We tell you everything you need to know about the 2022 Brooks County football team in this preview. We take a look at roster changes and what fans can expect from the team this season.
2021 Stats
- Overall Record: 12-2
- Points Scored: 678
- Points Against: 266
Key Losses
Brooks County will say goodbye to one of the all-time greats to ever suit up for the Trojans, as running back Omari Arnold has graduated. He had an amazing 6,558 yards rushing during his time at Brooks, averaging almost a first down (9.7 yds) per carry. He had 115 rushing touchdowns, and caught nine passes for scores as well. Arnold also was effective on Trojans special teams, ending his career with 438 punt return yards and 480 kickoff return yards.
Wide receiver Willie Brown is another big-time player who leaves behind impressive numbers, with 31 TDs on 2,383 receiving yards and 126 catches. While he didn’t put up the same kind of numbers when running the football, he still rushed for one TD on 24 carries. Brown played in 46 games during his career at Brooks.
The Trojans will enter the season without stud LB Christian Edgerton, who ended up with seven sacks for his career at Brooks County. Those were a part of Edgerton’s 158 total tackles while a Trojan. Wide receiver /strong safety Tramaine Demps also had himself quite a career at Brooks County – the graduated senior finished his time as a Trojan with 62 catches for 23 TDs and 1,124 yards.
Who’s Back
Returning in 2022 to help Brooks County defend its state championship will be dual-threat QB Jamal Sanders. His return to the Trojan offense will help lessen the blow of losing Arnold. Sanders enters his final season with 2,491 yards passing and 30 TDs. He’s just as much of a threat running with the football, as his 1,256 rushing yards and 25 TDs attest.
Senior RB/LB Kamari Blankumsee will be back to offer help in the running game, as well as on the defense once again. Blankumsee has 182 career total tackles, including three sacks and a forced fumble. His defensive mate at LB, Jeremiah Henderson, will be back, and the senior LB/REC seeks to add to his already impressive stat line of 139 tackles, including four sacks, four forced fumbles, and three interceptions, including one that was returned for a TD.
Head coach Maurice Freeman said he is expecting sophomore RB Chris Cole Jr. to mature into his role in the Trojan offense and hopefully fill at least part of the major void left behind with the departure of Arnold.
What To Expect
Three consecutive trips to the state championship game finally paid off last season with a dominating performance and victory in the Class A Public title match, a win over rival Irwin County. Freeman has spent the offseason proudly introducing fans of the Trojans to the GHSA State Championship trophy. He said he wanted fans to feel closer to what a championship feels like, so he toured Georgia with the hard-earned hardware.
Now, it’s time to focus on the 2022 season, and the question on everyone’s mind is this: Can Brooks County do it again? Freeman said a lot will depend on the Trojan defense’s ability to play a stingy brand of football, keeping opposing offenses in check long enough for the offense to gel.
“We must rely on defense early in the season, while our offensive weapons grow up,” he said.
Speaking of the offense, Freeman said it will likely take more than one player to fill the void left behind with the loss of Arnold.
“Jamal Sanders and Kamari Sanders, along with Chris Cole Jr., will have to take up the slack,” he said.
The coach is putting players through a tryout of sorts, looking for someone with ball-catching skills to step up.
“We need that big receiver, and hopefully we’ll find ’em,” said Freeman. “Our goals to begin with are simple. Make the playoffs and bring that hammer.”
Prediction
Can Freeman work his magic again? If anyone can do it, Freeman can. I see 12 wins in 2022.
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