High School Football
New Camden Wildcat QB Transfers In
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
There is suddenly a whole lot more intrigue surrounding the 2026 season for the Camden County Wildcats.
Just days before the 2026 Spring Game against Columbia High School, Columbia’s starting quarterback is reportedly making the move to Camden County.
According to reports out of Lake City, Class of 2027 quarterback Xavier Collins is transferring from Columbia High School to Camden County and participated in his final practice with the Tigers in the middle of May.
That is a significant pickup for the Wildcats. Collins has been a three-year starter at Columbia and has already put together an impressive high school résumé.
Over the last three seasons, he has thrown for more than 3,500 yards and 35 touchdowns while becoming one of the more experienced quarterbacks in the region.
The 6 foot 2, 185 pound signal caller is coming off the best season of his career. Last year at Columbia, Collins completed 140 of 249 passes for 2,033 yards and 16 touchdowns.
He also currently holds a college offer from Ave Maria University in southwest Florida.
The move also fills a major need for Camden County after the Wildcats lost quarterback William Jackson during the offseason.
Jackson transferred to Evans High School after putting together a strong junior campaign for Camden in 2025.
Last season, Jackson completed 64 percent of his passes for 1,923 yards, 24 touchdowns, and only 5 interceptions. He also added more than 250 rushing yards and 3 scores on the ground.
So now, Camden enters the Tucker Pruitt era with a new quarterback under center and a player who already brings extensive varsity experience to the offense.
For Camden County fans, it is another fascinating storyline as the Wildcats continue adjusting to a new coaching staff, new systems, and now a new quarterback leading the offense into the 2026 season.
And based on the numbers Collins put up at Columbia, Camden may have landed a player capable of making an immediate impact.
Camden County Wildcat 2026 Hall Of Fame
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The legends of Camden County athletics are about to take center stage once again.
The Camden County High School Athletics Hall of Fame has announced its second induction class, and it is a group filled with iconic names, championship pedigree, and unforgettable memories that helped shape the rich tradition of Wildcat athletics.
The 2026 induction ceremony is scheduled for June 20 at the Camden County High School Fine Arts Building, and for longtime Wildcats fans, the evening promises to be both a celebration and a walk through decades of sports history.
This year’s class honors three legendary individuals along with two state championship teams that helped establish Camden County as one of Georgia’s premier athletic programs.
Among the headliners is the late J.C. Outlaw, better known throughout southeast Georgia as “The Voice of the Cats.”
For nearly four decades, Outlaw’s voice became synonymous with Camden County athletics. Beginning in 1982, he broadcast Wildcat football and baseball games and became a fixture in the community through his work with the Camden County Quarterback Club and youth sports.
For generations of Camden fans, Friday nights simply sounded different because of Outlaw. Whether the Wildcats were making a playoff run or battling through the regular season, his passion and energy brought the action to life for listeners across the region.
His induction serves as recognition not just for his broadcasting career, but for the impact he had on the culture surrounding Camden County athletics.
The class also includes Tyrone “Ty” Jones, one of the greatest football players to ever come out of Camden County.
Jones built a remarkable professional career in the Canadian Football League after starring at Camden County High School and later at Southern University.
Jones became a CFL legend during a nine year career that included multiple All-Star selections, Grey Cup championships, and a Most Outstanding Defensive Player award.
He still holds Winnipeg Blue Bombers franchise records and remains one of the most decorated defensive players in CFL history.
His journey from St. Marys to professional football stardom remains one of the greatest success stories in Camden County sports history.
Joining Jones in the Hall of Fame class is Kenneth “Ken” Ellis, another football standout whose career reached the highest levels of the NFL.
Ellis, a former Green Bay Packers star and Packers Hall of Fame inductee, earned All Pro honors and multiple Pro Bowl selections during his professional career.
Ellis’ accomplishments helped pave the way for future generations of Camden athletes dreaming of playing football at the next level. His success on Sundays brought national recognition to southeast Georgia long before Camden County became known statewide for its football dominance.
The Hall of Fame class will also honor two championship teams that occupy special places in Camden County sports lore.
