Sean Pender
Pirates Set To Sail In 2019
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Sean Pender starts year three at Brunswick High with 16 starters from 2018 returning with a year of varsity football experience.
The 2019 Pirates expect to compete for the Region 2-AAAAAA football championship.
When asked about what to expect from the 2019 Pirates Pender said “We have had more intensity and competiveness than we had in all of last year in our spring and summer program. The kids have worked extremely hard and I expect good things out of this football team once we get healthy at the QB position.”
Schedule and my predictions:
August 23rd vs Coffee: The Trojans look very good along the lines of scrimmage. Coffee is always big and strong. This will be a tough matchup for the Pirates, but Coffee has historically struggled at Glynn County Stadium. Give me Coffee 28-20.
August 30th vs Bartram Trail: Brunswick moved the ball up and down the field last year in St. Augustine. Bartram makes the return visit to Brunswick and I think the Pirates will be ready and beats a solid Florida state playoff team 34-28 to go 1-1 on the season.
September 6th vs MCA: The Bucs from Darien come “Between the Bricks” and get drilled 49-7. Pirates go to 2-1 on the season.
September 20th @ Camden: The Pirates tangle with the Cats in the first road game of the season and it will not end well for the Pirates. Camden is on the way back to being a factor in 7-A and the Pirates get clawed 38-20 to go to 2-2 on the season.
September 27th@ New Hampstead: Pirates travel to Savannah for this one and I’m putting them on upset alert. Pirates win an exciting game on the road 35-22 to move to 3-2 on the season.
October 4th@ Monroe Albany: Long drive to Albany, Georgia and the Pirates roll home with a 42-14 win to go to 4-2 on the season.
October 11th @ Richmond Hill: The Wildcats embarrassed the Pirates in 2018, but lost pretty much their entire offense to graduation. Brunswick returns the favor on the road at a place they have never lost. Brunswick beats Richmond Hill 28-21. Pirates go to 5-2 on the season.
October 18th vs Effingham: The Rebels ran up the score against the Pirates in Springfield last year throwing TD passes with less than two minutes left up by 24 points. Circle game at home for Brunswick. Expect Brunswick to return the favor if that opportunity presents. Pirates go to 6-2 with a 38-21 win.
October 25th @ Glynn Academy: In a game with the region championship on the line BHS tries to avoid a sixth straight loss. Anything can happen in a rival game but I will not believe it until I see it. Glynn 27-20. Pirates drop to 6-3
November 8th vs Bradwell: BHS locks up a number two seed with a 41-14 win over the Tigers and finishes the regular season at 7-3 and will host a first-round state playoff game.
Opposing Coaches view on Brunswick: “When Sean gets solid QB production his offenses are the best around.
I know he made some really good hires on the defensive side of the ball during the winter and I think they get a lot better there because they played a lot of sophomores on that side of the ball last year.
Will that community let Sean build this thing? You will see this team get a lot better this fall and Sean has worked hard to keep his kids from being cherry picked by the private school in the county.
They are on the way back. Maurice and Victor built a solid program there and they made a mistake letting Victor go, and the guy behind him ran that thing over a cliff.
Sean is the right man for that job, and he has some nice young talent cycling his way in that school system. They will be a playoff team this fall then that program takes off in 2020.
They have good facilities down there and they have those kids all on the same NFL team in Detroit. The skill talent is always there.
Sean built that thing in Pierce and will do the same in Brunswick.”
Readying The Ship
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Brunswick High Pirates had a rough season in 2018 finishing 3-7 and missing the playoffs for sixth time since 2011.
Sean Pender hates losing more than anyone I know and you can see a fire in his eyes during the spring drills.
The Pirates started as many as 12 sophomores in 2018 and the inexperience showed, but those baby Pirates have grown in size and experience this offseason and are primed to turn the tables in 2019.
When asked about Spring Practice Pender said “We have had more intensity and competiveness than we had in all of 2018 in our two weeks of practice. The kids have worked extremely hard and it is showing”.
Brunswick has 16 kids coming back in 2019 with starting varsity experience. BHS will be going to a new 4-3 defensive alignment in 2019.
When you ask Pender about his defense the first named mentioned is Devin Lafayette. The rising senior defensive back is 6’2 and 190 pounds and runs a sub 4.5 forty-yard dash.
“This kid is a quiet leader that leads by example and his worked his way into being a division one football prospect”.
