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Prediction on SEC Teams To Make College Football Playoff
By: Capers Childs
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The fall season is college football fans’ favorite time of the year.
Many could argue that college football is more exciting than professional with all the high-stakes and unpredictability.
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) represents a different kind of college football, rooted deeply in the south, with the teams who have the most passionate fans, loads of NFL talent, and the most elite competition in the country.
The College Football Playoff is the ultimate goal for every major college football program. However, because there are a limited number of spots available, teams must perform at a high level throughout the regular season while competing against some of the toughest opponents in the country.
And because the SEC is considered the toughest conference in college football, several of its teams earn playoff spots.
The four SEC teams that I think are the most likely to make it in the college football playoffs in 2026 are the University of Georgia, Alabama, Texas, and Texas A&M.
First is the University of Georgia. This has been a dominant program since Kirby Smart took over as head coach in 2015.
He holds an overall record of 117-21. UGA’s success is also built on elite in-state recruiting, and their massive financial investment. Not only this but their fan support is unreal.
Georgia’s ability to recruit top high school athletes year after year has allowed the Bulldogs to remain one of the best teams in the nation. Even after losing players to the NFL draft, they continue to bring talent in. This is what makes Georgia a safe bet to reach the CFP.
Next, the University of Alabama football has pretty much always been known to be successful. Nick Saban was the primary reason for the modern success of the program. During his time at Alabama, he won 6 national championships, secured 9 SEC titles, and developed a record number of players for the National Football League (NFL) Draft.
Although Alabama is adjusting to the game after Nick Saban’s departure, this isn’t changing the way they compete. The Crimson Tide continue to recruit at an elite level and their experience and talent make them a strong contender every season.
The University of Texas has claimed four consensus titles along with multiple other historical claims. They open the season with a difficult stretch of non-conference games against Texas State, Ohio State, and UTSA. The pressure is going to be on for Steve Sarkisian to improve on last season’s success and lead Texas to another CFP appearance. They’ve definitely got the roster to do so this season.
Texas has also recruited exceptionally well over the past couple of years, and they have one of the deepest rosters in college football. If the Longhorns can navigate their difficult schedule this season, I believe that they have the talent to compete for both an SEC championship and a playoff spot.
Texas A&M is another team that has potential to make the College Football Playoff. Texas A&M has recruited some of the nation’s top talent in recent years and has the depth needed to compete in the SEC. If the Aggies can play consistent football throughout the season and win a majority of their SEC matchups, I think they have the talent to compete with any team in the conference.
The talent that they have on their roster make them one of my top four playoff picks.
However, in the era of the transfer portal and NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness), keeping a talented roster has become one of the biggest challenges in college football.
Team rosters are changing year after year, but Georgia, Alabama, Texas, and Texas A&M have been stable in that department which gives these four schools an advantage heading into the 2026 season.
Now the question is whether Louisiana State University will earn a spot in the CFP or not. LSU could be the biggest dark horse in the SEC this season.
With Lane Kiffin leaving the University of Mississippi for LSU, they could make a promising run. Kiffin has proven that he can compete with the best teams in the conference, and his arrival is huge for this Tigers’ program. I believe LSU has the potential to challenge the SEC’s top teams and compete for a playoff spot in 2026.
Overall, I think Georgia, Alabama, Texas, and Texas A&M have the best chance of making the 2026 College Football Playoff. However, with Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers, they could be a surprise.
New Camden County Wildcats Baseball Coach
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
When Camden County High School began searching for its next head baseball coach, it wasn’t simply looking for someone to fill a vacancy.
The Wildcats were looking for a leader capable of building on the program’s proud tradition while taking it to new heights. It appears they found exactly that in Joey Ray.
Officially introduced as Camden County’s new head baseball coach earlier this month, Ray arrives in Kingsland with one of the most impressive resumes of any coach currently leading a high school baseball program in Georgia.
His career has been defined by winning, player development, and competing at the highest levels of the game, making him an exciting addition to the Wildcat athletic department.
Ray takes over a Camden County program that has consistently produced talented players and enjoyed its share of success over the years.