The 1999 Camden County boys track and field team captured the Georgia High School Association Class AAAA state championship and cemented itself as one of the top athletic teams in school history.
Meanwhile, the legendary 2003 Camden County football team will finally receive its place in the Hall of Fame after delivering one of the greatest seasons ever seen in Georgia high school football.
Coached by Jeff Herron, the Wildcats finished a perfect 15-0 season and captured the program’s first state championship by defeating Valdosta 21-7 in the Class 5A title game.
That team’s dominance was staggering. Camden allowed only 47 total points all season and helped launch what would become one of the most successful football dynasties in the state.
For many Wildcat fans, the 2003 championship remains one of the defining moments in Camden County sports history.
The evening will begin with a VIP and honorees reception from 5:00 to 6:15 p.m., followed by the induction ceremony from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Tickets are currently available for both the VIP experience and the ceremony itself.
More than anything, the event represents an opportunity for the Camden County community to celebrate the athletes, teams, and voices that helped build the tradition Wildcats fans still cherish today.
Round Table Knight
By: Jeff Doke
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
It is a common turn of phrase to say that someone that is ahead of others in their chosen field is “head and shoulders above the rest.”
Usually, this is a figurative statement. In the case of #88 for the Frederica Academy Knights football team, it is literal as well.
John Cannon Wessel – known as JC to everyone but his mother and his quarterback – is a rising junior that is drawing attention from sources local, regional, and national.
Entering his third year as a starter for the Frederica Knights, Wessel is building on a sophomore season that saw a significant statistical uptick from his freshman campaign.
After seeing action in 6 games his freshman year with 142 all-purpose yards, the 6’7” 225 lb. TE prospect more than doubled his stats with 338 yards on 18 receptions for 3 TDS over 12 games.
Not bad for someone sharing receiving time with Jaylen Baldwin, Jayden Gibson, and Braxton Sykes. Wessel puts a lot of that growth on the improved chemistry with Knights starting quarterback Stanton Beverly.
“Stanton and I are really good friends,” JC describes the relationship. “…The summer between freshman and sophomore year, we did a lot of work on just going to camps, and I learned a ton, just was trying to develop more and more.”
Add to that the fact that he hadn’t played football since Pop Warner, it’s no surprise that he’s noticeably working his way up the recruiting boards.
“I had played basketball the whole time,” says JC about his gap between time on the gridiron, “(but) I knew that I kinda wanted to try out football again just because my dad played football and see what I could do. I just started playing, and it was just super fun, and I loved the physicality of it.”
His family knows a thing or two about football. Not only did his uncle play for West Point after graduating from Colquitt County High School, his father Tadd Wessel won an Ivy League championship in 1995 with the Princeton Tigers. JC might just wind up following some of those footsteps.
As of mid-March, On3.com reports JC as having offers from Princeton as well as a dozen other D1 schools including 5 from the SEC, 4 from the ACC, and 2 from the Big 10.
With two seasons yet to play before graduation, JC hasn’t started narrowing down his choices yet, much less whether he actually wants to play past high school.
“I definitely have a lot interest in going that route, especially because my parents pushed me super hard towards that kind of path, but I have to take into account everything about the future and about my chances and about what I wanna actually do when I grow up,” says Wessel. “So as, as of right now, I have no idea, but hopefully as I go through high school, I’ll get a better understanding.”
The needle seems to be pointing in the collegiate ball route regardless. After earning all-region honors in his second season, words from his Head Coach Brandon Derrick are succinct and unmistakable; ”He’s only going to get better.”
With the schedule the Knights face in 2026, hopefully better happens sooner rather than later. Even though he understands that he’s not supposed to look past the next opponent, Wessel is making some exceptions to that rule.
“I’m looking forward to Charlton County because I haven’t played them…Stratford because we should have won that game last year…and Valwood because we hate them. Same for Bulloch.”
From a fan’s perspective, it’s hard to say he doesn’t have his priorities in order. The biggest payback he’s looking forward to is against the boys from the shores of Lake Sinclair.
”I don’t really remember that much of the (John Milledge) game. I was mad during the game. If we face them again in the playoffs, we’ve got a good chance this year.”
