The North Atlanta Warriors are coming off of a 5 and 5 season in 2018 that saw the program reach its best record in years. This year, the Warriors are looking to build off of that success with an even stronger finish this season. Here’s a look at five players who are primed to help make that happen in 2019. 

Wiley Hartley, Senior Quarterback

Success in football starts at quarterback, so it’s fitting that this list starts off with the quarterback as well. 6 foot 3 signal caller Wiley Hartley is returning for his senior season, and is hoping for his best gridiron campaign yet. Hartley, who has received scholarship offers from schools like Campbell, Tennessee State, and Southeast Missouri State, is coming off a strong 2018 that saw him throw for 1,683 yards and 20 touchdowns versus just 7 interceptions in 9 games of action. Hartley is also a threat on the ground, and his 214 yards rushing against Grady serve as living proof of that. Another year under second-year coach Sean O’Sullivan should mean even better results for Hartley, and North Atlanta should certainly hope so. Hartley is the leader of this team, and the Warriors will only go as far as he takes them.

Wesley Horton, Senior Offensive/Defensive Lineman

North Atlanta’s premier protector on the offensive line is senior Wesley Horton. Horton, who has received offers from Coastal Carolina, Southern and Kennesaw State, is tasked with the crucial job of protecting Wiley Hartley’s blindside and keeping the pocket clean. Not only does Horton do this regularly, while putting several defensive ends on their backs in the process, but he is a core member of the defensive line, plugging up running holes and pressuring the quarterback. His positions aren’t known for putting up huge statistics or getting all the glory, but Horton is as important to the Warriors as any player on the field. He played only 4 of 10 games last season due to injury, but a healthy Horton this year should pay huge dividends for the Warriors on both sides of the ball.

Tre’ Mason, Junior Wide Receiver

With the loss of 848 yard, 13 touchdown receiver Justin Sanders from last season, the Warriors find themselves with some big shoes to fill at the position in 2019. One player who fits the Sanders mold is junior receiver Tre’ Mason. Mason has similar size to Sanders at 5 foot 8 inches and 170 pounds, and he has the same game changing speed that the now-departed Sanders brought to the offense last year. Mason made some big plays in the Grady game, hauling in a 36 yard pass and running for a 32 yard gain. While it’s a small sample size, Week 1 showed that Mason has the ability to make some huge plays this year, and him and senior Trey Harris should make for an exciting duo of Warrior pass-catchers.

Davis Bell, Senior Linebacker

The leader of North Atlanta’s defensive unit is senior linebacker Davis “Diesel” Bell. Bell was limited to just six games of action last year, but has already started off his season with a bang in 2019, with an interception that shifted the momentum of the entire game in the Grady season opener. A hulking presence in the middle of the field, Bell is tasked with stopping the run and locking up intermediate passing lanes. The Warriors defense is in much better shape with Bell on the field, and his absence last year really hurt them down the stretch. With Bell back to full strength, the Warriors should see a spike in defensive performance in 2019.

T.K. Mack, Senior Running Back

North Atlanta’s bread and butter on offense is undoubtedly the legs of both the aforementioned Wiley Hartley and senior back T.K. Mack. This gameplan was on full display vs. Grady, with Mack and Hartley combining to run for 512 yards and six  touchdowns, with 298 of those yards and four of those touchdowns belonging to Mack. A bruising, downfield runner, Mack bursts through running lanes and punishes opposing defenders with brute physicality. He averaged almost 10 yards per carry versus Grady, showing his big play ability. Look for North Atlanta to again make Mack the lifeblood of their offense in 2019.

Five players to watch. And five more reasons to root for this year’s Warrior football team.