By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Barnwell — After two highly successful coaching tenures at Barnwell High School, former head football coach Dwayne Garrick, is moving on to become the head coach at Aiken High.
In late April, Barnwell school officials announced Garrick’s replacement would be coaching veteran Brian Smith, who had spent the past three seasons at Ridge Spring- Monetta where he led the Trojans to a state championship appearance in 2020.
Smith was the youngest head coach in the state in 1995 (age 25) when he was hired as the head coach at Strom Thurmond. He led the Rebels to a state title finals appearance there also.
“I have coached in numerous places over my career,” said Smith. “No where have I found a community like Barnwell when it comes to being rabid about their high school football team. From the Superintendent, the Principal, on down to the fans around town, it didn’t take me long to understand the expectations for winning here are very high.
“It is our job as the new football coaching staff at Barnwell to do our very best to prepare the team for success,” said Coach Smith. “We are given the support and the resources here to have what it takes to compete at a very high level. I am excited to become the head football coach here and we will work hard to keep the great tradition of Barnwell High football strong.”
Coach Smith has retained seven varsity football coaches from the old staff. The only significant new hire is defensive coordinator Isacc Cooper who worked at Laurens High last year. Cooper focused on coaching linebackers with the Raiders.
During recent Spring football drills at Barnwell, Coach Smith said he and his staff focused mainly on adapting the offense to more of a passing attack although he said the Warhorses will still maintain a running game as well. They will focus a lot on the defense over the summer once Coach Cooper I son board full-time.
Coach Smith said there are three returning starters back on defense and four on offense. “There will be a lot of players competing for playing time at many positions,” said Coach Smith. “We have only four or five seniors on the team this season and senior leadership is always important to a team.”
A huge bright spot-on offense is the return of rising junior quarterback Cameron Austin (6-1,170). “We are going to take advantage of Cam’s strong arm in the passing game, and also his ability to make things happen with his legs in the running game,” said Coach Smith. “In Spring drills, we had some formations where we had five wide-outs and we also worked on plays where we used tight ends.
“I think Barnwell threw the ball around 80 times last season and with a great running back like Tyler Smith it was smart to run the ball a lot,” said Coach Smith. “We don’t have a Tyler Smith this season so we have to attack defenses in a multiple of ways.”
Two other key players on offense are the return of offensive lineman Slaten Ragsdale (6-3, 305) ho earned all-region honors last season. “Slaten is a good -looking ball player and his good feet with very good arm extension,” said Coach Smith. “He has several colleges looking at him and he recently picked up an offer from Erskine.”
Junior wide receiver Jaquan Peeples also returns to give Austin a big play receiver with sure hands. Lane Evans, an excellent place kicker also returns. Austin will handle punting duties. Picking up running back duties will the return of junior Jordan Peeples who ran well as a sophomore.
Some of the offensive line candidates include left tackle Tony Cherry, sophomore left guard Copeland Owens, and junior Caleb Wilson competing for a starting center position. Junior Lamar Buxton came out of Spring drills as the likely starter at right guard. Junior newcomer Clayton Zissett is the likely starter at tight end when practices begin in late July.
Coach Smith was hesitant to talk a lot about the defense as that area will be focused on more in June with the full- time arrival of Coach Cooper.
Coach Smith did mention the return of junior linebacker Lex Thomas (6-3, 180) and defensive back Jordan Peeples as two bright spots for the stop troops.
Barnwell will begin the 2023 season on Thursday night at Williston-Elko on August, 17.
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