The Knights begin their 2026 March to Mercer with a home opener against Bethesda Academy on August 14th.
A Pirates’ Farewell
By: Teddy Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Former Brunswick High School standout Darius “Big Play” Slay has announced his retirement from the National Football League after 13 seasons.
Slay was a 2nd round draft pick by the Detroit Lions in 2013—the 36th player chosen overall. He played for the Lions for seven seasons before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, where he played for five seasons and was instrumental in the Eagles victory in Super Bowl LIX, beating the Kansas City Chiefs, 40-22.
Slay was released by Philadelphia in March of 2025 and signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers but was released by the Steelers after 10 games of the 2025 season. He was claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Bills, but Slay elected not to join the Bills, hinting that retirement was eminent.
In 187 career games in the NFL, “Big Play” recorded 655 tackles, 163 pass breakups, 28 interceptions, and 5 defensive touchdowns, earning him six Pro Bowl selections.
At the height of Slay’s career, quarterbacks often opted not to challenge his prowess as a cornerback, instead throwing to receivers who were covered by other defensive players.
In his senior year of high school, Slay led the Brunswick High Pirates to a region championship (6-0, region record; 9-3, overall). In addition to playing cornerback for BHS, Slay also played running back, rushing for over 1300 yards and 15 touchdowns his senior season.
Even as a sophomore, Slay was ticketed for big plays, as he ran for 1100+ yards and scored 13 touchdowns.
After a playoff loss on the road during Slay’s sophomore season, I was descending the steps from the press box when an opposing fan stopped me. Even though BHS had lost, Slay had had a big game.
“That Slay kid,” the opposing fan said, “is only a sophomore?
“Yes, sir,” I confirmed, “only a sophomore.”
The opposing fan shook his head as he commented, “I hope we don’t play y’all the next two years!”
Slay was on pace his junior year for another 1000 yards rushing, but, unfortunately, his season was cut short after five games due to an injury.
Slay was also a multi-sport athlete at BHS, running track and lettering in basketball.
Following his stellar senior year in high school, Slay played two seasons as a defensive back at Itawamba Community College in Fulton, Mississippi, earning All-MACJC (Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges) honors both years.
After Itawamba, Slay went to Mississippi State for his final two years of college, where he recorded 64 tackles, six interceptions and two touchdowns. His defensive coordinator, Geoff Colllins, nicknamed him “Big Play Slay.” Slay was also chosen 2nd– team All-SEC following his senior season at MSU.
Slay has been married to the former Jennifer Williams since 2018. Jennifer is also an athlete, having played collegiate basketball at Southwestern Oklahoma State.
Slay announced his retirement on Instagram, saying, “Dear football, I wanna thank you for all you’ve done for me. I’ve been blessed to play the game I love since I was 5 yrs old. Football was my peace, my joy, everything.”
“It’s hard to say goodbye, but God has a new chapter for me and I’m ready to turn the page and start my new journey.
“To all my BigPlay fans, I will always appreciate the love and support y’all have given me. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Slay signed off by saying, “Just a kid from Brunswick, GA with BIG dreams.”
Thanks for all the memories, Big Play!
Southeast Bulloch Yellow Jackets New Hive Leader
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
After the resignation by Jared Zito as Head Coach at Southeast Bulloch, administration made the quick decision to name Defensive Coordinator Jason Anthony as Interim Head Coach.
Later Bulloch County announced that Anthony would be Head Coach at minimum through the 2026 football season.
Covering the Jackets for the last five years, I’ve been able to see firsthand the level of respect from the players, coaches, and community that Coach “Ant” has which has been incredible to see.
Anthony has been the defensive coordinator for Southeast Bulloch since 2021 leading the SEB Defense to new heights each season while also serving as the Head Coach for SEB Track and Field.
Having spent the past 18 years on the sidelines as an assistant coach, 16 of those as a defensive coordinator, Anthony is ready to take the next step and finally become Head Football Coach of his own program.
