Offseason Program Profiles: Harrisburg Cougars

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>2022 Season Recap</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a great 2022 season for the Cougars, going 11-3 overall and 6-1 in conference play. Their offense was one of the best in the central part of the state, averaging 33.5 points a game while their defense allowed just a mere 11.8 points a contest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After starting their season with a 32-3 win over Delaware Valley, they suffered an early setback against Manheim Township. After that first loss, they would go on to win nine of their next 10 games including wins over Cumberland Valley, Central Dauphin, Wilson, and Central York, and a revenge win over Manheim Township in the playoffs. Their only loss in the stretch came against State College. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After outing Manheim Township, the Cougars got revenge once again on State College in the state semi-finals with a 27-7 win. Their season, however, would fall just short of their ultimate goal as they ran into the full-powered and well-oiled machine known as St. Joes Prep who defeated Harrisburg 42-7 in the state championship game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>Key Losses:</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB [player_tooltip player_id='146545' first='Kyle' last='Williams'] Jr (168 carries, 1,118 yards, 17 TD ; 55 receptions, 668 yards, 8 TD)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DE [player_tooltip player_id='259521' first='Terrell' last='Reynolds'] (113 tot tackles, 73 solo, 32 TFL, 22.5 sacks)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WR [player_tooltip player_id='306912' first='Ameer' last='Grandberry'] (34 receptions, 411 yards, 1 TD)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>SS [player_tooltip player_id='357948' first='Amir' last='Jones'] (86 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 4 interceptions)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB [player_tooltip player_id='249232' first='Mahkai' last='Hopkins'] (203 carries, 1,361 yards, 16 TD)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WR [player_tooltip player_id='357948' first='Amir' last='Jones'] (12 receptions, 134 yards, 2 TD; 4 interceptions, 10 passes defended)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ATH Zakaii Lewis (82 tackles, 5 TFL, 3 interceptions)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ATH Amarion McMillian (30 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 interception)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OL Shamar Humphrey</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OL Tymere Jennings</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>Key Returners:</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 QB Shawn Lee (140-for-207, 67.6%, 1,744 yards, 17 TD, 8 INT)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 WR [player_tooltip player_id='212414' first='Elias' last='Coke'] (24 receptions - 409 yards - 6 TD)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 WR Nayquan Prather ( 7 receptions - 82 yards)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 ATH [player_tooltip player_id='916999' first='Quincy' last='Brannon'] ( 8 receptions - 42 yards ; 2 interceptions, 16 passes defended)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 LB Kymir Williams (65 tackles, 12.0 TFL)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 LB Demone Maxwell (82 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 DE [player_tooltip player_id='255741' first='Ryan' last='Epps'] (63 tackles, 18.0 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 DB Rytel Bryant (54 tackles, 5 interceptions, 12 passes defended)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 OL/DL Trenton Moffitt (24 tackles, 3 TFL)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 OL Sir Kayne Vennable</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 OL Kamerel Singleton-Brown</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 OL Elijah Murphy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>2023 Season Outlook: </strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cougars are going to have to replace a ton of talent, there's no question about that. With that, the beginning of their season may be a little tougher as they gel together and look to replace those key pieces. That being said, this program has repeatedly been able to replace big-time contributors in the past and I expect the same in 2023. Replacing the running back duo of [player_tooltip player_id='146545' first='Kyle' last='Williams'] Jr and [player_tooltip player_id='249232' first='Mahkai' last='Hopkins'] may be their biggest test - quarterback Shawn Lee was third in rushing yards this past season but someone else will need to carry the load for the Cougars. Right now Mekhi Newman appears to have the upper hand to do so. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Replacing defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='146545' first='Kyle' last='Williams'] and strong safety [player_tooltip player_id='357948' first='Amir' last='Jones'] will also be incredibly tough. Reynolds was one of the most productive defensive ends in the state and that talent simply doesn't grow on trees. Jones, on the other hand, was a strong stabilizing presence in the secondary for Harrisburg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The good news, however, is that they do return offensively most of their offensive line as well as quarterback Shawn Lee Jr. Watch for 2026 wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='212414' first='Elias' last='Coke'] to have a breakout season this upcoming year and I also expect 2024 wideout Nayquan Pather to see more production as well. Finally, defensively, while they do lose Reynolds and Jones, they still return a strong amount of their production from last season including 2024 linebacker Demone Maxwell, 2025 linebacker Kymir Williams, and defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='255741' first='Ryan' last='Epps'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If the Cougars can find a way to replace their lost production quickly next fall, they have a chance to once again be competing for a state championship come December. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->