Look for Lafayette to lead a talented back end of a much-improved Pirate defense. Lafayette is fully qualified with a 3.3 GPA.
Freddy Towns is a lock down All-Region corner returning for his senior season. Pender says Towns can lock down one side of the field every Friday night.
AJ Wilson looks good at safety and at 200 pounds can bring the lumber in run support and he runs really well.
Octavis Butler, Ryne Buckley, and Camron Crump played a lot of snaps in 2018 at LB and have bulked up in the offseason.
Demetrius Hardee will also be counted on in the secondary. Keep an eye on newcomer Devonte Gadson at safety.
Trevon Smith has impressed Pender at one CB position, and Michael McGee will get looks at both CB and WR. Pender really likes McGee’s speed and length in the secondary.
Justin Akra will lead the Pirate defensive line and a name to remember is incoming freshman Kayshawn Thomas on the defensive line.
On offense the Pirates are stacked at wide receiver. Look for a huge break out season from Amarion Whitfield, and Marlon Carmena to return to the form he flashed in early 2018 before a high ankle sprain derailed his season.
Che Foy is great in space, and look for a huge season from “The Touchdown Machine” Xavier Bean, who can catch anything in his area code according to his head coach. Kyle Patterson is developing at the position as well.
Mitchell Richburg is a hybrid FB/TE and could be a factor in both the run and pass game.
Xavier Ramsey, Caleb Cook, and Kanaya Charlton will anchor the Pirate offensive line.
Charlton could be a 4 to 5-star recruit during the 2022 recruiting cycle. He is currently 6’5 and 330 pounds with very good athletic ability. Roderick Jones will also see significant playing time. Pender thinks this group can be really good barring injury.
Chuckobe Hill and Khamori Simmons will handle the running back position as both played significant downs as freshman in 2018. Pender like the toughness of his running backs.
Look for Jashawn Wilson to insert himself into the running back mix this fall.
At QB you have returning starters Anthony Mountain and KJ Lee, but both are battling injuries this spring.
Mountain had offseason ACL surgery and should be cleared to return by September. Pender loves his leadership qualities. Lee is battling a foot injury this spring, but has an elite arm.
With the injuries Jeffery Way has been getting a lot of first unit reps and the rising sophomore has worked hard according to his head coach.
Tyrease Jones has moved over from WR and has shown tremendous foot speed in space.
Kyle Rehberg will handle the PK/P duties and has a great work ethic.
Pender says “if we play like we have been working then we have a chance to be a pretty good football team in 2019, and we’ll definitely be much, much improved from 2018”.
Pender enters his third season as Pirate head coach this fall.
Gator Call
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Franklin Stephens left Ware County and headed to the Cobb County school system last week. By doing so he left Ware looking for a football coach pretty late in the game.
While everyone else in the state is getting ready for spring football practice, Ware County has to hire a new football coach.
When a job like Ware opens up the rumor mill starts churning. Rumors fly left and right about who has applied and who might apply.
Another rumor is Ware has had 60 people apply for the opening in the past week. The internet is buzzing with big name coach sightings in Waycross.
What is special about the Ware County job? I had a retired school administrator tell me that the Ware job is the best job in southeast Georgia. Let’s take a look at the reasons why:
1.Talent: Ware County is loaded with talented athletes. Football is king in the County and Ware for the last 20 years has been a consistent winner making it to the state title game twice, many deep playoff runs, and is always a region title contender.
A new coach comes into a stacked roster with a generational player at QB, who is a rising sophomore. The Gators have speed and size everywhere. Not many jobs have the talent pool of Ware.
2.Pay: The Ware job is one of the top paying jobs in this area. The assistants are paid above scale, and football is a priority. Football pays the bills and it is invested in heavily.
3.Support: The Gators have a dedicated fan base, a renovation taking place in a historic 10,000 seat stadium and an active booster club that raises a lot of funds that support the football program.
4.Location: Ware County is within one hour of the beach, major airport and metropolitan center in Jacksonville. The Gators are in a region alignment that sets them up to win big every season.
Now let’s have some fun with speculating who would be a good candidate for this job from our area. Keep in mind I am SPECULATING here folks.
Brandon Derrick/Frederica Academy: Fresh off of a state title, Derrick can’t do much more on St. Simons Island.
The challenge at Frederica is bringing in football players to keep the numbers up.