In multiple speaking engagements, Coach Ant has used the phrase “My Program, Our Team.” With the meaning that while he is in charge of the program and setting the standard of it, the team is not only his, but the player’s and the community’s as well.
Anytime you hear Coach Ant speak about this team, there’s one main focus that is abundantly clear…these kids. The players are the “why” behind every decision that Coach Ant and the staff makes.
Continuity on the staff has been high on Coach Ant’s list since taking over the SEB program. The majority of the coaching staff from the past year remains in place with Anthony Hammett, Donnie Carr, Jonathan Roddie will stay on as defensive staff members while Matt Smith stays on as tight ends coach.
Brandon Peterson will stay leading the offensive line and take over as offensive coordinator for the Jackets in 2026.
The other key piece staying in place is Randy Lee remaining as the Special Teams Coordinator and will move from Running Backs Coach to coaching the linebackers.
A couple of familiar faces return to the staff under Coach Anthony as former SEB standout and former receivers coach Rand Morgan returns to the staff in the same role. Brent Osborne also returns to the staff as the Director of Football Operations & Recruiting Coordinator.
There’s a new energy around the Southeast Bulloch Football program. Even though we’re still six months away from kickoff, there’s excitement around the program as they get introduced to Coach Anthony as the Head Coach.
The energy and passion that Ant brings to the program is unmistakable. The feeling of countless hours over the 18-year career building to become a head coach for Anthony is palpable when you feel the passion that Ant has for the program, his job, and his family.
While there are some that are still getting to know Coach Anthony, I can assure you that this is a homerun for Jackets Football. Obviously, everyone has seen the schematics that Ant brings to the table as one of the best defensive coordinators in the state, but there a whole new level that people are going to get introduced to…Jason Anthony as a leader.
Ant is an unquestioned leader and is an unbelievable molder of young men. A huge piece of the SEB Program is developing not only football players but developing young men to be exceptional human beings.
Personally, I can’t wait for the season to kick off to be able to begin the Jason Anthony Era of Jackets Football. There’s a new air around the Jackets program and the new breath seems to have new life into the program that will lead to even more success very soon.
The Welcome Wagon
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Camden County High School recently officially welcomed Tucker Pruitt as the new head football coach during an introductory ceremony that highlighted his vision for the Wildcats program, his extensive coaching background, and his commitment to developing student-athletes on and off the field.
Pruitt opened by thanking Superintendent Dr. Green, Principal Dr. Phillips, and Athletic Director Welton Coffey, noting the extensive behind-the-scenes work that goes into a major coaching hire.
He emphasized the importance of strong administration in building successful athletic programs and said he had been impressed with the organization and resources already in place at Camden.
After just a week on campus, Pruitt said he had already spent time in the weight room and meeting with coaches, praising both the structure of the program and the large number of athletes participating.
The new head coach acknowledged that leaving Appling County was difficult but said the opportunity to lead Camden County was one he could not pass up.
He described the position as one of the premier jobs in high school football and said it was an easy decision for him and his family, even after a recent move.
Pruitt also noted the challenges ahead, calling Region 1 one of the toughest regions in the country and comparing it to the SEC in terms of competition, resources, and coaching quality.
Rather than being intimidated, he said he is excited to embrace that challenge.
Pruitt outlined three core pillars that will define the Wildcats moving forward: discipline, accountability, and toughness.
He explained that discipline is about how the team approaches every detail, from weightlifting to practice, and that winning often comes down to avoiding mistakes.
Accountability will be reinforced through a team-based scoring system that tracks attendance, effort, discipline, and academics, with points awarded for grades and performance and deducted for missed workouts or disciplinary issues. Pruitt said this system will help him evaluate trust and commitment among players and instill championship-level standards.
Toughness, he said, remains central to football. Pruitt stressed both physical and mental toughness, emphasizing preparation for adversity and the importance of responding to setbacks during games.
He said Camden will strive to play a physical brand of football on both offense and defense, focusing on fundamentals, aggression, and consistent effort.
His goal is for opponents to feel the cumulative impact of that physicality over four quarters and recognize Camden as a program that plays hard and with purpose.
