2024 Preview: Pickens Blue Flame

You might not expect a lot of excitement surrounding a football program coming off a 1-9 season, but that's not the case for Pickens this summer. Entering his second year as head coach, James Reynolds is confident that an increase in quantity will lead to an increase in quality for the Blue Flame.   "We knew the cards would be stacked against us last year with have such low numbers (of players) and just a handful of seniors, but we must have done something right because we've doubled our numbers," Reynolds said. "We've got 25 more available to play varsity this year than last year, which is huge for Pickens High School.   "It's building enthusiasm, building depth and gaining support. The boys are doing all that, but they're also working hard."   In addition to new players on the team, Pickens will be seeing a variety of new opponents thanks to this year's realignment. The Blue Flame have shifted from Region I-4A to Region II-4A and the only other school making that move is Berea. Easley moved up to Class 5A, so that rivalry game will be a non-region one, while another Pickens' rival - Daniel - joins the region.   "This region we're in now is a little more kind of where Pickens High School should be," Reynolds said. "That's just in terms of the sizes of the schools that are in our region."   Those new teams should quickly find out about Pickens running back [player_tooltip player_id='1359200' first='Carter' last='McCollum'] (pictured). McCollum enters his senior season looking to build off a monster junior season. With opposing defenses keying on him, McCollum still managed to rush for nearly 1,400 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry, in 2023.   McCollum is one of seven returning starters on offense, while Pickens returns eight starters on defense. Having more experienced players returning and more depth overall thanks to the increased number of players has already made a difference - even in the middle of summer.   "We're a lot more dedicated. You know sometimes you'll start with a lot of guys and they're just fall out as the summer goes, but we haven't seen that," McCollum said. "This team is rock solid. We've got 16 seniors on the team and I've been playing with my senior boys since rec ball. It's just one big family."   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1359200' first='Carter' last='McCollum'] RB, 2025 - After a knee injury wiped out McCollum's sophomore season before it started, he responded by rushing for 1,396 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. He also caught five passes for 95 yards and another score. He did all that while playing much of last season with torn thumb ligaments.   Landon Pace RB, 2025 - Pace spent most of last season at quarterback and was second on the team in rushing with 553 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged a team-high 5.8 yards per carry. Pace also threw for 339 yards and two scores.   Walker Kelley OL/DL, 2025 - Kelley is one of four former starters back along the offensive line for Pickens, three of which are seniors. The left tackle is coming off an injury which sidelined him for the entire 2023 season. That's served as even more motivation going into his final season. "We're just tired of losing. ... The will to work is there. Every morning, everybody shows up," Kelley said. "The mentality's changing."   Brayden Powell OL/LB, 2025 - At 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, Powell may be viewed as undersized as a center and linebacker. However, his quickness pays off in Pickens' spread offense and also does on defense in tracking down ball carriers.   FILM STUDY   Kade Maxey DL, 2025 - At 6-foot-1 and 260 pounds, Maxey has been a big force up front for Pickens on both sides of the ball. Maxey earned All-Region I-4A honors last season after compiling 66 tackles, including 20 tackles-for-loss. On offense, he piled up 24 pancake blocks.    BIGGEST LOSSES   Brett Batson QB - Batson saw action at quarterback, receiver, defensive back and punter before suffering a serious injury during his senior year last season. He's now at North Greenville.   Hunter Smith PK - Hunter Smith was an All-Region I-4A performer last season.   UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL   Brooks Dow QB, 2027 - Dow (6-foot-5, 200 pounds) is a big-armed lefthanded quarterback who might get the chance to contribute as a sophomore this season. As a freshman power forward on the boys basketball team last season, Dow averaged 10.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game for the Blue Flame.   Gavin Mock ATH, 2025 - Mock is another multi-sport athlete who may be a factor on the gridiron this fall. Last basketball season, he averaged 7.9 points per game for Pickens.    Roby is one of those 25 new players on Pickens' roster as he's moved in from Amarillo, Texas, where he previously played at West Plains High School. Roby appears to be a physical cornerback, with a nose for the ball and the ability to make open-field tackles on defense as well as special teams.

