Summer Preview: 2022 Brandon Bulldog Summer Preview

Brandon began the 2021 season 0-2 before they brought an eleven-game winning streak into the State Championship game against Madison Central on December 3. The Bulldogs came up just short, falling to the Jaguars 24-17, with Madison Central scoring the winning touchdown with just three minutes left to play. Brandon has a veteran quarterback, thunder and lighting type of backfield, and two dynamic wide receivers returning for the 2022 season. The Bulldogs are looking to make 2022 the year to win their first state championship in football in school history, and for that to happen, the dogs will lean heavily on these five players to help win it all. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="273250" first="Landon" last="Varnes"] | 5’11" QB | Junior </strong></span> Varnes is 5’11" tall and 178 lbs; Varnes made sure there was no doubt who the signal-caller should be for the Bulldogs in 2021. He finished the 2021 season throwing for 2,547 yards with 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. His strong cannon-like arm is one of the many abilities that make him special. Not only does he possess a strong arm, but he can also throw a ball with just enough touch to allow his receivers to make a play on the ball when they are in tight coverage. WIth Varnes set to be Quarterback #1 again in 2022, the Bulldogs are one of the schools favored to win it all. <strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="108964" first="Jarvis" last="Durr"] | 5’11" RB | Senior </span></strong> Durr is 5’11" tall and 183lbs; Durr is the lighting of the backfield the Bulldogs have returning in 2022. He can make any play memorable when the ball is in his hands. Durr finished 2021 with 214 carries for 1,100 yards and was responsible for16 touchdowns. He was electrifying in the loss to Madison Central, where he rushed for 116 yards on 37 carries with one touchdown. Durr does not shy away from the physicality of running between the tackles, but he tends to be at his best when he gets outside the tackles and into the open field. The Bulldog’s backfield in 2022 has the potential to be more dynamic than it was in 2021. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="273259" first="Nate" last="Blount IV"] | 5 "11" RB | Junior</strong></span> Blount is 5’11″ tall and 220lbs; Blount is the thunder of the backfield the Bulldogs have returning in 2022. In 2021, as a sophomore, Blount rushed for 1,442 yards on 246 carries and finished with 17 touchdowns. Blount is an explosive, powerful back with great vision, making him a lot of fun to watch. Like Durr, Blount can do a little of it all, but he is at his best when running the ball between the tackles. If Blount can stay healthy, he will finish as one of the top running backs in Mississippi and play a significant role in Brandon’s success in 2022. <strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="107036" first="Lester" last="Miller"] | 5’11" WR | Senior</span></strong> Miller is 5’11" tall and 160 lbs; In 2021, Miller finished with 44 receptions for 898 yards and had eight touchdown receptions. He typically lines up on the outside, but at times you can find him playing a slot position. Miller may not be the biggest man on the field, but he plays like he is. Miller has solid hands and runs some of the cleanest routes 6A football has to offer in Mississippi. Watching him play might even remind some of the former Ole Miss wide receiver Elijah Moore. Miller will have the opportunity this fall to build his resume and let everyone know who he is as a football player. <strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Devin Thigpen | 5’10" WR | Senior</span></strong> Thigpen is 5’10" tall and 162lbs; In 2021, Thigpen finished with 52 receptions for 845 yards and had nine touchdown receptions. He is typically lined up in a slot position when the Bulldog offense is on the field. One thing that separates him from other receivers is his willingness to get down the field and block for an extended time. Thigpen is so dangerous because of his quickness and ability to make people miss both in traffic and the open field. With his speed and quickness, Thigpen will hugely impact how dynamic the Bulldog offense will be this fall.