On Campus: Irmo Yellow Jackets

IRMO – There's unfinished business at Irmo for rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='272713' first='AJ' last='Brand'].   This past weekend, the Class 4A All-State quarterback took his official visit to the University of South Carolina. With seven other others already on the table, expect Brand to gain even more interest if he's able to match his Class 4A Offensive Player of the Year numbers.   Last year, Brand threw for 2.932 yards and 45 touchdowns and rushed for 1,113 yards and 17 touchdowns. He only threw two interceptions the entire season in leading the Yellow Jackets to an undefeated regular season and a Lower State final appearance.   A big reason for his success was the arrival of transfer wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='377560' first='Donovan' last='Murph']. The Class 4A All-State rising junior accounted for team-highs in receptions (57), touchdowns (17) and receiving yards (1,084).   Like Brand, he's also preparing for a round of college visits starting Tuesday at Clemson University.   Yet even as two Yellow Jackets contemplate their distant future, the immediate one is focused on winning a state title. The 28-21 season-ending loss to South Florence has served as motivation and a lesson to carry over into this season.   “We didn't lose that game because the other team was better than us last year,” the younger Brand said. “We lost that game because it was on ourselves. Just the more mental mistakes, we've just got to get those out of the way, and I think we'll be fine.”   “We're just trying to focus on winning a state title right now, trying to get through these practices. That's my main focus,” Murph said.   To reach that goal, Irmo will have to accomplish it in Class 5A out of the same Region IV which produced last year's state finalists in champion Dutch Fork and runner-up White Knoll.  The Yellow Jackets are expected to play in the Division II playoffs.   Irmo's non-region schedule is even more challenging. They open against last year's Class 2A champion Oceanside Collegiate, fellow Class 5A teams J.F. Byrnes and Carolina Forest, have a rematch with last year's second-round opponent Myrtle Beach and invited Butler (Charlotte, N.C.) to town.   Despite returning top performers like Brand and Murph and defensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='755914' first='Jaiden' last='Bryant'] and defensive lineman/linebacker Ethan Gamble, head coach Aaron Brand sees initially a different group than the one which averaged 50 points per game and held opponents to eight points.   “We've got a new team,” he said. “We've got some of the nucleus back, but we've got a lot of guys that have to step up.”   Those areas include developing replacements on offense Class 4A All-State running back Jaden-Allen Hendrix and offensive linemen Bryant Ham and [player_tooltip player_id='1267288' first='Elijah' last='Williams'].   Anton Jones saw playing time behind Allen Hendrix and will compete with rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='755890' first='Amir' last='White'] and Gamble who will see time at fullback. The goal for Brand is to limit the number of runs by his son early in hopes of having fresher legs later in the season.   On the offensive line, rising senior Ryan White will look to fill the leadership role. Joining him upfront are juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1165106' first='Bryson' last='Moore'], Vernon Hairens and left guard Steven Hill.   The wide receiver position should get strengthened with the addition of rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1422528' first='Maleek' last='Miller']. At 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, he provides an inside presence to balance with Murph's outside deep threat.   Irmo looks to replenish a productive linebacking which graduated Region V Defensive Player of the Year Jylil Favor and Xavier Montgomery. The Yellow Jackets also lost defensive back Isaiah McClary.   Look for Irmo to rely upon its depth at defensive line with Bryant, [player_tooltip player_id='1734510' first='Major' last='Taylor'], Nick Matthews, and Isaiah Williams. In the secondary, Crestwood transfer Kyle Mitchell is expected to provide an immediate boost at safety to go with Darius Goodman and Matthew Blocker.   “We've got to be good right off the bat and, hopefully, some of those games early on, some of the tougher games early on, will prepare us for this tough region we have,” Brand said. “We want to play the best. So, we welcome it. We know our work's cut out for us, but we'll be ready.”    Last season, he was the second-leading receiver at Crestwood in an offense led by Class 3A All-State quarterback Javion Martin. He joins a Yellow Jacket team which also has a dual threat Class 4A All-State quarterback in A.J. Brand. With [player_tooltip player_id='377560' first='Donovan' last='Murph'] on one side, look for Mitchell to be utilized on short receptions. His size and speed should also help him contribute at the safety position where Irmo looks to replace Isaiah McClary. Head coach Aaron Brand believes he has the potential to be a breakout "under the radar" star on this time.     A slash wide receiver who can make plays in small spaces. It's his first year on the varsity level, but he shows no fear of the physical play. His solid hands and elusiveness should further help open up the Yellow Jackets' offense as teams look to contain [player_tooltip player_id='377560' first='Donovan' last='Murph'].     The rising senior brings size and a determined work ethic to the position in his first year on the varsity level. His athleticism should fit well in an active defensive front which looks to pressure the quarterback and contain the running game. The Yellow Jackets will be relying greatly on the defensive line with the graduation losses and will turn towards Hill to learn quickly.

IRMO – There's unfinished business at Irmo for rising senior AJ Brand AJ Brand 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Irmo | 2025 State SC .