Derrick would have JaShawn Sheffield and Jaylin Simpson type talent, or better coming through the Ware program every year. He is a good coach, who needs to land a big job like Ware. Thomas County Central hired their head man from Valwood. The precedent is there. He needs his shot.
Sean Pender/Brunswick High: The Air Raid offense in Waycross is scary to think about. The Gators put up record numbers, that still stand today, from his stint as offensive coordinator in the late 1990’s.
Ware is a one-school county and you don’t have to worry about the talent in the county being divided between three schools.
Pender knows how Ware County operates better than anyone. Mrs. Pender loves the Golden Isles however.
Rocky Hidalgo/Glynn Academy: If you can’t beat them hire them, right? The Rock is 4-2 against Ware and physically beat up the Gators in those 4 wins.
The man can coach and hires assistants better than anyone. Ware could match the money or give him a pay raise.
He would have elite talent at his disposal annually. Could he be lured away from the coast? If so, in 15 years he could have a statue of him outside of Memorial Stadium.
Jason Strickland/Pierce County: It is only a 10-mile drive to Waycross from Blackshear. The job would be a step up in classification and money for Strickland. He would be a great hire.
Pierce plays in the worst AAA region in the state, so the third-round trip in the playoffs last season could be the high-water mark there.
Tucker Pruitt/Fitzgerald: Pruitt is a good coach who could step in and win big right away at Ware. There is better talent and more money in Waycross than Fitzgerald. This could be a dream job for someone like Pruitt.
The Ware County job outside of Camden County may be the best job in South Georgia. Ware has the applicants to prove it.
Pirates Voyage Over
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Brunswick High’s season came to an end as Kevin Harris and the Bradwell Tigers beat Brunswick High 41-14 in front of a small crowd in Hinesville.
Harris scored 5 TD’s on the night for the Tigers as the Pirate run defense struggled once again with a solid running football team.
The loss ended the Pirates season. The Pirates finished the 2018 season at 3-7.
Bradwell now plays Glynn next Friday in Hinesville with a share of the region title on the line.
The 2018 season ended in disappointing fashion for the Pirates as the defense got shredded by Harris and the Tiger offense as they exposed the Pirates run defense all night long. I’m almost afraid to looked at the final rushing stats for Bradwell, but let’s just say it was a large number.
Pirate Report Card: Offense: C. BHS started Anthony Mountain at QB and the offense came out clicking with a score on the opening drive with a 25-yard TD run.
Mountain went down with a knee injury on an option pitch and the offense struggled for remainder of the first half.
KJ Lee came in and played ok for rest of the game. Jaylen Trimmings capped off his BHS career with a 100-yard performance to go out in style. The offensive line blocked fine but the Pirates got too far behind as Bradwell scored every time they had the football in the first half.
Defense: D-. This unit struggled all night long and all season. The run defense and tackling were poor, and the unit could not get off the field.
Anytime you give up 5 rushing touchdowns to a player that is worthy of an F, but I’m in a generous mood today. BHS needs defensive lineman and the search begins immediately.
Special Teams: C. The Pirates had two fake punts that resulted in first downs that kept drives alive. The kickoffs must improve next season as kicks need to travel close to the end zone.
Coaching: C. Nice game plan on offense and nice calls on the fake punts, but the defense looked helpless at times trying to stop Harris and company. Sean Pender will get things fixed on that side of the ball this off-season, but coaches can’t get out there and tackle and make plays for the players.
Overall: D. This team, while young at spots, had a chance to reach playoffs with a win but could not tackle Mr. Harris and the game got out of hand in the third quarter.
Up Next: Off season program as young talent needs to develop minds and bodies to compete for a region run in 2019.
I’m eager to see who steps up as a leader in the locker room this off-season. Since the 2010 football season the Pirates have only made the playoffs twice in 8 seasons.
This was a rebuilding season and Sean Pender will get this team back on track in 2019.
Turning The Ship Around
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Let me own up to something, I knew going into the 2018 football season for the Brunswick High Pirates this team was going to struggle.
I knew this team was going to struggle back during spring practice when I went out to watch the team before I wrote the Pirate Spring Preview for the Georgia Sports Edition.
Those who know me well know that I bleed Blue and Gold. I played on the first two football teams John Willis put on the field at Brunswick High School. I am currently the color analyst for the Pirate Radio Broadcast team for the past 12 years, past president of the booster club, and current vice-president of the Brunswick Touchdown Club.
