2024 Preview: Chapin Eagles

The results of Year One of Ryan Cole's tenure as the Chapin football coach are a big ol' TBD.   There was no mystery of how he's trying to get where he wants to be.   “We separated the kids. I put the seniors on one side and then everyone else,” Cole said. “I said [the seniors] are the only people guaranteed a varsity jersey, not necessarily playing [time]. People say younger people are entitled. I'm not sure I 100 percent agree with that. However, for our program, you're going to earn your way. It's not given to you. I'll play the best person at a position.”   Call it the Cole Toughness Doctrine.   Previously the team's defensive coordinator, the new head coach didn't find much resistance.   In fact, the opposite happened.    “Coach Cole came in and we got after it a lot more,” senior offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='851128' first='Nathan' last='Gilley'] said. “It's put more accountability on everybody. Practices have so much more energy. Everyone's running everywhere. Running on and off the field. That's not something we really had before.”   Now, the big question is if it will lead to more wins.    The Eagles bring back seven starters on offense and another six on defense from a team that went 6-5 in 2023. And of those five losses, three of them were by a single score. Clearly, this team isn't all that far off.   Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='272715' first='Brady' last='Albro'] (pictured) might be considered the headliner, but we'll be keen to see how the line in front of him progresses. In addition to Gilley, returning starters Evan Creel, [player_tooltip player_id='1395031' first='Caden' last='Muskus'] and Mason Hetlinger will all be back.   On the other side of the ball, the linebacking unit is leading the way. [player_tooltip player_id='1360035' first='Tanner' last='Short'] will again be joined by [player_tooltip player_id='1360369' first='Gavin' last='Stam'] and hybrid [player_tooltip player_id='1255998' first='Anthony' last='Turnbow'] - three players who appeared in a combined 31 games and put up 234 total tackles and 38 tackles for loss a year ago.   Looking at the schedule, Cole's approach makes even more sense. Playing in the newly formed Region IV-5A, there aren't any gimmes in the back half of the regular season.    STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='272715' first='Brady' last='Albro'] QB, 2025 - One of the state's best pro-style quarterbacks threw for 2,992 yards and 24 touchdowns last year. He completed 67 percent of his passes and was picked off only seven times in 384 pass attempts. He can make just about every throw he'll be asked to make, and he's on a number of short lists for senior season accolades.   [player_tooltip player_id='851128' first='Nathan' last='Gilley'] OL, 2025 - The Lenoir-Rhyne verbal commitment is projected as a college guard but has been one of the most consistent tackles in the state over the last two seasons. He's pops of the line and has no issue getting downfield in continuation of plays.    [player_tooltip player_id='1149052' first='Khalen' last='Bostick'] WR, 2025 - One of Albro's favorite targets from last fall hauled in 57 passes for 743 yards and five touchdowns. He's got the right combination of size and speed to flirt with a 1,000-yard campaign and increase his touchdown output.   [player_tooltip player_id='1360369' first='Gavin' last='Stam'] LB, 2025 - A sure-fire tackler with a nose for the ball, Stam ended his junior year with 111 total tackles, 21 tackles for loss, seven quarterback hurries, four sacks and a fumble recovery. He usually starts in the middle, but he's got the range to float some to the outside.   FILM REVIEW   [player_tooltip player_id='1255998' first='Anthony' last='Turnbow'] DB/LB/RB, 2025 - Turnbow is a unique physical talent who is going to rarely line up in the same spot from one play to the next. He can spy tailbacks and cover outside receivers. He can line up in both the offensive and defensive backfield. No matter where he starts, don't lose track of him.     BIGGEST LOSS   Xavier Williams DL - The departed defensive end had a huge senior season, finishing with 20 tackles for loss, nine sacks, three fumble recoveries and an interception to go along with 71 tackles.    UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL   [player_tooltip player_id='568697' first='Stone' last='Furrey'] ATH, 2026 - The Gaffney transfer will have every chance to make a splash at receiver. He's also got extensive playing time at safety, where he had 25 tackles last season for the Indians.    [player_tooltip player_id='1592297' first='Cole' last='Martin'] RB, 2026 - Martin got some limited late-season reps last fall and showed enough to work himself into the mix early and often this year. He's a good-sized back who will help take some of the load off the Eagles' passing game.     At 6-foot-4 and with an 80-inch wing span, Muskus is a prototypical college left tackle in the making. He's got two more years to develop before that happens, and with a little more weight on his frame, his recruiting could shoot through the roof.

