By: Kipp Branch

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Since February Sean Pender’s new staff has been hard at work at Brunswick High School.

Since that time Pender has started changing the culture at BHS. The offseason conditioning program has been going strong and the Pirates have competed in several 7 on 7 tournaments.

Before the official start of the season let’s take a look at the positional groups of the 2017 Pirates.

Offense:

QB: In Sean Pender’s offense everything depends on who is pulling the trigger. Jamarius Stevens is back at QB and with his rocket arm the senior will put up huge numbers in this offense.

According to the coaching staff Stevens is picking up the offense well. Expect Stevens to lead the region in passing yards and he also is athletic enough to run to keep an opposing defense on its toes. If the Pirates have a big season Stevens could contend for All-Region at his position.

Stevens must pick up on his quick reads better as Pender wants to run a play every 10 seconds.

RB: Ben McCloud and Shaq Robinson are back at RB. McCloud will be the inside between the tackle guy, and Robinson should be a force in the screen game out of the backfield.

McCloud has really impressed the coaching staff with his off season work ethic and is poised to have a big senior season in the spread offense. This positional group must be productive this season.

OL: The dynamic duo Ty Hinson and John Cano return for their senior season and third year as starters. Pender is very high on Hinson’s leadership qualities and Pender says Cano plays with a mean streak.

Junior Warren McClendon Jr. returns and has major SEC offers for his future services already. Expect McClendon to be the most talented offensive lineman in the region. Pender calls Hinson, Cano, and McClendon studs. This position group must stay healthy in 2017.

WR: DJ Whitfield is back and will stretch defenses. Kalvin Godette will cause nightmares from the slot position and the sleeper of the group is Alonzo Brown who has stepped up into a reliable target in Pender’s potent passing attack.

Jaylen Jackson could see some action at receiver as well. This group could be the surprise of the region from a productivity standpoint. This group has to eliminate the drops to make opposing defenses pay.

If this offensive unit clicks then games turn into track meets and Pender likes the talent he has assembled on the offensive side of the ball.

Defense:

DL: Tevin Small, George Mincey, and Rudy Nixon form a solid position group. Depth has to be created here because the blueprint to beat BHS over the past two years is to run right at the Pirates. This group must have a big season, and can’t get pushed around.

LB: The Pirates are loaded at LB with Kam Futch and Sean Ward in the middle for run support and Sharrod Frazier on the outside who can absolutely fly with his 4.4 forty at 195 lbs.

Frazier will be the fastest linebacker in the region. Ward is a thumper and Futch is the team captain for 2017. Big things are expected from this group in 2017. This group needs to step up and lead this football team

DB: Jaylen Jackson will play both S and CB and will lockdown an opposing team’s best receiver when he is at corner. Jackson is a super athlete. Alphonso Clinch is a dependable corner. Aubrey Williams is getting a good look at safety and could develop into a quality player at the position.

Pender thinks the Pirate defense could be really good in 2017 if they continue to work and improve.

Dalton Thrift looks like he may be the kicker going into fall practice.

An Opposing Coaches view of the Pirates in 2017: “Stevens could put up huge numbers in Sean’s offense. The OL has 3 pretty good players, but they can’t afford injuries there. On defense, they have a lot of talent but you can run right at them. Their LB’s need to be more physical. Overall Sean will get them playing up to their potential. How this team did not make the playoffs last year just blows my mind.”

The 2017 Pirates barring significant injuries could push for the region championship.  The excitement surrounding this program currently is off the charts.

Buy your season tickets Pirate Nation.