Following the tenure of former head coach LaDonis Bryant, Ray inherits a team that hopes to become a regular contender for region championships and deep state playoff runs.
If history is any indication, Wildcats fans have plenty of reasons to be optimistic.
Before arriving at Camden County, Ray spent six successful seasons at Flowery Branch High School, where he transformed the Falcons into one of North Georgia’s most consistent programs. During his tenure, Flowery Branch compiled 116 victories, reached the state playoffs five times, and posted four 20-win seasons.
The Falcons also advanced to the state semifinals in 2018 and followed that with an impressive 24-9 campaign in 2021.
Success, however, has followed Ray throughout his coaching career. Before his time at Flowery Branch, he established Milton High School as one of Georgia’s premier baseball programs.
Under his leadership, the Eagles captured five region championships and reached the state championship series in consecutive seasons. The pinnacle came in 2013 when Milton claimed the Georgia Class 6A State Championship, a milestone that cemented Ray’s reputation as one of the state’s elite baseball coaches.
What makes Ray’s resume even more impressive is that his impact extends well beyond Georgia high school baseball.
Since 2013, he has been actively involved with USA Baseball, helping identify and develop some of the nation’s top young talent. He served as an assistant coach for the USA Baseball 12-and-under National Team in 2016 and was later selected as an assistant coach for Team Navy in Major League Baseball’s Prospect Development Pipeline League.
The PDP League serves as one of the country’s premier showcases for high school players with professional baseball aspirations, giving Ray valuable experience working with many of the nation’s top prospects.
Those experiences should prove invaluable for Camden County players hoping to continue their baseball careers beyond high school.
Ray’s coaching accomplishments have also earned the respect of his peers across the state. He has been named Region Coach of the Year five times and has received two Georgia Dugout Awards, recognition reserved for coaches who consistently demonstrate excellence both on and off the field.
But perhaps the greatest strength Ray brings to Camden County is his reputation for building complete programs rather than simply winning games.
Successful high school baseball isn’t built solely on talent. It requires discipline, player development, strong relationships, and a culture that emphasizes accountability every day—not just on game day.
Those qualities have become hallmarks of Ray’s coaching career and are exactly what Camden County hopes will help elevate the Wildcats to another level.
The expectations surrounding Wildcat baseball have always been high. Camden County has long been known for producing outstanding athletes and competing with many of Georgia’s top programs. With Joey Ray now leading the dugout, there is renewed excitement about what the future holds.
Winning championships is never easy in Georgia’s highly competitive baseball landscape, but Camden County has made a statement with this hire. By bringing in one of the state’s most accomplished and respected baseball coaches, the Wildcats have positioned themselves to compete at the highest level for years to come.
A new era has officially begun at Camden County High School, and if Joey Ray’s track record is any indication, Wildcat baseball fans have every reason to believe the best may still be ahead.
Sam Hubbard Stays Home
By: Joseph Stuckey
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Statesboro is buzzing over the recent hometown commitment of left-handed pitcher Sam Hubbard.
The Georgia Southern Eagles recently received a verbal commitment from the Bulloch Academy standout pitcher in the class of 2027.
Of course, both Bulloch Academy and Georgia Southern are located in Statesboro, Georgia, with the campuses less than 5 minutes apart from each other.
The rising senior is listed at 5 feet 10 inches and 178 pounds, which is an ideal frame for a developing pitcher. Anytime there is a GSU Eagle from Bulloch County or one of the surrounding counties, it really gets the fanbase excited in Statesboro.
An added bonus for GSU, being the hometown team, the Eagles are considered a baseball factory and have produced numerous MLB draft picks over the years.
The Eagles compete in the Sun Belt Conference, which is quickly becoming a power conference in college baseball, with GSU alongside teams like Southern Miss and Coastal Carolina.
The program has a strong reputation for developing players and consistently fields competitive teams in the Sun Belt Conference. Just a few years ago, the Eagles were a top 16 seed in the College World Series and hosted a regional in Statesboro. I say all of that to reiterate my point of how Hubbard staying home may turn out to be one of the best decisions he could make to continue his baseball career.
