High Hopes For Barnwell Football In 2024 Coming Out Of Spring Drills
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Barnwell - Barnwell head football coach Brian Smith (131-116) enters his second season directing the tradition rich Warhorse program and during May Spring drills 45 varsity candidates worked out over a two-week period preparing for the upcoming 2024 season.
When the HSSR releases their first AA football pre-season ranking in early July, Barnwell should be ranked among the top five AA program in South Carolina for the upcoming season.
Some observers refer to Smith’s first season in Barnwell as an over-achievement season as Coach Smith and his staff developed a very young team into an 8-win, third round AA playoff contender. The Warhorses went on the road in the second round of the play-offs last season and upset a 10-win higher seeded Marion team, 31-25. Barnwell was eliminated the following week by eventual AA champion Oceanside Collegiate, who have moved up in classification this season.
“We are excited about our upcoming season,” said Coach Smith. “Our goals have not changed. Our kids have really worked hard this off-season to maintain the level of excellence that Barnwell High school has exhibited for so long.
“Our kids know that the only way to improve is through hard work and that excellence does not take a day off,” said Coach Smith.
One bright spot for Barnwell is the return of two-sport star Cameron Austin who committed to South Carolina in baseball this past April. Austin ran a 4.54 forty at a Shrine Bowl/North South joint combine at Woodland High in the Spring. He completed 144-of-185 passes last season for 1,765 yards and 13 touchdowns. Austin also rushed for 911 yards on 135 carries adding 21 rushing touchdowns. Austin is ranked as the number 16 over-all football prospect in the current HSSR Top 100 list.
Despite being pledged to South Carolina baseball Coach Smith said, “Cam is having colleges check in on him and many have stopped by to view film during Spring ball,” he said.
In addition to Austin, the team returns 11 seniors who could all start once the season begins. The top receivers back include Jaquan Peeples, Logan Sturkie, and Kahzeer Wesley. Tony Cherry and Lamar Buxton return in the offensive line.
On defense the team will be strong at linebacker with three potential senior starters returning. They are Jeremiah Eaddy, Lex Thomas, and Clayton Zissett. Jordan Peeples returns in the secondary and place kicker Lane Evans returns for his senior season.
The top newcomers on the team, expected to be major contributors, include freshman running back/receiver Jayden Peeples and senior Jayden Rollins.
Coach Smith has a projected starting group coming out of Spring drills that is subject to change by the start of August drills. On offense 8 starters are back led by Austin at quarterback. Nehimiah Brown is the projected starting running back, and the four-wide receiving consists of Peeples, Wesley, Sturkie, and Trey Boleman. Buxton and Cherry could be joined in the offensive line by Copeland Owens, Caleb Wilson, and Jackson Bedingfield.
On defense, five starters return for Barnwell. The projected starting group consists of Zissett, Jahlian Carter, and AJ Miller in the defensive front, The two inside linebackers are expected to be Thomas and Eaddy and the outside linebackers are currently led by Hayden Pierce and Jayden Pinckney. The corner backs expected to start are Pinckney and Damajhai Devore, and the double free softies are Jayden Rollins and William Robinson. Evans will handle kicking and punting duties.
Barnwell will scrimmage at Blythewood on August, 8 against teams from North Augusta, Catawba Ridge, Rock Hill, and Blythewood. On August, 12 Barnwell will host Aiken in a scrimmage before competing against Saluda in the Strom Thurmond hosted jamboree on August, 16. Barnwell opens the 2024 season against Blackville-Hilda on August, 23rd.
The Barnwell assistant football coaches include: Jon Burdge, Issac Cooper, William Hammonds, Alan LeRoy, Cody McCollum, Britt Pender, and athletic director Derek Youngblood.