During a question-and-answer session, Pruitt detailed his coaching background, which began as the son of a high school coach and included playing at Valdosta State University on national championship teams.
His coaching career has included stops at Georgia Southern, Valdosta High School, Thompson High School, Coffee County, Lowndes, and Valdosta, where he won a state championship as offensive coordinator.
He served eight seasons as head coach at Fitzgerald, reaching the state semifinals or better six times, including a state championship, before leading Appling County to an 8-4 season and a region title in 2025.
Pruitt also discussed the Wildcats’ upcoming schedule, which includes non-region games against Brunswick, Glynn Academy, Benedictine, Ed White, Godby, and West Volusia, followed by region matchups with Lowndes, Richmond Hill, Valdosta, and Colquitt County.
He noted that scheduling has become increasingly competitive and that Camden is prepared to face top-level opponents.
When asked about defensive philosophy, Pruitt said his approach will be balanced and multiple, focused on stopping the run, limiting explosive plays, creating turnovers, and adapting weekly to opponents. He emphasized fundamentals over scheme and the importance of pressure and coverage working together.
Pruitt closed by expressing excitement about joining the Camden County community and building relationships with players, faculty, and fans.
He said his ultimate goal is to develop young men for life beyond football while producing a program the community can be proud of on Friday nights.
New Captain Talks Pirate Football
By: Teddy Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Glynn County Board of Education has hired Dr. Byron Slack to lead the Brunswick High School football program.
Dr. Slack succeeds Garrett Grady, who resigned as BHS head coach in December, after four years at the helm.
Dr. Slack recently sat down with me for an exclusive interview for the Southern Sports Edition.
“This is a program where there are already good players,” he said when asked what attracted him to Brunswick High.
“Not too many positions with a 9-3 record come open. I watched film on these guys and knew I would like to coach them.”
Slack comes to BHS after four years as head coach at Cook County, where he led the Hornets to four straight playoff appearances, including a semi-final appearance 2023.
The semis certainly sound good to Pirate Nation. Brunswick High has not made it past the second round of the playoffs since 1999 when Head Coach John Willis marched his Pirates—unbeaten—to the state championship game, only to lose to the Lowndes Vikings, 18-0.
Coach Slack compiled a 28-21 record at Cook County, and is 32-25 overall as a head coach.
Slack is originally from Anchorage, Alaska, but moved to Georgia going into high school. He is one of eight children, including a twin brother.
He and his wife Frances have one son, Zion, a senior at Middle Georgia.
Slack graduated from the University of West Georgia, where he played football and was a first-team All-American. He earned his Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University.
Slack has some 25 years of experience coaching at the high school level, starting as assistant coach at Dunwoody High School in 1996.
He also has experience in the college ranks, coaching two years at Minnesota State University, and three years at his alma mater, West Georgia.
In 2005, Slack accepted a coaching position at Camden County under Jeff Herron. He spent 13 years at Camden, first as the offensive line coach, then the defensive line coach, and ultimately, as defensive coordinator. He was on the staff of the Wildcats state championship teams of 2008 and 2009.
Slack also spent three years at Lowndes as Defensive Coordinator, which included a trip to the 7-A semi-finals in 2018, and a trip to the finals in 2019.
In 2020 (the Covid year), Slack accepted his first head coaching job, at Hillgrove where the Hawks finished with four wins and five losses.
In 2021, he became the Assistant Head Coach at Colquitt.
In 2022, Cook County tabbed him as its Head Coach.
When asked about his coaching staff, Slack said he hasn’t finalized it yet. “I have three or four guys I’m going to bring in,” he said. “The bulk of the staff will remain intact, but I may move some guys around.
“Coach Belker will return as offensive coordinator.” Belker, of course, has been instrumental in the Pirates putting up big numbers on offense.
“We will continue to run the spread,” Slack acknowledged. “We’ll run power and counter and take advantage of our two, one-thousand-yard rushers.”
“On defense,” Slack said, “we’ll be a 3-4 team, but we’ll be moving and slanting and bringing pressure from different spots.”
The Pirates have had trouble stopping the run between the tackles from time to time, but with Slack’s experience as a defensive coordinator, that may be a thing of the past.