You might not expect a lot of excitement surrounding a football program coming off a 1-9 season, but that's not the case for Pickens this summer. Entering his second year as head coach, James Reynolds is confident that an increase in quantity will lead to an increase in quality for the Blue Flame.

"We knew the cards would be stacked against us last year with have such low numbers (of players) and just a handful of seniors, but we must have done something right because we've doubled our numbers," Reynolds said. "We've got 25 more available to play varsity this year than last year, which is huge for Pickens High School.

"It's building enthusiasm, building depth and gaining support. The boys are doing all that, but they're also working hard."

In addition to new players on the team, Pickens will be seeing a variety of new opponents thanks to this year's realignment. The Blue Flame have shifted from Region I-4A to Region II-4A and the only other school making that move is Berea. Easley moved up to Class 5A, so that rivalry game will be a non-region one, while another Pickens' rival - Daniel - joins the region.

"This region we're in now is a little more kind of where Pickens High School should be," Reynolds said. "That's just in terms of the sizes of the schools that are in our region."

Those new teams should quickly find out about Pickens running back Carter McCollum Carter McCollum 5'6" | 160 lbs | RB Pickens | 2025 State SC (pictured). McCollum enters his senior season looking to build off a monster junior season. With opposing defenses keying on him, McCollum still managed to rush for nearly 1,400 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry, in 2023.

McCollum is one of seven returning starters on offense, while Pickens returns eight starters on defense. Having more experienced players returning and more depth overall thanks to the increased number of players has already made a difference - even in the middle of summer.

"We're a lot more dedicated. You know sometimes you'll start with a lot of guys and they're just fall out as the summer goes, but we haven't seen that," McCollum said. "This team is rock solid. We've got 16 seniors on the team and I've been playing with my senior boys since rec ball. It's just one big family."

STARS SET TO SHINE

Carter McCollum Carter McCollum 5'6" | 160 lbs | RB Pickens | 2025 State SC RB, 2025 - After a knee injury wiped out McCollum's sophomore season before it started, he responded by rushing for 1,396 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. He also caught five passes for 95 yards and another score. He did all that while playing much of last season with torn thumb ligaments.

Landon Pace RB, 2025 - Pace spent most of last season at quarterback and was second on the team in rushing with 553 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged a team-high 5.8 yards per carry. Pace also threw for 339 yards and two scores.

Walker Kelley OL/DL, 2025 - Kelley is one of four former starters back along the offensive line for Pickens, three of which are seniors. The left tackle is coming off an injury which sidelined him for the entire 2023 season. That's served as even more motivation going into his final season. "We're just tired of losing. ... The will to work is there. Every morning, everybody shows up," Kelley said. "The mentality's changing."

Brayden Powell OL/LB, 2025 - At 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, Powell may be viewed as undersized as a center and linebacker. However, his quickness pays off in Pickens' spread offense and also does on defense in tracking down ball carriers.

FILM STUDY

Kade Maxey DL, 2025 - At 6-foot-1 and 260 pounds, Maxey has been a big force up front for Pickens on both sides of the ball. Maxey earned All-Region I-4A honors last season after compiling 66 tackles, including 20 tackles-for-loss. On offense, he piled up 24 pancake blocks.

BIGGEST LOSSES

Brett Batson QB - Batson saw action at quarterback, receiver, defensive back and punter before suffering a serious injury during his senior year last season. He's now at North Greenville.

Hunter Smith PK - Hunter Smith was an All-Region I-4A performer last season.

UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL

Brooks Dow QB, 2027 - Dow (6-foot-5, 200 pounds) is a big-armed lefthanded quarterback who might get the chance to contribute as a sophomore this season. As a freshman power forward on the boys basketball team last season, Dow averaged 10.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game for the Blue Flame.

Gavin Mock ATH, 2025 - Mock is another multi-sport athlete who may be a factor on the gridiron this fall. Last basketball season, he averaged 7.9 points per game for Pickens.