2024 WV Team Preview: Bridgeport Indians

The 2023 version of the Bridgeport Indians ended their season in the Class AAA semifinals with one of the wildest high school football you'll ever see in a 73-70 shootout loss to eventual runner-ups the Princeton Tigers. Both of those programs will now be competing in the new Class AAA after being moved down a class and could once again face each other deep into the playoffs in 2024. The Indians return a big chunk of their talent from a season ago and will reload as they'll be vying for their first state championship appearance since 2019. The move down should greatly benefit those aspirations as they competed last season as one of the smallest schools in the old Class AAA.   Leading the way up front and opening holes for their single-wing offense will be Top 30 2025 OL/DL [player_tooltip player_id='450992' first='Wes' last='Brown Jr'] who returns as one of the top big men in the entire state on both sides of the ball. Bridgeport will once again have a plethora of running backs to hand off to in [player_tooltip player_id='1097603' first='Josh' last='Love'], Time Jeffress, and [player_tooltip player_id='1159732' first='Cam' last='Martin'] among others who will also see their fair share of time on defense as well. 2025 TE/LB [player_tooltip player_id='908114' first='Donovan' last='Williams'] returns as their leading pass catcher from a season ago when they do decide to throw the ball. 2025 DL [player_tooltip player_id='1226810' first='Bear' last='Metheney'] is an underrated lineman prospect name to know and will complement Brown Jr well from the interior of the defensive and offensive line along with 2026 OL [player_tooltip player_id='1138213' first='Noah' last='West'] as well. 2027 K [player_tooltip player_id='1155329' first='Gavin' last='Williams'] will place inside of our upcoming 2027 rankings debut as one of the early top specialists in the class with the athleticism to see time as a skill player too. 2025 DB [player_tooltip player_id='1306464' first='Alex' last='Moses'], 2025 LB, [player_tooltip player_id='909001' first='Jon' last='Bender'], and 2025 ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1306624' first='Jack' last='Spatafore'] are other names to know this season.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2024 TEAM SCHEDULE</h2>   08/30 (H) Buckhannon Upshur 09/06 (A) Morgantown 09/13 (H) East Fairmont 09/20 (A) Linsly 09/27 (H) Robert C. Byrd 10/04 (H) Brooke 10/11 (A) Parkersburg South 10/18 (H) Preston 10/25 (-) Open 11/01 (A) Fairmont Senior 11/08 (H) Lincoln   2024 Record Prediction: 9-1   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">PLAYERS TO KNOW</h2>    2025 Bridgeport DL [player_tooltip player_id='450992' first='Wes' last='Brown Jr'] is a prospect that we at PRZ WV have written a ton about over the past year and will enter his senior season as one of the top big men in the state. We have a full breakdown of his game in our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/05/unofferred-2025-prospects-worthy-of-d1-looks-pt-2/">Unoffered 2025 Prospects Worthy of D1 Looks</a> series and just recently picked up his first offer from D2 Wheeling University. The two-way star is the biggest name to know for the Indians for the 2024 season and will be in the running this season for the Huff and Stydahar Awards signifying the state's top defensive player and top lineman. Brown Jr has a confident FCS grade from us and should end up at the D1 level before it's all said and done but would be a huge steal if he lands at a D2 program.   You need to get eyes on him in person to see the full picture of his game and is one of the more dominant athletes we've seen in a camp setting to date.     Another 2025 defensive line prospect at Bridgeport that you need to know heading into the 2024 season is [player_tooltip player_id='1226810' first='Bear' last='Metheney']. He's an under-the-radar prospect right now given his limited available film and small social media presence, but flashed a lot of potential last season for the Indians. Metheney will be another two-way lineman in Bridgeport's always tough and physical linemen group and should make strides in his game as a senior and second year with the program. We took a chance on his high ranking with his limited film and expect him to back it up as a senior this fall. Metheney proved to be a highly physical and strong athlete as a junior on both sides of the ball while having a high motor finishing plays and pursuit to the ball.   If he can get more film posted during his senior year, Metheney should be a D2-level prospect who should earn some opportunities at the next level.     2025 Bridgeport RB [player_tooltip player_id='1097603' first='Josh' last='Love'] had a great breakout junior season for the Indians and should continue that momentum into 2024 for his senior year. Love was the #2 option last season behind the graduating Zach Rohrig and still managed to rush for 1,200 yards and 18 touchdowns in their single-wing offense. The Indians will use a plethora of running backs in their system as usual, but Love will be their bell cow and should see a heavy bulk of the carries. He may not be the biggest athlete, but Love is very athletic and tough as nails which you expect from a Bridgeport running back. He's a hard runner who will often break the first and second tackles with the speed to take it the distance if he gets a crease. Love is versatile in being able to run between the tackles or break it outside and beat defenses down the sidelines. He certainly doesn't shy away from contact and often welcomes it which makes him a very fun prospect to watch.   Love should earn plenty of accolades this season and will be one of the more prolific running backs in the state regardless of class.     [player_tooltip player_id='908114' first='Donovan' last='Williams'] quietly put together a great junior campaign for the Bridgeport Indians in 2023 on both sides of the ball and is an underrated prospect heading into his senior year. We have him ranked as the 7th best TE in the 2025 class and a Top 150 player at this time who could also play on the defensive side of the ball in college as an OLB/Edge type of player. Williams was able to total over 400 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns as a TE/WR last season which is an incredible feat given how rarely they throw the ball out of the single-wing. Williams has quality length and size for either TE or LB at 6'2 200 with the athleticism to be a playmaker at both positions. He was very reliable as a pass catcher when they did call upon his services and showed he has contested catch and yards-after-catch ability as well as being a very good blocker in their system. On defense, Williams' athleticism is a big aid in pass coverage and playing in space where he proved to be a consistent open-field tackler and pass rusher.   He should be a no-doubt D2 prospect at both positions depending on where colleges believe his best positon is.     A DB prospect who we've been excited to evaluate and got his junior highlight tape recently posted is [player_tooltip player_id='1159732' first='Cam' last='Martin']. He'll be one of their many athletes taking handoffs on offense, but we like him as a defensive back prospect at the next level. Martin totaled 83 tackles and 2 interceptions as a junior and projects as a safety prospect in college. He's your classic tough physical athlete that Bridgeport seems to produce every year and that shows up on both sides of the ball. Martin will even act as a lead blocker on offense as a defacto fullback at times and doesn't shy away from contact. That mindset translates to safety where he'll come downhill and pop you and is a quality run-stopping strong safety. Martin also has the athleticism to drop into coverage but is at his best defending the run with a quick read and react time.   On the Watch List right now, Martin will see his name in the 2025 rankings in our upcoming summer update as a DB.     [player_tooltip player_id='1096608' first='Tim' last='Jeffress'] is the bigger option at running back for the Indians at 6'0 190 and who came on strong towards the end of the season at wing back after an injury to a teammate. Jeffress had his breakout game of the 2023 season against Princeton in the Class AAA semifinal 73-70 thriller which saw him rush for 262 yards and four touchdowns. He'll return as their likely #2 option at running back behind Love and should go over 1,000 yards as a senior. Even as the bigger back, Jeffress doesn't lack speed and can win the race to the endzone in his own right if he gets a step on the defense. He'll see the bulk of his carries between the tackle and will be a quality short-yardage option for them next season too.   Jeffress is another Watch List prospect right now who will make his debut in our 2025 rankings next month during our summer update.     A third Bridgeport lineman that we like a lot is 2026 OL [player_tooltip player_id='1138213' first='Noah' last='West'] who showed a ton of promise as a sophomore starter last season. Although undersized right now, West was a key piece to their prolific rushing attack in 2023 which will continue into next season as a year older, bigger, and stronger. He embodied the culture of the Bridgeport program perfectly as a sophomore with early signs of being a very physical player with a nasty streak. West is a people mover who utilizes his lack of length right now to his advantage with great low leverage and pad level as he gets under defenders consistently. His down blocking from his left tackle spot and when pulling is deadly as he often neutralizes interior defensive linemen on first contact with a high number of knockdowns.   If he can continue to get bigger, West will further raise his ceiling as a prospect but his sophomore film was just too good not to rank inside the Top 100 as an undersized big man.     [player_tooltip player_id='1155329' first='Gavin' last='Williams'] is a very exciting specialist prospect in the 2027 class who will rank among the state's best in the upcoming 2027 rankings debut set for next month. Williams has athletic versatility as a skill player too where he was the Indians' freshman starting running back last season but has a very bright future as a kicker. He got some run on the varsity team later in the season and performed admirably for a freshman specialist. Williams has the leg strength to hit from 50+ yards and converted from over 40 during a real game situation as a freshman. He's a two-sport athlete who will also be a standout basketball player for the Indians over the next three years which greatly benefits his kicking ability.   Williams will likely be the full-time varsity kicker in 2024 as a sophomore and could earn some early accolades next season.

The 2023 version of the Bridgeport Indians ended their season in the Class AAA semifinals with one of the wildest high school football you'll ever see in a 73-70 shootout loss to eventual runner-ups the Princeton Tigers. Both of those programs will now be competing in the new Class AAA after being moved down a class and could once again face each other deep into the playoffs in 2024. The Indians return a big chunk of their talent from a season ago and will reload as they'll be vying for their first state championship appearance since 2019. The move down should greatly benefit those aspirations as they competed last season as one of the smallest schools in the old Class AAA.