Hubbard is a multi-sport athlete who plays football in the fall and baseball in the springtime. He was the quarterback who helped lead Bulloch Academy football to its 2024 GIAA 4-A State Championship, which coincidentally was held under the lights at GSU’s Paulson Stadium.
Under his tenure as quarterback, the team claimed a Region Championship (2024), hosted an Elite-8 appearance at the swamp in Statesboro (2025), and, of course, the aforementioned State Championship (2024).
Hubbard can throw the deep ball to the Gators’ arsenal of receivers, but his true weapon on the football field is his ability to scramble when needed.
The Gators have really relied on him to get tough yards, and he has shown he truly has ice in his veins at times. The Bulloch Academy fanbase is really excited about this upcoming football season with Hubbard at Quarterback, along with a loaded Senior class of standout athletes.
He has also had great success on the baseball diamond. In the 2026 baseball season, he set the new single-season program record with 100 strikeouts. He also had some impressive outings this season, including the final outing of his junior year, where he recorded 14 strikeouts and allowed only walked 1 batter.
In his first 2 outings of the season, he pitched only 6 innings but struck out 15 batters. It also came out this week that Sam was selected to the District 2 All-Region team as well as the GIAA 4-A All-State team.
Hubbard has also participated in the New Balance Future Stars series, Perfect Game Georgia, and Perfect Game Florida, where his fastball has been clocked at 86-89 miles per hour.
He has also been featured on Prep Baseball Georgia during his time in high school.
With these high strikeout rates, Sam really has the potential to be a front-of-the-rotation starter in college.
With his decision to stay local and play for Georgia Southern, Sam is poised to become a hometown hero and a role model for future generations of Statesboro athletes.
As the baseball community in Statesboro looks ahead, I see Sam as a dominant force in the Sun Belt Conference over the next few years.
Next Level Camden Athletes
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
One thing Camden County High School has become known for over the years is producing athletes who don’t stop competing when their high school careers end.
Across multiple sports, Wildcat athletes continue to earn opportunities to play at the college level, carrying with them the work ethic and competitive mindset they developed right here in Kingsland.
Recent college commitments are just the latest examples of that tradition. From wrestling and golf to football, tennis, softball, and soccer, Camden athletes continue to prove they can compete with programs across the country.
One of the most decorated athletes to come through the Camden wrestling program in recent years is Ryder Wilder, who will be heading to Northwestern University, one of the premier wrestling programs in the nation. Northwestern competes in the Big Ten, widely considered the toughest conference in Division I wrestling.
Wilder built an impressive resume during his time at Camden, winning four individual state championships while helping lead the Wildcats to team titles each of his four years.
His signing shows just how strong Camden’s wrestling program continues to be, regularly producing athletes who can compete at the highest level of college wrestling.
Another Camden wrestling standout is Hunter Prosen, who signed with NAIA powerhouse Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida.
Prosen put together an incredible high school career, winning three individual state championships in three different weight classes and helping the Wildcats capture four team state titles in both duals and traditional formats.
His combination of talent, toughness, and dedication made him one of the top wrestlers Camden has ever produced. At Southeastern, he plans to continue wrestling while also pursuing a career in aviation with hopes of becoming a pilot.
The Wildcat tradition extends well beyond the wrestling mat.
On the golf course, standout Georgia Blount signed with James Madison University, a Division I program in Virginia.
Blount has been one of the most consistent high school golfers in Georgia, finishing second in the GHSA state tournament as both a freshman and sophomore before placing third last season.
Years of dedication and practice helped her reach this level, and the coaching staff at James Madison believes she has the talent and leadership to succeed in their program.
National Signing Day also brought several other Wildcat athletes the chance to celebrate the next step in their athletic careers.
Gracie Robinson signed to play tennis at Piedmont University, while softball standout Hannah Turley committed to Gordon State College.
On the football side, three Wildcats are also moving on.
Linebacker Zion Branch will play at Daytona Beach Christian in Florida. Safety William Johnson earned one of the most impressive opportunities of all, signing with the United States Air Force Academy. And running back Antwan Williams will continue his career at Reinhardt University.