I have been blessed to work closely with former head coaches Maurice Freeman, whom I can out fish any day of the week, Victor Floyd, who was 5-2 against Glynn, Larry Harold, and current head coach Sean Pender, who took me scalloping for the first time this past summer.
My fiancé, Sandra, knows if something were to happen to me that my football coach John Willis is to be seated with my family at my funeral and if he wants to speak then the podium is his. With that being said here are the reasons I knew this team would struggle is 2018:
1)Lack of game experience at key positions.
In 2017 BHS had 15 different players start a game on the defensive side of the ball and when the clock hit zero in that heartbreaking loss to Northside Warner Robins to end a bounce back 7-3 playoff season 13 of those players graduated.
I was positive publicly about the chances of the 2018 Pirates, but I told my close friends in private that this team was going to struggle on defense.
While this team has struggled on defense this season, especially against the run, looking ahead to 2019 the defense will have 8-10 players back that will have started a varsity game on that side of the ball. Those players will bulk up in the offseason strength and conditioning program.
2)Small senior class. The program lost 32 seniors after the 2017 season, many of which were solid contributors. This senior class only has 5-6 players that are solid contributors overall.
BHS has started a freshman at RB, DB, and OL at various times this season. This program will bounce back fine in 2019 with as many as 14-15 starters returning next season. The current 9th and 10th grade classes are stocked with good athletes.
3)Skill position players on offense had to develop on the fly. BHS lost a record setting QB and all starting WR’s, who set some single season records in year one of Sean Pender’s air raid offense.
BHS has good, young talent on offense coming back in 2019. In fact, other than Jaylen Trimmings, the Pirates return everyone in the skill areas in 2019.
Brunswick’s best skill players are freshman and sophomores this season. The biggest development area for young players is between their 10th and 11th grade seasons in high school.
BHS currently sits at 3-6 on the season with a trip to Bradwell this Friday night to close out the regular season.
If Brunswick can win and have Bradwell lose to Glynn and have Richmond Hill lose to Effingham in Springfield then the Pirates get in the playoffs in a down year.
If Effingham loses to Glynn and Richmond Hill, and Bradwell loses to BHS, and Glynn then a tie-breaker scenario kicks in that does not favor BHS.
I saw a disturbing social media post from a guy who does not support the program with his time or money complaining about the defensive coaches over the weekend. That is fine I guess, but it motivated me to write this story because I know the Pirates have quality coaches and players that will turn this around and be contender for a region title in 2019.
Keep in mind, next season with 15 starters will return, BHS plays only one region game away from Glynn County stadium. That game is at Richmond Hill, a place that BHS has never lost. The Pirates also has Coffee and Bartram Trail coming to Glynn County Stadium for non-region games.
Be patient Pirate Fans. The future is bright with this program, regardless of what pot-stirrers say on social media.
Sailing Pirates
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
One a hot muggy night at Glynn County Stadium the Brunswick High Pirates beat Monroe 42-6 on Homecoming.
Taylor Zachry was crowned the 2018 Homecoming Queen and KJ Lee passed for 3 TD’s and close to 300 yards.
Jaylen Trimmings rushed for two TD’s as the Pirate offense clicked on all cylinders and the Pirate defense continued to improve.
The Pirates now enter region play with a 3-3 record on the season as Richmond Hill comes to Glynn County Stadium for the region opener next Friday.
Pirate Report Card:
Offense: A+. The offense clicked all night long.
KJ Lee had another great game for the second week in a row. Lee tossed 3 TD’s to three different receivers.
Che Foy had another solid game with a TD catch. Amarrion Whitfield had a nice TD catch in traffic. Xavier “The Touchdown Machine” Bean caught his fifth touchdown on the season.
Jaylen Trimmings had TD runs of 49 and 2 yards and finished the game with right at 100 yards rushing.
The Pirate offensive line dominated the front seven of Monroe all night long. This was the best offensive performance of the year just in time for region play. This unit gets better week by week.
Defense: B+. The unit gave up some yards in the first half, but it set the tone after the half with a key sack by Octavius Butler on Monroe’s first possession and AJ Wilson added a 33- yard scoop and score to put the Pirates up 35-6.
Butler also recovered a fumble in the third quarter. Freddy Towns is the best defensive back in the region with another solid performance. The Pirate defense has only given up 12 points in the last 7 quarters and continues to improve.
