Providence Day welcomes a season of heavy expectations BY LANGSTON WERTZ JR. AUGUST 07, 2022
Providence Day School won the N.C. Independent Schools Division I state championship last season and returns 16 starters from that team.
That’s probably enough, all on its own, to install the Chargers as the favorite to win another state championship and become the first team in school history to win back-to-back football titles.
But when junior quarterback Jadyn Davis transferred back to Providence Day — where he became a national middle school sensation a few years ago — the expectations for the Chargers drastically changed.
All of the sudden, coach Chad Grier’s team morphed from a fledgling state power into a team that could be ranked in a few national polls this fall.
“I’m not going to shy away from it,” Grier said. “On paper, it’s the best team I’ve ever had. And I’ve had some good ones.”
Grier is 103-21 in his career and has won five state titles. He’s sent more than 50 players onto college, many at the Power 5 level, and in 2014, his son Will — now a quarterback with the Dallas Cowboys — was named national Gatorade player of the year.
“I’ve been blessed to be around a lot of great players and kids,” Chad Grier said, “but this team? We have a lot of talent. Like any high school, especially one our size, we have got to stay healthy. We’re not very deep. But we can put a group out there that I think can play with anybody, literally.”
At least 10 Chargers already have Power 5 offers, including Davis, who received two from Georgia and Alabama when he was in 8th grade. Davis played two high school seasons at Catawba Ridge High in Fort Mill, S.C., before he returned to Charlotte this season.
247 Sports ranks Davis as the No. 9 overall player in the class of 2024 and the No. 2 prospect at quarterback. His two wide receivers are both high major recruits, too. Channing Godwin is the No. 16 national prospect at his position and Jordan Shipp is No. 45. And senior all-state linebacker Liam Groulx, who also plays tight end, was MVP of the state championship game last season.
“We might throw to set up the pass this year,” Grier said with a laugh.
On defense, the Chargers return seven starters from a group that allowed 17 points per game. Among the returnees are all-state senior linebacker Keyaan Abdul-Rahim, who had 182 tackles, and all-state junior defensive back Brody Barnhardt, who had 100 tackles and six interceptions.
“We can be as good as we want to be,” Davis said. “This team is capable of achieving all of the our goals, which (are) winning conference, going undefeated and winning the state championship on Nov. 18. We just have to compete to our standard, don’t play down to any competition and follow coach Grier’s lead, because he’s leading us in the right direction.”
INSIDE LOOK: PROVIDENCE DAY CHARGERS
Head Coach: Chad Grier (3rd season at Providence Day)
2021 Record: 8-3
Returning Starters: 16
Returning Lettermen: 21
Key Returning Starters: Josh Holl, Sr., OL (6-6, 305); Tyson Moorer, Sr., OL (6-3, 285); Aidan Cantrell, Sr., OL (6-1, 210); Chase Balzer, Sr., OL (6-6, 265); Jordan Shipp, Jr., WR (6-1, 190); Channing Goodwin, Jr., WR/DB (6-0, 180); Jayden Hollar, Sr., WR (6-3, 192); Chris Peal, Sr., DB/RB (6-2, 194); Liam Groulx, Sr., TE/LB (6-0, 215); Carson Parker, Sr., DL (6-1, 285); Martin Hare, Sr., DL (5-11, 275); Braxton Winston, So., DB (6-0, 170); Keyaan Abdul-Rahim, Sr., LB (5-11, 205); Brody Barnhardt, Jr., DB (6-0, 182); Sydney McCorkle, Sr., K (5-6, 150); David Sanders, So., OL (6-6, 250); Jake Porter, Sr., K (5-11, 165); Lukas Santwier, Jr., LB (5-9, 180).
Fresh Faces: Jadyn Davis, Jr., QB (6-1, 194); Aidan Ray, So., LB/RB (6-0, 150); Kyle Van Dam, Jr., LB/TE (6-1, 175); Pruett McCoy, Jr., DB/WR (5-11, 150); Austin Nelson, So., LB/RB (5-7, 160); Miles Funderburk, Fr., OL (6-0, 275); Aidan Gallos, Fr., RB (5-9, 165).
