayson and Ky’Yon Harris while Cameron Hickman will also get reps. At inside linebacker will be Hayden Dolan and Vaiden Boler.
At strong safety will be Quinn Harris while Omari Holliday will be at free safety. At cornerback will be Kobe Hutchins, Brady Casey, Jay McClelland and Myilan Moore.
“This group on defense reminds me a lot of my first year in the secondary,” Wren said. “They are young but athletic. I actually think they are more athletic than when I got here but they are inexperienced. But that’s why we do what we do in the summer and try to take care of some of that stuff. This group runs to the ball well and are athletic and long. They can all run and that’s what you want in the secondary. The front seven is going to be really tough to run against. They have given us fits up front in practice and I would assume that they are going to give other people fits. I think this year it’s more about getting the right people in the right seats and I think we have done a good job of that as a staff .”
On special teams, Samuel Alawine will handle the kicking duties while Hayden Dolan will be the long snapper and Myilan Moore will be the holder.
The Yellowjackets will in the Division 4-2A this season with Philadelphia, Sebastopol, J.Z. George and Eupora.
“It’s a totally new district but I’m familiar with most of them,” Wren said. “We played Eupora my first year and I think they are a lot like Union. Philadelphia is going to be really good but I would like to think that we can compete for it. I hope it will be a lot like last year and the last game of the year will determine a lot when we get there.”
Union has non-division contest with Choctaw Central, Enterprise, Leake Academy, Newton County, Lake and Forest and open the regular season on Aug 25.
| Union High School Football roster |
|
| No. |
Name |
Yr. |
| 0 |
Aidan Davis |
So. |
| 1 |
Ky’Yon Harris |
Sr. |
| 2 |
Xavier Boler |
Sr. |
| 3 |
Quinn Harris |
Fr. |
| 4 |
Omari Holliday |
Jr. |
| 5 |
Keon Hutchins |
Sr. |
| 6 |
Samuel Alawine |
Sr. |
| 7 |
Nathan Boone |
Sr. |
| 8 |
Myilan Moore |
So. |
| 9 |
Hayden Dolan |
Sr. |
| 10 |
U’Darrian Hickman |
Jr. |
| 11 |
Zi Buckley |
So. |
| 12 |
Kale Grayson |
Sr. |
| 13 |
Mason Tucker |
Jr. |
| 14 |
Jay McClelland |
So. |
| 18 |
Kobe Hutchins |
So. |
| 20 |
Brady Casey |
Sr. |
| 21 |
Vaiden Bouder |
Jr. |
| 24 |
Chance Harmon |
So. |
| 25 |
Wade Norton |
Sr. |
| 28 |
Cameron Campbell |
So. |
| 30 |
Jake Goforth |
Fr. |
| 32 |
Kevin Hall |
Fr. |
| 33 |
Cash Pace |
So. |
| 34 |
Turner Johnson |
So. |
| 35 |
Jacob Smith |
Jr. |
| 40 |
Tristan Williamson |
Jr. |
| 41 |
Cody Whittington |
Jr. |
| 42 |
Garrett Norton |
So. |
| 44 |
Jordan Smith |
So. |
| 48 |
Semaj Burnside |
Fr. |
| 50 |
Michael Gibson |
Sr. |
| 51 |
Jacob Freeman |
So. |
| 52 |
Jaylin Rogers |
Sr. |
| 54 |
Luke Carnell |
Fr. |
| 55 |
John Perry |
Fr. |
| 56 |
Blane Cooper |
Sr. |
| 58 |
Will Chaney |
So. |
| 60 |
Zander French |
Fr. |
| 61 |
Christian Buffington |
Fr. |
| 62 |
Brennan Hamm |
Fr. |
| 63 |
Cameron Hickman |
Sr. |
| 64 |
Cooper Warren |
Fr. |
| 65 |
Xander French |
|
| 70 |
Joshua Parker |
Fr. |
| 72 |
Weston Gore |
Jr. |
| 75 |
Donovan Boler |
Jr. |
| 78 |
Kenshay Coleman |
So. |
| 79 |
Alec Pientowski |
Sr. |
| 80 |
Ken Rogers |
Fr. |
| 81 |
Lane Dolan |
Jr. |
| 82 |
Ben Leach |
Fr. |
| 84 |
Riley Gregory |
Fr. |
| 85 |
Reece McCarty |
So. |
Quick Facts
Mascot: Yellowjackets
Head coach: Jordan Wren, 4th season
Career Record: 22-13, 11-3 in region play
Playoff Record: 3-3
Assistant coaches:
Clay Pope, defensive coordinator; Wade Pierce, OL, run coordinator; Taylor Quick, DL/Strength; Jay Cassell, secondary
Region: 4-2A — Eupora, J.Z. George, Sebastopol and Philadelphia
Overall School Record: 467-461-26
Overall District/Region Record: 114-111
Overall Playoff Record: 17-18
Players to Watch
Ky’Yon Harris — Sr., RB/LB
Keon Hutchins — Sr., WR
Jaylin Rogers — Sr., OL
U’Darrian Hickman — Jr., QB
Michael Gibson —, Sr., OL
Mason Tucker — Jr., TE/WR.
| Projected Depth Chart |
|
| Quarterbacks |
Nose Guard |
| U’Darrian Hickman |
Donovan Boler |
| Mason Tucker |
Weston Gore |
| Myilan Moore |
|
| |
Defensive End |
| Offensive Line |
Aidan Davis |
| Michael Gibson |
Jordan Smith |
| Jaylin Rogers |
|
| Blane Cooper |
Outside Linebacker |
| Alec Pintowski |
Kale Grayson |
| Jacob Freeman |
Ky’Yon Harris |
| |
Cameron Hickman |
| Running Backs |
|
| Xavier Boler |
Inside Linebacker |
| Ky’Yon Harris |
Hayden Dolan |
| Quinn Harris |
Vaiden Boler |
| Vaiden Bouder |
|
| |
Safety |
| Wide Receiver |
Quinn Harris |
| Keon Hutchins |
Omari Holliday |
| Zi Buckley |
|
| |
Cornerbacks |
| Slot Receiver |
Kobe Hutchins |
| Mason Tucker |
Brady Casey |
| Nathan Boone |
Jay McClelland |
| Myilan Moore |
Myilan Moore |
| |
|
| H-Back/Tight End |
Long Snapper |
| Mason Tucker |
Hayden Dolan |
| Lane Dolan |
|
| |
Holder |
| Punter/Place Kicker |
Myilan Moore |
| Samuel Alawine |
|
3 Things to Watch
1. The Yellowjackets are loaded on offense and return a majority of the starters from last season. Running back Xavier Boler returns after rushing for more than 1,000 yards last year and coach Jordan Wren expects senior Ky’Yon Harris to have a bigger role in the offense. Senior wide receiver Keon Hutchins is getting Division I interest after a breakout season last year, putting opposing defenses in a bind and have to “pick their poison,” according to coach Jordan Wren.
2. While the Yellowjackets are loaded on offense, the defense is a different story. Wren said he has moved people around to get more experience on defense. How the defensive unit matures could play a huge part in how the season goes for the Yellowjackets.
3. Union will play in Division 4-2A and compete with Philadelphia. The two teams are expected to battle not only for the 4-2A crown but also for the North 2A title as well.