Each of these players helped represent Camden County on Friday nights and will now take their talents to the college level.
Soccer is also part of the Wildcat pipeline.
Senior Joshua “David” Hewitt recently signed with Toccoa Falls College, where he will continue playing for the Screaming Eagles while also earning the school’s Presidential Scholarship.
Of course, these athletes represent only a small sample of the many Wildcats who have continued their careers in college athletics. Every year, Camden County sends athletes to programs across the country.
Their success is a reflection of the strong culture built by coaches, teachers, and families who support them along the way.
More importantly, it reflects the countless hours these athletes spend practicing, training, and competing to reach their goals.
For me, watching Camden athletes sign scholarships and continue playing the sports they love never gets old.
It is simply another reminder that the Wildcat tradition of excellence doesn’t stop at graduation.
It just moves on to the next level.
Camden’s Wrestling Dynasty
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Wrestling supremacy in Georgia continues to run straight through Camden County.
Over one unforgettable season, the Wildcats not only defended their long-standing boys dynasty but also watched their young girls program rise to the top, delivering a historic sweep of state championships and proving that Camden wrestling is stronger than ever.
For the first time, Camden County hosted a Georgia High School Association state championship event, bringing the Class 6A duals to Kingsland.
The tournament was held January 16th through the 18th, and the opportunity marked a milestone for a program that has spent years traveling across the state in pursuit of titles.
Head coach Jess Wilder called the moment a victory for the entire community, crediting school leaders and local support for helping secure the bid.
The Wildcats entered the tournament as defending champions and wasted no time showing why they remain the standard. Camden dismantled North Gwinnett and Archer on the opening day, then crushed Walton in the semifinals.
The stage was set for a fourth consecutive title showdown with powerhouse Buford, a program that has become Camden’s chief rival in recent years.
Backed by a thunderous home crowd, the Wildcats delivered a statement performance in the finals, rolling to a 55 to 16 victory. Camden never trailed.
Caleb Gaskin opened the match with a pin, Ryder Wilder followed with a technical fall, and Clayton Newton added a 17-second pin that sent the gym into a frenzy.
When Hunter Prosen secured another fall to push the lead to 40 to 13, the championship was effectively sealed.
The win marked Camden’s twelfth straight GHSA duals state title and the thirteenth overall, an extraordinary run that spans nearly a decade.
Nineteen different wrestlers earned victories during the tournament, a testament to the program’s depth. Wilder praised that balance, saying dual championships require contributions from every weight class.
While the boys continued their dynasty, the Camden County girls were busy making history of their own.
In only their second year as a program, the Lady Wildcats captured the Division I state duals championship in Carrollton, defeating Campbell, Shiloh, and defending champion Greenbrier in dominant fashion.
Along the way, Camden piled up 24 pinfalls and announced itself as a new force in Georgia wrestling.
Head coach Abe Fernandez said the title reflected the commitment of a group determined to build something special.
Shamise Vila, Peyton Rego, Kyrie-Jade Atkinson, Delaney Spencer, and Serenity Small each went undefeated on the day, while Breanna Higgins, Anneliese Rutherford, Lena Kettering, Trinity Kussmaul, and Gabby Daniels delivered multiple victories.
In the championship match against Greenbrier, Camden recorded six pins in less than two minutes each, including a lightning-fast 31-second fall from Kussmaul.
The girls had earned their state berth earlier in Kingsland with a win over Jackson County, then carried that momentum through the eight-team bracket.
Fernandez emphasized that the program’s focus remains growth and teamwork, but the results already speak loudly.
A state banner now hangs beside those of the boys, signaling that Camden’s wrestling culture is still expanding rather than fading.
From hosting the first GHSA state event in county history to adding two more trophies to an overflowing collection, the season represented a defining chapter.
The boys reinforced their place as Georgia’s gold standard, while the girls proved the future is just as bright.
Together, they delivered a message heard across the state: in Camden County, wrestling excellence is not just a tradition, it is a way of life.
Glynn Goals
By: Joe Delaney
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
I had a chance to sit down recently with one of the greatest high school coaches in the state and southeast.
