We tell you everything you need to know about the 2023 Mainland football team, including roster changes and what fans can expect from the Buccaneers this season.
2022 Stats
- Overall Record: 11-4
- Points Scored: 467
- Points Allowed: 273
Key Losses
Head coach Travis Roland said he will lose players who played big and also were tremendous leaders. That group includes a couple of team captains in ILB Ty Richmond and ATH Ajai Harrell.
“They were both big-time leaders,” Roland said.
Richmond collected 135 tackles, including 47 TFL and 5 sacks over the last two seasons. He is headed to Warner University to play for the Royals. Harrell will take his talents to Alabama State after gaining over 2,400 all-purpose yards in his Mainland career.
The 2022 Florida Class 3S Player of the Year was Mainland QB Damarcus Creecy, who is headed to Army after throwing for 31 TDs and rushing for 513 yards with 2 TDs in his senior season. Offensive guard Malcolm Curry has graduated and will join teammate Richmond at Warner, while receiver James Randall leaves via transfer after catching 14 TD passes in 2022.
“We will miss every one of those guys,” Roland said. “They were all big-time players for us.”
Who’s Back
Mainland returns a lot of the talent that helped the 2022 Buccaneers reach the Class 3S state finals, and they also add a couple of players via transfer. Those coming back include DL Ramon McCollough, the team’s sack leader last season; four-star DL LJ McCray; and four-star LB Rodney “RJ” Hill, who Roland said has committed to Tulane University.
“RJ is a heat-seeking missile,” Roland said.
Other returnees include WR Clarence McCloud, OL Elijah Walker, CB Xavier Mincey, and three-star DT/OG Christian Hudson. Roland said the two-way standout is being projected as a college DT. All-Area DB Eli Gilyard return to the Bucs defensive backfield, reinforcing what Roland said will be one of his team’s greatest strengths this season.
Arriving at Mainland’s offseason camp are transfers Dennis “DJ” Murray and three-star ATH Ezaiah Shine. The latter actually played for Mainland two seasons ago before transferring to another school, but Roland said he now is back for his senior season.
What to Expect
Mainland has all the talent to make another run at the Class 3S state championship. Roland seems to have a great relationship with his players, and they seem to respond well to their coach, a former Mainland player himself. The Buccaneers have made the state playoffs for 27 consecutive seasons, but it’s not just making it to the postseason that this 2023 Mainland football team will be striving for.
“We are very happy with where we are right now as a team and our level of talent,” Roland told ITG Next.
Roland took this team from a 5-5 finish in 2021 to 11 wins and a chance at a state championship last season, and he said that is the expectation this year’s team and all future Mainland teams should have every year.
“With our talent on this year’s team, we think we have a great shot at playing for a state title, but that is the standard we have set here,” he said. “It’s the Bucs Way.”
Prediction
This 2023 Mainland football team is state championship-caliber. Look for them to return to the title game. 12-2 record.
Game to Watch
Osceola on October 20. The Kowboys were one of the few teams that defeated the Bucs last season.
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