When I asked Slack about the brawl with Gainesville, he didn’t shirk away from the question. “I’ve addressed it with the players,” he said, “and we’re going to own it. We’re going to own it, learn from it, and move on.”
“Everybody’s going to be watching this program,” he continued. “What a great opportunity it is to show that it was an isolated incident, and that’s not who we are. We’re going to prove to everybody we will win football games the right way.”
I believe the Pirates have the right man for the job.
Wayne County Yellow Jackets Hire New King Bee
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Wayne County has found a new leader in Jesup. The Wayne County Board of Education unanimously approved Superintendent Toni Williams’ nomination of Scott Roberts as the new head football coach for the Yellow Jackets.
Roberts comes to Jesup after a 1-9 season that saw the departure of former head coach John Mohring after a 0-5 start.
Athletic Director and Head Baseball Coach Justin McDonald took over as interim head coach. In his first game as interim head coach, McDonald led the Yellow Jackets to their first win since 2023 on the field.
John Mohring, who just accepted the defensive coordinator position at Parkview High School earlier this week, technically resigned mid-September after a 0-5 start.
In the 15 games under Mohring between 2024 and the beginning of 2025, Wayne County was winless on the field.
One caveat to that was the 2024 matchup with Appling County. Appling defeated Wayne on the field, but Appling County was forced to vacate wins for the 2024 season due to GHSA violations in regard to recruiting and an ineligible transfer player.
Scott Roberts comes to Jesup after 11 seasons in two stints (including the last 9 years) leading the Swainsboro Tigers program.
Roberts amassed an overall record of 92-43 in his 11 seasons in Swainsboro including a 75-36 record since taking over the Tigers most recently in 2017.
Roberts had made the Tigers and the GHSA State playoffs synonymous with a playoff appearance in every season since he took over Swainsboro in 2017.
The playoff streak includes 3 region titles along with 2 state championship game appearances in back-to-back years of 2022 and 2023 as well as a semi-final game showing in 2021.
Prior to taking over for the Tigers, Roberts spent the 2013-2016 seasons at Bainbridge High School as the offensive coordinator for the Bearcats.
While in Southwest Georgia, Roberts helped the Bearcats to three consecutive playoff appearances including a semifinal match-up in 2015.
He has spent virtually his entire coaching career in South Georgia with stops on staff at Fitzgerald, Cairo, Colquitt, Tift County and Washington County.
After many years of success for Wayne County that came to a rather abrupt end when Jaybo Shaw left after the 2023 season, Justin McDonald did an admiral job getting the first win in almost 2 years, as well as trying to keep the team together and reset the program for the future.
There is plenty of optimism on the field entering the “Roberts Era” and feels like a critical time for the Yellow Jacket program.
While there are many more wins expected, the crucial part of this hire seems to be off the field with the relationships around the program.
Wayne County is an exceptionally invested community that rallies around the Yellow Jackets, and while there were some questions around that piece of the equation with Roberts in Swainsboro, it will be arguably the most important piece to embrace the community to be able to find success again in Jesup.
Wayne County is a program that has the support to be successful on the field, and quite frankly, the Yellow Jackets are a program that makes the South Georgia area better when they are at their best.
Scott Roberts has won everywhere he’s been and looks to continue that in Jesup!
Camden’s Homerun Hire
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
After a month of unexpected change and uncertainty, Camden County believes it has found stability and direction in its football program with the hiring of Tucker Pruitt as the Wildcats’ new head coach.
Pruitt, one of the most successful coaches in South Georgia over the past decade, arrives in Kingsland following time as head coach at Appling County High School.
His hiring comes just weeks after Camden County was forced back into the coaching market following the sudden resignation of Jon Lindsey, who stepped down due to personal, unforeseen reasons shortly after being introduced as the program’s head coach.
Now, the Wildcats turn to a coach with a résumé defined by consistency, championships, and long-term program building.
Pruitt brings an 82–27 career record, including 60 wins since 2020, a total tied for the most among South Georgia coaches during that span.
He spent eight seasons at Fitzgerald High School, where he transformed an already proud program into a perennial state title contender.