Special Teams: A. Demetrius Hardee set up a TD late in the first half with a nice punt return and the Pirates made all 6- PAT’s. Kick coverage was pretty good most of the night. Best special teams’ effort of the season by BHS.
Coaching: A. BHS was well prepared in this contest. The offensive game-plan was excellent.
The up-tempo style kept Monroe off balance all night long. Adjustments were made at the half on defense and pressure was dialed up in the second half and forced Monroe into some turnovers.
The coaching staff has done a good job getting these kids ready for region play next week.
The Pirates were dealing with some injuries to key defensive starters in the contest, but the coaches plugged the holes and had the team ready to play at a high level.
Overall: A. The Homecoming win was the most complete effort of the year by this football team.
The team clicked on offense, the defense scored a TD and a special teams punt return set up a TD to put Brunswick up 21-6 right before the half.
The team is starting to peak as region play starts next Friday.
Next up Is Richmond Hill. The Wildcats travel to Brunswick next for the region opener. Brunswick has never lost to Richmond Hill in football.
The Pirates now stand 3-3 on the season. The next 4 games will determine the fate of the 2018 Brunswick High Pirates.
Get ready for a fun ride Pirate fans in the month of October.
Pirates Sunk By Bartram Trail
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Brunswick traveled into North Florida and ran into a buzz saw named Bartram Trail. The Pirates were blown out 35-12.
The Pirate offense put up some nice yardage but turned the ball over in the red zone too many times in the first that killed any momentum the unit developed.
The Pirate defense struggled all night to stop the Bears offense and gave up too many big plays on the evening. Brunswick High needs to find some answers on this side of the ball moving forward as the Pirates gear up for region play in October.
Pirate Report Card
Defense: D. Brunswick gave up a 95-yard drive after the offense fumbled in the red zone on the first possession.
Then they turned around and gave up a two play TD drive on the second possession to get down quickly, 14-0.
If not for Bartram committing penalties this game could have been 28-0 at the half.
Too many missed tackles, talented defensive backs getting toasted in passing situations, defensive line got manhandled all night, run defense needs to improve before region play.
Down 14-0 at the half and needing a stop the defense gave up an opening drive TD to go down 21-0. A scoop and score for a 63-yard TD kept this grade from being an F.
Major improvement is needed, but the positive is the unit is in position to make plays and they will as more game experience is gained.
Offense: D. Pirate rushing offense looked good all night. Jaylen Trimmings and freshman Chucolbe Hill looked good running the football.
Coach Pender stressed all week that he wanted his offensive line to take over football games this fall, as they are a team strength but in passing situations last night the OL gave up 8 sacks and gave up sacks on 3 straight plays late in the first half on a key drive.
The Pirates struggled all night in the red zone, coming away with 0 points on three trips, two turnovers and giving the football up on downs.
KJ Lee will continue to improve with game experience and Marlon Carmena is the most dynamic playmaker on offense and needs the ball in his hands more.
Seven turnovers in two football games will get better as the group gets valuable game experience under its belt.
Special Teams: C. A bad extra point snap and two huge penalties hurt and this area needs improvement, but the unit improved from the Coffee game. Mitchell Richburg punted well last night.
Coaching: C. Great game plan on offense, but execution let Brunswick down with turnovers and sacks. On defense Brunswick was in position most of the night but just did not execute.
Overall: C-. The night was full of sacks, turnovers, missed tackles. Bartram Trail was there for the taking if this team just had just executed the game plan. The team will improve by region time.
This Pirate team needs better play from some talented players in the secondary, more intensity from the offensive line and another receiver step up and join Marlon Carmena as a playmaker on the offensive side of the ball.
Also, Brunswick needs more passion from a defensive unit overall. The defensive coaches may need to shake things up on that side of the ball to wake a couple talented players up.
Next up: MCA next Friday in Darien
Pirates Sailing On New Tides
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Sean Pender finished 7-3 in his first season on Altama Avenue. He is entering his second season at the helm with many new faces especially on the defensive side of the ball.
While youth and inexperience may be a factor going into the 2018 season the head coach is excited about the opportunity to build and grow with his young Pirates. “We have some good talented kids, but keep in mind there will be some growing pains, but the work ethic is there and I’m looking forward to see these younger kids develop”.
