Game Faces: 2020 New Brockton Players to Watch

The New Brockton Gamecocks come into 2020 with a group of veteran playmakers that look to push the school over the playoff hump this season.

While New Brockton is forced to replace a 1,000-yard rusher for the second straight season and an FBS level tight end, the Gamecock offense has a veteran signal-caller, returning starters across the offensive line and an athletic group of playmakers that will make up the difference.

On defense, New Brockton returns a majority of starters and also gets some transfers that will fill in the hole left by some key players.

Brik Schofield, Sr., Offensive Line/Defensive Line: While Schofield isn’t a returning starter from last season, the 6-foot, 250-pound lineman is still a veteran player with plenty of experience.

Schofield left the team as a junior but has returned a new man as a senior and will be a leader on the offensive and defensive line.

“When we got here he struggled at points to adjust to the culture we were building here and he made the decision not to play anymore. I think that is the best thing that ever happened to him, though,” New Brockton coach Zack Holmes said. “He realized how much he missed football and missed being with his friends. His worked his tail off in the offseason and is turning into exactly the type of player I thought he could be. I don’t think that would have happened if last year didn’t go the way it did.

Jamarcus Brown, Jr., Running Back: The 5-foot-8-inch, 200-pound running back has always heard about his brother, Jahari, who is the all-time leading rusher at New Brockton, but now Brown looks to break out of his brother’s shadow and create his own legacy.

“Being Jahari’s little brother he knows how to play running back at New Brockton and we need him to be that guy,” Holmes said. “He’s bigger this year and he understands our running plays on offense as well as anyone else. He’s a consistent, great back that’s going to pound the ball and he’s not afraid to pass protect either. I’m excited for him to finally be in the spotlight.”

In 2019, playing behind 1,000-yard rusher Kyan Horne, Brown still managed 301 yards and three touchdowns on 56 rushing attempts as a sophomore.

Clay Reynolds, Sr., Fullback: Holmes described Reynolds as the “brains of the operation” on offense.

“Kaden (Cupp), Kyan, Russell (Weeks) and those guys got all the accolades on offense last year but Clay is really the guy that helped make things go,” Holmes said. “He understands our whole offense – he and Kaden are right there with each other – than just about anybody else. He’s the glue that makes everything stick together on offense.”

While the 6-foot, 200-pound Reynolds has been known more as a blocker in his high school career, he’ll get a chance to touch the ball more as a senior.

“We’re coming up with some ways to get the ball to him more because he deserves that,” Holmes emphasized. “Clay’s senior year is about everything he’s learned, being a coaches son and everything he’s done for the team.”

Avery Weed, Sr., Cornerback/Wide Receiver: Weed is coming off a season where he earned some starts at cornerback but will now be called on start in the secondary and also join the rotation on offense at receiver. The 5-foot-9-inch, 167-pound Weed has packed on muscle in the offseason.

“He’s gained around 20 pounds in the offense,” Holmes said of Weed. “Some of the balls Russell caught last year will be distributed to Avery and others.

“He wants to be a coach, so he soaks up all the knowledge you can give him. Defensively, he will do whatever you coach him to do to the best of his ability and that’s all you can ask for. He will get to play more snaps this season than he ever has so it will be interested to see what that looks and how it translates for him.”

Jordan Tacey, Jr., Running Back/Linebacker: Tacey transferred to New Brockton from Enterprise and is expected to be an immediate playmaker for the Gamecocks.

“I’m really excited to see him play. He has some wiggle and burst that is going to help us tremendously,” Holmes said. “Jordan is in the same mode of a lot of these guys. He’ll play more snaps in a game this year than he’s ever played in varsity football and that’s going to be different for him.”

Tacey – who stands at 5-foot-8-inches and weighs 179 pounds – played fullback and tailback at Enterprise as a sophomore and rushed for 37 yards on 10 attempts with one catch for seven yards. Tacey is expected to split carries with Brown in the New Brockton backfield but also play at outside linebacker on defense.

“I hate to use the word potential but he has a lot of potential,” Holmes said. “He approaches practice and the game like you want kids to and I think that will translate and he’ll be able to help us on offense an defense. He could be a breakout guy for us.”

Cameron “Hambone” McGhee, Sr., Center: New Brockton’s leader on the offensive line, known affectionately by his teammates as “Hambone,” was a key cog in an offensive line that paved the way for more than 2,000 yards rushing last season.

“Hambone played center for us last year and did a good job,” Holmes said. “He anchored the line last year when Horne averaged six yards per carry. His longest run was 35 yards, though, so you he was getting six and eight yards every carry. A lot of that has to do with the line.”

With two sophomores starting next to him at guard, the five-foot-11-inch, 305-pound McGhee is going to be called on to help lead those young linemen.

“We’re expecting him to take those two sophomore guards and lead them in the middle to there to get the line going,” Holmes said. “The offensive line will go as far as he goes.”

Curtis Wambles, So., Offensive Lineman: Wambles was called on to start at offensive tackle in the middle of the season last season and never relinquished that role.

“Midway through the season we needed a tackle, so we put him in there and he started the rest of the year,” Holmes said. “We couldn’t find a reason to take him out as a freshman.”

Holmes said that the 6-foot-2-inch, 250-pound Wambles could end up being a big-time lineman for the Gamecocks.

“Guys like CJ (Wilkerson) and Cupp started at freshmen, so that’s the type of player he is,” Holmes said. “He’ll end up being really good. He won’t be real vocal but he’ll just go to work every day and do his job.”

Bradley Adkinson, So., Offensive Guard: Adkinson is easily the biggest Gamecock of them all standing 6-foot-3-inches and weighing in at 330 pounds.

“He’s huge an he’s only a sophomore. Over quarantine being away from school Bradley realized how much it meant to him and so he has worked his tail off,” Holmes said. “He’s strong and it’s really showing up for him. People notice big people so people are going to notice him, and if he plays the way he can he could be a special player.”

Jack Royce, Sr., Linebacker: Royce returns to the Gamecocks after deciding not to play his junior year. Holmes said that 5-foot-10-inch, 160-pound Royce was one of the players that stood out on film when he was getting ready to accept the position at New Brockton last year.

“He’s playing outside linebacker and doing a really good job,” Holmes said. “ He knows enough football that it’s almost like he didn’t even miss a year. He’s doing a great job defensively for us and I think he’ll help us tremendously.”

Tre Boland, Sr., Safety/Tight End: The son of former Auburn offensive lineman Todd Boland, Tre Boland is expected to start next to Marsh at safety in the Gamecock secondary.

“He plays weak safety and he has football in his blood,” Holmes said. “He’s a guy that will split reps at tight end and will make some catches for us. He’s going to continue grow physically but also as a player overall.”

Holmes said that he also expects the 5-foot-8-inch, 170-pound Boland to take on a leadership role in the Gamecock secondary.

“If Colton is the general back there then Trae is the colonel,” Holmes said. “We’re looking for him to take on a leadership role in the secondary.”