Under his leadership, Fitzgerald reached five consecutive GHSA Class 2A semifinals, won the 2021 state championship, and finished as state runner-up in both 2020 and 2022.
The title was Fitzgerald’s first since 1948, cementing Pruitt’s reputation as a coach capable of pushing programs to historic heights.
Before taking over at Fitzgerald, Pruitt served as offensive coordinator at Valdosta and Lowndes, two of Georgia’s most storied programs, and also coached under his father, longtime head coach Robby Pruitt, at Coffee.
That background has shaped Pruitt into a coach known for offensive flexibility, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of how to sustain success over time.
Pruitt spent the 2025 season at Appling County, stepping into a difficult situation after the program was forced to forfeit 10 wins due to a GHSA ruling involving an ineligible player.
Despite the challenge, Appling County responded by finishing strong, clinching a region championship and reestablishing competitive footing.
Pruitt used the season to install new schemes, revamp strength and conditioning, and build a culture centered on accountability and toughness.
That experience may prove valuable at Camden County, which has now seen multiple head coaching changes in recent years. The Wildcats have remained competitive, but continuity at the top has been elusive.
Pruitt’s hiring signals an effort by the school system to stabilize the program with a coach who has demonstrated the ability to build and sustain winning cultures.
Like Lindsey before him, Pruitt is stepping into a community where football carries enormous expectations.
Unlike recent hires, however, Pruitt arrives with a lengthy track record as a head coach who has navigated adversity, rebuilt rosters, and maintained success across multiple seasons.
At Appling County, Pruitt often spoke about failure as a teaching tool and growth as a process. His teams were known for adjusting, improving, and peaking late in the season.
That philosophy aligns with a Camden County program that expects physical football, discipline, and steady development rather than quick fixes.
Camden County officials have not yet announced a formal introductory event, but players, parents, and fans will soon get their first opportunity to hear directly from a coach tasked with guiding the next chapter of Wildcat football.
After a whirlwind stretch that included optimism, surprise, and renewed uncertainty, Camden County believes Tucker Pruitt represents a clear step forward. His arrival brings experience, credibility, and a history of winning to a program searching for long-term stability and a return to championship contention.
For the Wildcats, the reset button has been pressed once more. This time, the hope is that it leads to something lasting.
New Captain For Brunswick Pirates
By: Jason Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Brunswick High Pirates have reportedly found a new Head Football Coach.
The Pirates have reportedly hired former Cook County Head Football Coach Byron Slack.
Slack led the Hornets to a 5-6 record last season and playoff appearance. Cook County went down in the first round of the 2A GHSA playoffs to North Murray 22-14 last season.
Slack went 4-7 with Cook in 2024, bowing out in the first round Burke County in the first round of the playoffs 27-21.
However, Cook made a deep playoff run and lost to Rockmart 34-24. The Hornets went 11-4 in the 2023 campaign.
In fairness to Slack, his football teams have been devasted by injuries the last two seasons.
Slack will be charged with taking over a Brunswick High Pirates program that made national news in the 2025 playoffs due to a sideline clearing brawl during the second round of the GHSA playoffs against the Gainesville Red Elephants.
He will also step into a program that has enjoyed a lot of success over the last decade under former coaches Sean Pender and Garrett Grady.
One of the things Slack will be tasked with as the new Pirates Head Coach is getting the Pirates out of the 2nd round of the playoffs and potentially make some deeper playoff runs.
The Pirates have not advanced out of the second round in the GHSA playoffs since 1999 when the Pirates lost in the state title game to the Lowndes County Vikings.
The Pirates former coach, Garrett Grady, resigned before the Christmas break and took a job on staff with the Coffee County Trojans.
Slack was 28-21 over his four seasons with Cook High School.
Slack has spent time on coaching staffs at Colquitt, Lowndes and Camden. He also spent one season as the head coach at Hillgrove High School before coming to Cook. Slack spent 13 seasons as an assistant on the Camden County Wildcats staff.
The Glynn County School Board will officially vote on a hire on Thursday evening according to Glynn County Athletic Director, Steve Waters.