Yes, I’m talking about our own Bobby Brockman from Glynn Academy.
We had a great conversation the other day and could have talked for hours. Brockman and I go way back as both my sons went to Glynn and Knox played for Bobby some 15+ years ago.
Growing up every kid wanted to go to the soccer camps on Jekyll. It was amazing on those Saturday mornings. Bobby Brockman was a major player in all of this.
I was fortunate to live in Clearwater, FL for 3 years in my late 20’s and became enamored with pro soccer, as this was the prime time of the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Watching pros like Rodney Marsh and Steve Wegerle from the Rowdies take on Giorgio Chinaglia and the New York Cosmos in front of 60k fans was a great way to get indoctrinated into the game.
Years later I was fortunate enough to coach youth soccer on Jekyll and our 3 v 3 team was you guessed it………The Rowdies.
We had a ball and finished 7th in the 3 v 3 nationals in Disney. I don’t think I’ve ever seen 11 and 12 year old kids have so much fun. Well, seeing as though the Rowdies had something going, the next year the Rowdies coach was Bobby Brockman! We laughed and laughed about those good times.
Brockman and I grew to be good friends over the next few years and I watched the guy accomplish great things on the southside of Brunswick.
How is a 462-95-22 record over 31 years? Well, that’s a start but it may not be Bobby’s true legacy.
Bobby Brockman didn’t coach games, he coached players. And that was his greatness. Go find somebody who played for him. Ask them about Bobby. They will all tell you the same things. Simply the best. Over 500 kids and they all love the guy.
He always had his teams ready to play. A worker, a mentor, and a leader. Let’s look at some of the good times and what Coach Brockman had to say.
Glynn had many good players who Brockman brought up through the Jekyll league.
The best? Bobby mentioned the following and said, “I know I’m gonna miss some but here I go.”
Let’s start with the Craven boys. Enough said. Ritchie and Andy had it all. How about Lee Swafford, David Blackshear, Matthew Lee, Johnny Melcher and Connor Behrend? All great players for the Red and White.
Brockman also mentioned the families that were entwined with the program over the years. Names like the Fendigs, Cravens, Plotners, Swaffords and Bulataos. It truly was more than a team. It was a family that went on for 31 years.
Glynn flourished under Brockman. Try 17 region titles, 9 elite 8 appearances, and 3 Final Fours in 31 years. Add in 15 Region Coach of the Years. So, I had to ask Brockman who were his favorite teams and he said every one of them.
The best teams? Coach Brockman mentioned the 2002 final four team and the 2011 final four squad.
Last but not least was Glynn’s Final Four team from last year.
Favorite wins? He mentioned Shiloh in 2002, when we went to Atlanta and took out a good Atlanta squad 4-0.
More recently, Richmond Hill for the 400th win and last year’s team taking out St Pius and Lassiter, two very good Atlanta Schools.
Brockman was particularly happy with the Lassiter win. Seems as though Lassiter came down to Brunswick with a bad attitude and talked all through the game how Glynn wasn’t very good.
I can’t say what they were really saying but you get the drift. Well Lassiter, the two-time defending state champs, had a long bus ride back to Atlanta losing 3-2. Don’t mess with Coach Bobby!
So now the 2025 season is in the history books. A tough second round loss to Veterans 1-0 ended it.
And all good things must come to an end. Brockman has coached his last game for Glynn.
After 31 years, he is retiring and moving to the Ocala area. Family issues necessitate the move but he will be back often with camps and visits.
Coach Brockman will go down as one of if not the greatest soccer coach in South Georgia.
He built the Glynn Program and through the liaison with Jekyll had a profound impact on soccer growth in south Georgia.
But his lasting impact is that 31-year-old family he built. Safe travels my friend and God Bless.
Pirates Keep Sailing
By: Cameron Miller
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Brunswick High Pirates Baseball team is moving on to the Sweet 16 in the state playoffs.
The Pirates are the Class AAAAA Region 1, 3 seed, which lead them to taking a trip up to Villa Rica, Ga this past week to face off against the Villa Rica High School Wildcats.
