Statesboro Blue Devils
Gridiron Devil
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
When the lights get flicked on at Womack Field in Statesboro each week, they shine on a Statesboro Blue Devils team that has been building over the past few years under third year Head Coach Matt Dobson.
A big piece of the growth being seen in Statesboro is the young quarterback Beckham Jarrard.
Jarrard has become a regular name with anyone around the Blue Devils program, and possibly even more-so around programs that have played Statesboro in the last year plus.
The now sophomore field general started right out of the gate. As a freshman, Jarrard was named the starter from the word go opening up the 2024 season with cross county rivals Southeast Bulloch and raised eyebrows.
The then 5’10” 145-pound freshman connected on 17 of 25 passing for 161 yards and a touchdown. Southeast Bulloch would end up with the win but coming away from the game both sides realized that this was the beginning of something special for the signal caller.
Jarrard would finish his freshman season with the most passing yards in the state for a freshman racking up over 1,600 yards and 15 touchdowns in Statesboro’s 10 games while rushing for 200 more and a couple of scores. The growth of Jarrard was unmistakable throughout the season and that’s just the beginning.
He has dove into the deep end to become the best quarterback he can be…literally. It was while he was on vacation to the beach that a random connection turned into the next step in the progression for Jarrard.
While on the annual family vacation in the summer of 2024, he started throwing the football with a family friend that was with them at the beach. A few minutes went by before someone asked if he could join. After throwing and exchanging stories and getting to know them better, turns out the random encounter would be Jarrard meet Gino English (former quarterback at Florida State and East Tennessee St).
Gino was impressed by the then rising freshman and invited him to come train with him at his childhood home nearby. There he would meet Gino’s QB coach, Pat O’Hara.
Pat O’Hara is a well-known quarterback coach in football to say the very least. After a playing career with the Buccaneers, Chargers, and Redskins, O’Hara ended up in the Arena Football League.
For a few years, Pat would be getting into the coaching side of the game while also still on the roster before a couple stints as a head coach in the AFL.
Then O’Hara would break into the pinnacle of the sport with the NFL.
In February 2015, O’Hara was hired as an assistant coach by the Houston Texans. After 3 seasons in Houston, O’Hara would be named quarterbacks coach (and later pass game coordinator) for the Tennessee Titans.
O’Hara has also worked in broadcasting for UCF radio and CBS Sports Network along with working in the movie scene as a football guru teaching actors how to play in films like The Longest Yard, Invincible, We are Marshall and most recently serving as the football administrator for the TV Series Chad Powers.
So, from the football mind that helped mold Paul Crewe, Marcus Mariota, Ryan Tennehill, Brock Osweiler, Deshaun Watson, O’Hara’s insight is now going into Beckham Jarrard. While it’s not feasible to make the trip to Florida much during the season, O’Hara works weekly with Jarrard via zoom on breaking down game film, helping teach how to break down defenses along with the mental side of being a quarterback.
While other rising sophomores in the summers are playing video games, going to the pool, Jarrard is heading to Florida to work with Pat O’Hara.
The commitment to the game is as impressive as the skills he has already (again, reminder, he’s a sophomore).
Now as a sophomore at 6’0 and 165 pounds (gained 20 pounds from the start of Freshman year), Jarrard has developed relationships with so many high-profile quarterbacks’ coaches and soaking up as much as he can.
Charley Loeb of QB Country (former Syracuse QB) is the main mechanical coach to help mold the young quarterback to someone that is now a big problem for defenses.
Having seen him live a handful of times, in addition to on film and through the eyes of others, there’s no doubt in my mind that on June 15th (the date that college coaches can legally begin full contact with recruits), the phone of Beckham Jarrard will be lighting up almost constantly with coaches from all of the southeast.
Tightening The B.E.L.T.
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
While the past two years record wise haven’t been what Head Coach Matt Dobson and the Statesboro High Blue Devils would have wanted, SHS has built a foundation to be able to springboard back to prominence in 2025.
The tradition wealthy Statesboro program has struggled for the last decade, not seeing a season finish over .500 since the 10-2 2013 campaign (SHS’ last year in the 4A ranks before being elevated to 5A).
That said, Dobson and the staff have elevated the Blue Devil program exponentially from what was inherited prior to the 2023 season.
The biggest turnaround in the program has been off the field. There has been such a shift in the culture and feel around the program that it’s palpable. The implementation of Dobson’s BELT (Best, Effort, Love, and Toughness) mantra has exploded through the program and turned into belief in the program that hasn’t been there since the early 2010s.
That said, the past two seasons have netted 4 wins each. Even with a 4-6 record last year, the Blue Devils finished one spot in the standings away from back-to-back playoff appearances.
Last year, however showed an incredible upward trajectory for the program and starts on the offensive side of the ball.
The biggest question mark going into the season this time last season was at quarterback. It was expected that freshman Beckham Jarrard would come in and lead the squad and Jarrard did just that in year one.
Jarrard threw for an impressive 1628 passing yards with 15 touchdowns and just 9 picks.
In addition, the frosh ran for another 207 yards and a pair of rushing scores. Not only did Jarrard put up fantastic numbers, but there was also a tangible control of Dobson’s offense that continued to grow and show the prowess beyond his years.
I genuinely believe that one of the most exciting things in South Georgia football this year could be watching the maturation process of Jarrard and seeing him continue to grow into the phenom and surpass expectations.
In addition to Jarrard, the rising sophomore has most of his targets returning in 2025.
Keon Childers and Gage Newsome burst onto the scene in 2024 as the top two targets for the Blue Devils.
Childers racked up almost 500 yards receiving with 5 scores as a junior and looks to continue to be the Swiss-army knife for SHS who also added 71 yards rushing and a touchdown on the ground.
Newsome made the most out of his first season with Statesboro after transferring from Southeast Bulloch. Newsome led the team with 34 catches a year ago with nearly 400 yards and a couple scores.
The question surrounding Statesboro stems from the top two running backs graduating.
Ty Chambers (429 yds, 4 TDs) and Jaylyn Heath (379 yds, 4 TDs) both finished up their time at Womack Field last season and the Blue Devils will be looking for some new options to carry the ball.
Jarrard and Childers are the only two returners that rushed for more than 50 yards. Don’t be surprised to see Childers lined up more in the backfield in addition to some new names entering the rotation in 2025.
I think the biggest step forward for Statesboro will be in the trenches. The offensive line especially is expected to make an incredible step forward and be a key piece to the success in 2025.
The defense looks to be a strength of the Blue Devils led by Rashad Chavers (9 TFLs last season) and Xavier Spells (11 TFLs in 2024). While there’s a number of players that will go both ways, the defense can be an incredible piece of this team.
Again, the 4 wins each of the last two years isn’t what anyone around the program wanted, but there’s a ton of excitement and optimism around this team.
In my mind, the optimism is for a good reason. When Statesboro opens the season at Womack Field against cross-county rival SEB on August 15th, fans will see a Statesboro team that will be threatening the top of the region standings and getting back to the team of tradition with 5 state championships under their B.E.L.T.