The most experienced position group returning in 2018 is the offensive line. The offensive line is led by who Pender calls the best offensive lineman he has ever coached in Warren McClendon. At 6’6 and 300 lbs. McClendon is a four-star recruit by all the recruiting services and can play anywhere in the country.
McClendon will play right tackle. AJ Kirkland at 5’8 225 will move over to center and has the versatility to play guard as well. Brett Hall 6’1 240 will start at left guard. Xavier Ramsey 6’2 252 will start at left tackle, and Caleb Cook 6’2 280 will start at right guard.
Pender says his run game will be very effective this fall. Offensive Coordinator Garrett Grady commented about his OL group “They have been the hardest working kids on the field and I am expecting big things out of this group this fall”.
A name to watch is freshman Kanaya Charlton who just turned 14 years of age and is already 6’6 310 with great feet and has future start written all over him will provide depth at the position.
The QB battle is heating up this summer with KJ Lee and Anthony Mountain. Lee played some as a freshman in 2017 has a quick release and has a solid grasp on the offense according to his head coach.
Mountain is getting better every single day and his head coach loves his competitive spirit. Both struggled in the spring game but have gained confidence over the summer. If the season started today Lee would more than likely get the nod under center but keep an eye on this position battle.
Jaylen Trimmings will be the man at RB and has looked very good this summer according to his head coach, but a kid who caught my eye in practice is freshman Chucobe Hill who Pender says is his back up RB going into the fall.
The Pirates will be raw and talented at WR. Marlon Carmena, Jailyn Jones, Che Foy Xavier Beane, Amarion Whitfield, Syveion Ellis, Michael McGee, and Mitchell Richburg at hybrid TE/FB will get reps at receiver. There is a lot of speed in this group.
Richburg, and Kyle Rayburn will handle the punting duties, and Avery Yoak will be the FG kicker in 2018. Look for the kicking game to much improved this fall.
On defense, Justin Akra will be the leader in the defensive line. Pender thinks Akra will have a big season in 2018.
Keith Garrett, Xavier Stevens, and Jaylen Carter will provide depth on the defensive line. Carter looks like a potential stud at 6’3 265.
Stacy Young is back at OLB/S and is a major college prospect. Devin Lafayette, Freddy Towns, and Demetrius Hardee will make the Pirate secondary a solid group in the fall.
Billy Anderson has earned a starting job at one of the corners and Pender is looking for Peter Sheffield to step up and make an impact the back of the defense this fall. Brunswick has a proud history at DB if you look at current NFL rosters in Detroit and Seattle.
AJ Wilson and Octavious Butler will have to grow up fast and contribute right away at the LB position.
Kick returners will be Carmena, Hardee, and Sheffield.
Schedule is brutal early with road trips to Coffee and Bartram Trail in Florida. Both squads lost state title games in their classifications in 2017.
Much improved Camden comes to Glynn County Stadium in September and region road games at Effingham and Bradwell. BHS will try to avoid a 5th straight loss to Glynn Academy in the City Title game.
When asked if this is a rebuilding year Pender offered “I hope everyone feels that way about us this fall. I like the work ethic and talent on this football team. Yes, we are young but I’m excited to see this group’s potential once we get some good game experience under our belts”.
Readying The Ship
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
When you sit down with Brunswick High head football Coach Sean Pender the first question on your mind is how you replace 31 seniors from a 7-3 football team that shared a region championship from last season.
Pender is very optimistic about the 2018 Pirates as they conclude spring drills.
While youth and inexperience may be a factor going into the 2018 season, work ethic will not. “Our kids come out to practice and compete hard and listen, and this has been a fun group to teach since our winter program started in January” says Pender.
One position group that has a lot of experience returning in 2018 is the offensive line. The offensive line has four experienced players returning led by who Pender calls the best offensive lineman he has ever coached in Warren McClendon.
At 6’5 and 300 lbs, McClendon is a four-star recruit by all the recruiting services. He can play anywhere in the country that he chooses after the 2018 season is complete.
McClendon will play left tackle. AJ Kirkland will move over to center and has the versatility to play guard as well. Brett Hall returns at guard after bulking up to 250 pounds with the off-season strength and conditioning program. Xavier Ramsey will contend for All Region honors at the other tackle position, and Caleb Cook may win the other guard position. Pender thinks his run game will be solid in 2018 with this group leading the way.