The Wildcats were the Class AAAAA Region 5, 2 seed in this year’s state playoffs. They made it to the sweet 16 last year but ultimately, due to the great play of the Pirates, fell short of a repeat.
The first round in the bracket for this year had the Pirates scheduled to play games 1 and 2 on Wednesday the 23rd and if needed, game 3 would be played on Thursday the 24th.
The Pirates made the trip up with zero intentions of needing a game 3. They made the trip short and sweet, with a 1-0 win in game 1 and a 7-5 win in game 2, giving them a clean sweep of the series.
In Game 1, Trenton Robinson was on the mound for the Pirates, where he once again had an absolute lights-out performance.
Robinson pitched 7 full shutout innings, in which he struck out 7 batters, didn’t walk a single one of them, and only gave up 3 hits the entire game.
Brett Hickson had the game’s only RBI, with a groundout in the first inning, it was just enough for Jordan Lodise to be able to make it home to score and give the Pirates an early 1-0 lead that they held onto until the end.
In Game 2, Jordan Lodise made the start for the Pirates. Lodise pitched 4 innings for the Pirates before others such as Brett Hickson, Braxton Johnson, and Hunter Neal took the mound in relief.
Despite giving up 5 runs, the Brunswick bats were hot in this game, scoring 7 runs against the Wildcats.
Jordan Lodise led the Pirates batting going 3 for 4, with one of his hits being a double that scored 2 runs.
Garrison Strickland was also able to bring home 2 runs with a hard-hit ground ball that got through due to an error by the shortstop.
Another big hitter for the Pirates in this game was Trenton Robinson. Robinson went 1 for 2 with 2 walks, but his only hit came when they seemed to need it the most.
In a close 5-4 ball game in the bottom of the 6th inning, with Dawson Parke standing on 2nd base, he launched a series sealing, 2 run homerun over the left field wall.
Villa Rica tried to mount a comeback in the 7th, but the Pirates held on to close it out with a final score of 7-5.
The Pirates will now have to make the trip up to Warner Robins, Ga on April 29th for their Sweet 16 matchup where they will face off against the Houston County High School Bears.
Houston is the Class AAAAA Region 2, 1 Seed, so I’m sure the Pirates will be tested in this matchup, but if they can continue to stay this hot I have zero doubts in their ability to get the job done and advance to the Elite 8.
Taking Off The Jersey
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Nico Iamaleava’s name will go down in college football history as one that created a turning point for players in multiple ways.
Which part fans remember might depend on how the rest of Iamaleava’s football career plays out.
As he prepares to enter the transfer portal amid a public breakup with Tennessee about name, image and likeness re-negotiations, this first-of-its-kind NFL-style holdout situation was possible only because of what had come before it.
Iamaleava once again has brought college football a lot closer to … whatever its future will be. His NIL deal going public before enrolling at Tennessee and the legal defense of it led to more money for players. Iamaleava gave a lot more leverage to the players by knowing the value of college athletes.
On the other hand, his public breakup with Tennessee gave leverage to the universities. Had Tennessee and its collective balked or hesitated, more stars might’ve started public holdouts. Instead, Vols fans backed coach Josh Heupel, and players are anticipating that fans won’t be on their side.
It started in 2022, an $8 million multiyear for Iamaleava while he was still in high school.
It was one of the first sets of public NIL numbers, and this caught more attention from the public because Iamaleava hadn’t played a single down of college football.
When the NCAA looked into it, the state of Tennessee’s attorney general sued the Tennessee collective, leading to a settlement that allows boosters to negotiate NIL with athletes and their agents before players enroll.
Both of those situations will likely lead to more millions going to players. The public contract leak in 2022 reset the market for active players and recruits and has removed the possibility of universities underpaying athletes who are inexperienced in negotiation.
The AG’s lawsuit opened the door to more direct NIL conversations with recruits. Cracking the NIL and creating a more lucrative space for athletes is part of Iamaleava’s legacy.
That is why the whole idea of calling this “NIL” remains farcical. The millions and millions spent on players for NIL come from boosters, local business owners, and rich alumni who want these players to represent their business the same way they represent their university.