The results of Year One of Ryan Cole's tenure as the Chapin football coach are a big ol' TBD.

There was no mystery of how he's trying to get where he wants to be.

“We separated the kids. I put the seniors on one side and then everyone else,” Cole said. “I said [the seniors] are the only people guaranteed a varsity jersey, not necessarily playing [time]. People say younger people are entitled. I'm not sure I 100 percent agree with that. However, for our program, you're going to earn your way. It's not given to you. I'll play the best person at a position.”

Call it the Cole Toughness Doctrine.

Previously the team's defensive coordinator, the new head coach didn't find much resistance.

In fact, the opposite happened.

“Coach Cole came in and we got after it a lot more,” senior offensive lineman Nathan Gilley Nathan Gilley 6'1" | 250 lbs | OL Chapin | 2025 State SC said. “It's put more accountability on everybody. Practices have so much more energy. Everyone's running everywhere. Running on and off the field. That's not something we really had before.”

Now, the big question is if it will lead to more wins.

The Eagles bring back seven starters on offense and another six on defense from a team that went 6-5 in 2023. And of those five losses, three of them were by a single score. Clearly, this team isn't all that far off.

Quarterback Brady Albro Brady Albro 5'10" | 190 lbs | QB Chapin | 2025 State SC (pictured) might be considered the headliner, but we'll be keen to see how the line in front of him progresses. In addition to Gilley, returning starters Evan Creel, Caden Muskus Caden Muskus 6'4" | 285 lbs | OL Chapin | 2026 State SC and Mason Hetlinger will all be back.

Looking at the schedule, Cole's approach makes even more sense. Playing in the newly formed Region IV-5A, there aren't any gimmes in the back half of the regular season.

STARS SET TO SHINE

Brady Albro Brady Albro 5'10" | 190 lbs | QB Chapin | 2025 State SC QB, 2025 - One of the state's best pro-style quarterbacks threw for 2,992 yards and 24 touchdowns last year. He completed 67 percent of his passes and was picked off only seven times in 384 pass attempts. He can make just about every throw he'll be asked to make, and he's on a number of short lists for senior season accolades.

Nathan Gilley Nathan Gilley 6'1" | 250 lbs | OL Chapin | 2025 State SC OL, 2025 - The Lenoir-Rhyne verbal commitment is projected as a college guard but has been one of the most consistent tackles in the state over the last two seasons. He's pops of the line and has no issue getting downfield in continuation of plays.

Khalen Bostick Khalen Bostick 5'11" | 170 lbs | WR Chapin | 2025 State SC WR, 2025 - One of Albro's favorite targets from last fall hauled in 57 passes for 743 yards and five touchdowns. He's got the right combination of size and speed to flirt with a 1,000-yard campaign and increase his touchdown output.

Gavin Stam Gavin Stam 5'10" | 200 lbs | LB Chapin | 2025 State SC LB, 2025 - A sure-fire tackler with a nose for the ball, Stam ended his junior year with 111 total tackles, 21 tackles for loss, seven quarterback hurries, four sacks and a fumble recovery. He usually starts in the middle, but he's got the range to float some to the outside.

FILM REVIEW

Anthony Turnbow Anthony Turnbow 5'11" | 180 lbs | ATH Chapin | 2025 State SC DB/LB/RB, 2025 - Turnbow is a unique physical talent who is going to rarely line up in the same spot from one play to the next. He can spy tailbacks and cover outside receivers. He can line up in both the offensive and defensive backfield. No matter where he starts, don't lose track of him.

BIGGEST LOSS

Xavier Williams DL - The departed defensive end had a huge senior season, finishing with 20 tackles for loss, nine sacks, three fumble recoveries and an interception to go along with 71 tackles.

UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL

Stone Furrey Stone Furrey 5'10" | 175 lbs | ATH Dutch Fork | 2026 State SC ATH, 2026 - The Gaffney transfer will have every chance to make a splash at receiver. He's also got extensive playing time at safety, where he had 25 tackles last season for the Indians.

Cole Martin Cole Martin 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB Dutch Fork | 2026 State SC RB, 2026 - Martin got some limited late-season reps last fall and showed enough to work himself into the mix early and often this year. He's a good-sized back who will help take some of the load off the Eagles' passing game.