OCA Football Sets Sights On Four-Peat
Oceanside Collegiate Head coach Brent LaPrad says much of the focus during the offseason was not only to find players that were ready to be starters but also to build some depth.
By David Shelton
Senior Writer
Mt. Pleasant – Oceanside Collegiate Academy, winners of three consecutive state titles coming into the 2026 season, are as inexperienced as they have been at any time during their successful run.
Despite an 0-2 start, Oceanside Collegiate Academy enters the 2026 football season as a strong candidate to win the AAA title this fall. While the Landsharks did suffer considerable personnel losses along the trenches, there is an abundance of talent and experience in most every other area on the field.
Head coach Brent LaPrad says much of the focus during the offseason was not only to find players that were ready to be starters but also to build some depth.
“We lost a bunch of linemen on both sides of the ball and we all know its hard to win if you aren’t good up front,” the coach said.
Skill position players is not an issue. Back to run the high-powered offense is senior Aiden Manavian, who took over as the starter during the playoffs of his freshman year and has been at the helm for all three of the state title runs. Manavian is nearing 10,000 career passing yards and threw 42 touchdown passes last season.
The passing game will feature a pair of Power 4 receivers in seniors Jaiden Kelly-Murray (Colorado) and Anthony Williams (North Carolina). Cooper Webb was a key factor last seson and newcomer Marquis Muhammad will be involved as well.
Senior James O’Connor has returned from injury and will be the RB1 entering the season. Senior Jaxson Bean is a returning linemen with potential to play on either line. Junior Parker Lee also has some experience and will play tackle. Noah Anderson is starting at left guard and Grayson Stutsman is the starting center. Bean is at right tackle and Will Hunt is the starter at right guard.
“We feel good about the guys we have identified up front but they need time to gel as a unit,” LaPrad said. “We have more questions on the defensive line. We have good kids and I know they will work hard to gel, but we are learning on the go. We’re pretty inexperienced.””
Defensive backs Michael Strickler and Cole Gaspar are two key returners on the defense. Strickler, a hybrid safety, had nearly 100 tackles last season while Gaspar had five interceptions.
Awesome Cull and Will Zorn are the starting ends, with Bean and Jayden Gates on the inside up front. Working at linebacker are Tyler Stafford, Isiah Brock, and Blanton Kessinger.
The Landsharks opened the season with two losses, falling to James Island in the season opener (41-21) and to Cannon Academy of Concord, NC (22-21).