This has created tension between regular fans, who don’t care about any individual’s success, they just want to see their team win…
College football is a transient sport; because of that fans root for a team more than a player because the players are only there for 4 years MAX.
The NCAA was able to keep up amateurism and cheat athletes for so long. The NCAA has purposely made the unionization of players hard on the principle that fans, more often than not, will show up on Saturdays no matter who’s on the field, even if they’re showing up with paper bags on their heads.
That reminder is the message coming out of Iamaleava’s impending divorce from Tennessee. Tennessee was one of the only states in America that never outlawed sharecropping, and their slave-owner mentality with college athletes is what bit them in the ass financially and on the field.
There is no college football without college athletes, and there is no excellence in college football without excellent college athletes.
The story is far from over. Perhaps Iamaleava finds a new home, continues to succeed, and earns whatever amount of money he’s worth.
Perhaps Tennessee can’t find an adequate replacement internally or in the portal and struggles in 2025.
The Vols appear willing to live with the potential consequences of fumbling a world class athlete, and the fans support being a worse team in 2025.
Players are worth what organizations are willing to pay them. That’s basic business. This breakup is a reminder that it only goes so far.
Pirates Sail Into Playoffs
By: Cameron Miller
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Brunswick High Pirates are headed to the State Playoffs!
After a long regular season of ups and downs, the Brunswick High Pirates Baseball team punched their ticket to the state playoffs after sweeping the Evans Knights in 3 game series.
Since suffering a 2-1 series loss to the Glynn Academy Red Terrors in the city championship and losing one of their stars with Junior OF/P Grant Moore suffering a season ending injury during game one of the city championship, the Pirates have tallied wins in 8 of their last 10 games.
It’s safe to say the Pirates and head coach Greg Roberts seem to be getting hot at the right time. Brunswick definitely has a chance to make some noise in the playoffs this year, but with Grant Moore being out for the season it did seem to raise a big question of whether the Pirates have enough talent on the mound to replace him in the rotation.
Well, the short answer is yes.
They still have their other go-to starters in star OF/P Trenton Robinson who is only a junior and University of Central Florida commit standout senior Jordan Lodise. Robinson has pitched 53.2 innings so far this season with a 1.69 ERA that has led him to a 6-1 record on the mound. Jordan has pitched 46.1 innings this season with a 1.83 ERA giving him a 5-0 record.
Brunswick has a variety of options to go to on the mound besides those two. They have Junior Catcher Avery Jefferson, who has proven he can be a valuable asset behind the plate and on the mound.
Jefferson has a 2-0 record starting on the mound, pitching 24 innings for the pirates this season. The Pirates also have options in the Bullpen with Junior 2nd baseman Brett Hickson, Junior 1st baseman Braxton Johnson, and Sophomore Right Fielder Coleman Smith all being able to come in and provide quality arm talent on the mound to close out games.
We all know the importance of a team’s ability to pitch, but that’s still only part of the game. Not only was Moore a go-to on the mound, but he was also the Pirates starting Center Fielder and batting .311 as the number two hitter.
Coach Greg Roberts was forced to make some quick mid-season defensive adjustments and must have designed the perfect recipe for success.
With the emergence of Junior Braxton Johnson into the starting lineup at 1st base, it allowed Coach Roberts to Shift Trenton Robinson from RF to CF and Coleman Smith from 1st to RF.
You might be wondering what they do when one of those guys mentioned is told to head up to the mound, well that’s where the super versatile Junior Garrison Strickland comes in. Strickland is one of those Charlie Culberson types of players. This season Strickland has played right field, shortstop, 2nd base and even catches when Jefferson is on the mound.
The Pirates this season are averaging almost 7 runs per game, which means they can be a very dangerous team when they get their bats going in sync and get on base. Leading them in runs scored are Hickson (26) and Lodise (25), but the Pirates runs are being scored all across the lineup.
Close behind them you have Senior Left Fielder Dawson Parke (20), Coleman Smith (16), Garrison Strickland (14), Trenton Robinson (14), and even Freshman Bentley Henson (10) and Sophomore Brady Miller (7), who get brought in at times for some additional speed on the bases, have brought in their fair share of runs for pirates.