Providence Day School won the N.C. Independent Schools Division I state championship last season and returns 16 starters from that team.
That’s probably enough, all on its own, to install the Chargers as the favorite to win another state championship and become the first team in school history to win back-to-back football titles.
But when junior quarterback Jadyn Davis transferred back to Providence Day — where he became a national middle school sensation a few years ago — the expectations for the Chargers drastically changed.
All of the sudden, coach Chad Grier’s team morphed from a fledgling state power into a team that could be ranked in a few national polls this fall.
“I’m not going to shy away from it,” Grier said. “On paper, it’s the best team I’ve ever had. And I’ve had some good ones.”
Grier is 103-21 in his career and has won five state titles. He’s sent more than 50 players onto college, many at the Power 5 level, and in 2014, his son Will — now a quarterback with the Dallas Cowboys — was named national Gatorade player of the year.
“I’ve been blessed to be around a lot of great players and kids,” Chad Grier said, “but this team? We have a lot of talent. Like any high school, especially one our size, we have got to stay healthy. We’re not very deep. But we can put a group out there that I think can play with anybody, literally.”
At least 10 Chargers already have Power 5 offers, including Davis, who received two from Georgia and Alabama when he was in 8th grade. Davis played two high school seasons at Catawba Ridge High in Fort Mill, S.C., before he returned to Charlotte this season.
247 Sports ranks Davis as the No. 9 overall player in the class of 2024 and the No. 2 prospect at quarterback. His two wide receivers are both high major recruits, too. Channing Godwin is the No. 16 national prospect at his position and Jordan Shipp is No. 45. And senior all-state linebacker Liam Groulx, who also plays tight end, was MVP of the state championship game last season.
“We might throw to set up the pass this year,” Grier said with a laugh.
On defense, the Chargers return seven starters from a group that allowed 17 points per game. Among the returnees are all-state senior linebacker Keyaan Abdul-Rahim, who had 182 tackles, and all-state junior defensive back Brody Barnhardt, who had 100 tackles and six interceptions.
“We can be as good as we want to be,” Davis said. “This team is capable of achieving all of the our goals, which (are) winning conference, going undefeated and winning the state championship on Nov. 18. We just have to compete to our standard, don’t play down to any competition and follow coach Grier’s lead, because he’s leading us in the right direction.”
INSIDE LOOK: PROVIDENCE DAY CHARGERS
Head Coach: Chad Grier (3rd season at Providence Day)
2021 Record: 8-3
Returning Starters: 16
Returning Lettermen: 21
Key Returning Starters: Josh Holl, Sr., OL (6-6, 305); Tyson Moorer, Sr., OL (6-3, 285); Aidan Cantrell, Sr., OL (6-1, 210); Chase Balzer, Sr., OL (6-6, 265); Jordan Shipp, Jr., WR (6-1, 190); Channing Goodwin, Jr., WR/DB (6-0, 180); Jayden Hollar, Sr., WR (6-3, 192); Chris Peal, Sr., DB/RB (6-2, 194); Liam Groulx, Sr., TE/LB (6-0, 215); Carson Parker, Sr., DL (6-1, 285); Martin Hare, Sr., DL (5-11, 275); Braxton Winston, So., DB (6-0, 170); Keyaan Abdul-Rahim, Sr., LB (5-11, 205); Brody Barnhardt, Jr., DB (6-0, 182); Sydney McCorkle, Sr., K (5-6, 150); David Sanders, So., OL (6-6, 250); Jake Porter, Sr., K (5-11, 165); Lukas Santwier, Jr., LB (5-9, 180).
Fresh Faces: Jadyn Davis, Jr., QB (6-1, 194); Aidan Ray, So., LB/RB (6-0, 150); Kyle Van Dam, Jr., LB/TE (6-1, 175); Pruett McCoy, Jr., DB/WR (5-11, 150); Austin Nelson, So., LB/RB (5-7, 160); Miles Funderburk, Fr., OL (6-0, 275); Aidan Gallos, Fr., RB (5-9, 165).