On Campus: Chapin Eagles

CHAPIN – From ongoing expansion to the Cecil Woolbright Field press box to the promotion of defensive coordinator Ryan Cole to head coach, changes are noticeable on the outside with Chapin football.   An inside look of the program shows a high level of familiarity among the returning players and coaching staff.   Senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='272715' first='Brady' last='Albro'] is one of nine returning starters of offense.     As the Eagles complete the second week of summer workouts, that experience has made for an easier transition from retired longtime head coach Justin Gentry.   “The learning curve has been huge, kind of hitting the ground running,” Cole said. “The good thing is we have a good group of young men that have been working hard. We started (June 3) and we've had a great group of guys and they've been coming and working hard.   “We all have the same goal. We all want to be – relentless is the word we're kind of using and we all want to be on that same page. My goal is to produce good young men through the game of football. That's really what's most important.”   While the passing game has proven reliable the past two seasons under Albro, the Eagles have struggled on the ground. A season-ending injury to prospective starter [player_tooltip player_id='1592297' first='Cole' last='Martin'] really put the offensive load on Albro's arm.   With a healthy and motivated Martin back in the fold, Cole plans to place a higher emphasis on the running game. He sees high potential with Martin running behind starting tackles [player_tooltip player_id='851128' first='Nathan' last='Gilley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1395031' first='Caden' last='Muskus'], guards Evan Creel and Sam Hetlinger, center Mason Hetlinger, and tight end Cooper Canady.   After throwing for over 2,600 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2023, Albro will have additional weapons at his disposal. Gaffney transfer [player_tooltip player_id='568697' first='Stone' last='Furrey'] joins a wide receiving corps with senior [player_tooltip player_id='1149052' first='Khalen' last='Bostick'], the team's leading returning receptions leader, Jonathon Sheppard, and [player_tooltip player_id='1255998' first='Anthony' last='Turnbow'].   Expect Chapin to maintain a similar defensive philosophy under new coordinator Cal Sayger. Linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1360369' first='Gavin' last='Stam'] (over 100 tackles, four sacks) and [player_tooltip player_id='1360035' first='Tanner' last='Short'] (76 tackles, six sacks) look to provide leadership and support behind defensive linemen Max Miller, Nolan Mayer, Kristopher Carver, [player_tooltip player_id='1708773' first='Caleb' last='Davis'], and Ethan Lorick.   Furrey brings his 39 tackles to the secondary at safety. He hopes to help the group improve on his total of seven interceptions last season which brings back at the corners Turnbow, Luke Becker and Giancarlo Pinelli.   The Eagles finished fourth last season in Region IV-5A. Despite the addition of Class 4A Lower State finalist Irmo to a region which had both state finalists Dutch Fork and White Knoll, Chapin players are optimistic about their chances for the upcoming season.   “What we have here is a lot better than what people think and I think we are going to surprise a lot of people this year playing some of those teams in our region,” Albro said. “I think we're going to do a lot of good things. We're going to shock a lot of people.”    A versatile middle linebacker who previously played at safety, he led the Eagles in tackles last season. A leader by example, Stam is about forcing the action on defense, amassing a team-high 29 first hits and 17 tackles for loss. His past experience in the secondary makes him effective in defending passes downfield and making one-on-one tackles.     The rising junior missed most of last season due to injury. He showed his playmaking ability both running and catching the football during the Spring Game. He's a power runner who makes quick moves when he finds a hole. Playing behind an experienced offensive line, expect Martin to get a bulk of carries as the Eagles look to reestablish their running game and keep teams off-balanced from focusing completely on quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='272715' first='Brady' last='Albro']        He was second on the team with 57 receptions for 743 yards and five touchdowns last season. At 5-foot-11 and 171 pounds, his size and long arms makes it difficult for cornerbacks to make initial contact. He also possesses 4.5 speed which makes him dangerous after a short catch and his high vertical leap provides a deep threat for quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='272715' first='Brady' last='Albro'] to stretch the field. Expect him to be an even more prime target this season.      The son of new University of South Carolina wide receivers coach Mike Furrey played last season at Gaffney. He saw action at both wide receiver and safety and is expected to perfom similar duties with the Eagles. Furrey possesses a strong knowledge of the position, fits in with Chapin's short passing game which relies upon wide receives getting open quickly. A 'ball hog' on defense, he looks to improve on his 39 tackles and one interception for a touchdown last season.

CHAPIN – From ongoing expansion to the Cecil Woolbright Field press box to the promotion of defensive coordinator Ryan Cole to head coach, changes are noticeable on the outside with Chapin football.