Brunswick’s batting is highlighted by Brett Hickson who is batting .442, Jordan Lodise batting .337, and Avery Jefferson batting .312, but they aren’t the only ones putting the ball in play.
A few others who have had a consistent season at the plate are Coleman Smith, Dawson Parke, and Trenton Robinson all batting over .250 for the Pirates this season.
The Pirates finished the regular season off very strong, but their big 10-0 win against Seckinger wasn’t the only accomplishment that night.
It was also a huge achievement for Coach Greg Roberts with that game marking off his 300th career win as a baseball coach.
There’s no doubt the Pirates have had a rough road to the playoffs, but with the ability of these players and their coaches being able to gain all of this momentum over the last few weeks, the only thing that matters now is what’s ahead of them.
The playoffs and a chance to reach the coveted State Championship. If this Pirates team under the leadership of coach Roberts can continue to stay hot and take it game by game the sky is truly the limit for them.
Wildcat Wrestling
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Camden County’s boys’ wrestling team isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
The Wildcats dominated in Macon two weekends ago, locking up their 11th straight state championship with a runaway 303.5-point performance—more than 80 points ahead of second-place Buford.
Leading the charge were three-time champs Bradley Patterson and Ryder Wilder, along with first-time winners Isaac Santos and Brock Weaver.
But it was a full-team effort that made the difference, with 14 wrestlers earning top six finishes and eight making it to the finals.
For an understanding of Camden Wrestling’s continued dominance, consider that the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) created the 7-A classification in 2016, and the Wildcats have won the state championship in wrestling every year since 2014.
The GHSA did away with the 7-A classification at the end of the 2024 school year, making 6-A the highest classification in the state. This means that in the history books of Georgia high school wrestling, Camden County will remain the ONLY squad to have ever won a 7-A wrestling state championship.
Camden set the tone early and never looked back, outscoring every team across all classifications. Head coach Jess Wilder knew his team had the firepower to finish the job, but he didn’t want them getting too comfortable.
“Two years ago, we were down by 28 points going into the last day, and a lot of these guys remember that because they were freshmen,” Wilder said. “We came back and won that year, so we knew we couldn’t take our foot off the gas.”
Camden finished with four individual champions: Patterson (113), Wilder (190), Santos (120), and Weaver (157).
They also had four runners-up—Cane Smolarsky (126), Rod Zow (144), Jamaal Coppedge (165), and Brian Wright (175)—plus several other key contributors. Brandon Higgins (132), Hunter Prosen (138), and Joseph Schulze (285) placed third, Waylon Rozier (150) and Caleb Gaskin (215) finished fourth, and Clayton Newton (106) took fifth.
Buford had the same number of finalists as Camden, but their lack of depth hurt them. “That’s why we win state,” Wilder said. “Our depth is what separates us. Our guys who battled back through the consolation rounds made a huge difference.”
Wilder and Patterson were nearly untouchable. Wilder pinned his finals opponent in just 27 seconds, with his other two pins lasting 31 and 49 seconds.
Patterson was just as dominant, racking up two pins in 25 seconds total before winning his semifinal and final by technical fall, including a 16-0 shutout in the championship match.
Santos fought through a tough semifinal before rolling to a 16-0 title win, while Weaver capped off his run with an 11-3 major decision.
Other Wildcats put together strong performances as well, with Smolarsky, Zow, Coppedge, and Wright all making the finals.
Higgins had one of the fastest pins of the tournament—just five seconds—before winning third place with a clutch 3-1 decision.
The boys weren’t the only ones making headlines. Breanna Higgins tore through the girls’ 100-pound bracket, pinning all four of her opponents to claim a state title.
She finished things off with a second-period pin in the finals after making quick work of the competition leading up to it.
With 15 total state placers between the boys’ and girls’ teams, Camden County once again showed why it’s the top wrestling program in Georgia.
The Wildcats keep setting the bar—and they don’t look like they’re slowing down anytime soon.
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