Pender who coaches his QB’s really hard thinks he has some quality at the position in KJ Lee and Anthony Mountain.
Lee played some as a freshman in 2017 and has a quick release. He has a solid grasp on the offense according to his head coach. Mountain, a transfer, played the backup role in 2017 at Glynn Academy. He is learning the offense and a new set of fundamentals as he goes from a run-oriented attack to a spread offense. Both will get some serious looks at QB. Watch this battle as it develops over the summer.
Jaylen Trimmings will be the workhorse at RB and has worked really hard in the offseason for the role. The Pirates will be young and talented at WR. Marlon Carmena, Jailyn Jones, Xavier Bean, Amarion Whitfield, Syveion Ellis, Tyrease Jones, Michael McGee, and Mitchell Richburg will get reps at receiver as this offense gets the ball in a lot of hands. Pender is really high on Che Foy who will see double duty at slot and RB in 2018.
Richburg and Mountain will handle the punting duties and Avery Yoak will be the FG kicker in 2018.
On defense the Pirates lost 13 of 15 players who saw varsity action in 2017.
Justin Akra will be the leader in the defensive line. Pender thinks Akra will have a big season in 2018.
Stacy Young is back at OLB/S and is a major college prospect who Pender calls the leader of the defense. Devin Lafayette, Freddy Towns, and Demetrius Hardee will make the Pirate secondary a solid group in the fall.
Keith Garrett, Xavier Stevens, Jaylen Carter, and George Humphries will provide depth on the defensive line.
The Pirates lost a ton at LB due to graduation, but some talent is ready to step in make a name for themselves. AJ Wilson, Octavis Butler, and Ryne Buckley will have to grow up fast and contribute right away.
Offensively, Pender wants to run his base offense and expects his run game to be solid and is looking for consistency in the passing game.
Defensively the head coach says he wants to see his young kids flying to the point of attack in a bad mood and playing fast and physical.
Pirates Sailing To Next Level
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Brunswick High School had a school record 13 kids sign letters of intent on National Signing Day. Glynn County is becoming a hotbed of high school football talent and this year produced a bumper crop at athletes going to the next level from BHS.
Let’s go through each signee in numerical order:
#1 Sharrod Frazier: Marshall University. The Thundering Herd are getting a top caliber athlete who can flat out fly. Frazier’s speed should get him on the field early for the Herd.
#2 Kam Futch: West Georgia. Futch a three-year starter for the Pirates was very high on the Wolves board at LB. Futch will now team up with Hunter Hall from Glynn in Carrollton to form the foundation from the Golden Isles to solidify the middle of the Wolves defense for next four years.
#4 DJ Whitfield: Valdosta State. Whitfield is a speedy WR who had a great senior season for Sean Pender. He could see early playing time at VSU.
#5 Aubrey Williams: The United States Naval Academy. Very impressive to sign with Navy and speaks volumes about the quality of this young man.
#6 Alonzo Brown: University of Virginia-Wise. Brown had a record breaking season at WR for BHS. Look for Brown to play right away and maybe take a starting spot.
#7 Jaylen Jackson: Georgia Tech. Jackson is the best overall athlete I have seen come through BHS since Darius Slay. Jackson will have a fine career at GT.
#8 Jamarius Stevens: Hocking College, OH: The single season total offense record holder for BHS gets a shot to play QB in college. Hocking got a good athlete with a rocket arm.
#10 Rudy Nixon: ASA Miami: Nixon is a physical specimen who will develop into a fine college player.
#13 Tevin Small: Valdosta State: Small was Mr. Versatility at BHS and the Blazers got a diamond in the rough with Small.
#51 Ty Hinson: Valdosta State: VSU got a leader and a kid that will work hard and will never make your program look bad. Look for Hinson to be a future starter at VSU.
#59 John Cano: Reinhardt University. Reinhardt got a top-notch student athlete and a immediate starter at OL who plays with a mean streak that separates him from others.
#81 Malik Alston: Highlands. Alston developed into a dangerous red zone threat for Sean Pender’s Pirates and with his tall frame will develop into the same at Highlands.
#99 George Mincey Jr: Valdosta State. Mincey came on his senior year and became an All Region player. He should become a future VSU starter.
What a class for BHS. These kids played for three head coaches in four years and went out as co-region champions with a 7-3 record and laid the foundation for the quick turnaround their senior season.
