2024 Preview: Trinity Collegiate Titans

Trinity Collegiate coach Jared Amell has been around for 20 years and knows what it takes to win so he never hesitated when asked about one of the goals this offseason and going into the 2024 campaign.   The Titans are coming off a disappointing 4-8 season in which they lost to Hammond in the first round of the SCISA Class AAAA playoffs. Trinity College is moving to SCISA Class AAA this season and the expectation is to get back to the years when they were winning double digits games.   “The overwhelming idea coming out of this summer has been confidence and increased confidence. As coaches, we don't like to use the word rebuild but that's what it was last year. We had a lot of young kids playing against a difficult schedule,” Amell said. “We have a wealth of experience returning and a lot of young skilled talent that people haven't seen on the varsity level yet. We will be disappointed if we're not playing in the last game of the season.”   The Titans had a seventh grader at quarterback last season – Cade Amell – and he more than held his own. He threw for 1,629 yards and 16 touchdowns and is bigger than the 5-foot-9, 160 pounds he played at last season.   He is one of nine returning starters on offense. The Titans will have to figure out the running back rotation, but receiver and the offensive line looks more than solid. [player_tooltip player_id='272703' first='James' last='Herbert'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1165123' first='Mac' last='Burch'] return at tight end with [player_tooltip player_id='1734471' first='Davidson' last='Lynch'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1036752' first='Owen' last='Bex'] at receiver. The offensive front has four starters back that includes Charlie McKay, Caden Hodge (pictured), Johnathon Cottingham and [player_tooltip player_id='473017' first='Kyler' last='Johnson'].   “We've worked really hard this offseason with our new strength coach and we're returning a good amount of talent, so I think we're poised to have a good year,” McKay said. “We're trying to great a new culture, like we had our freshmen and sophomore years when we had good teams.”   Trinity Collegiate has seven starters returning on defense with a huge emphasis on the front seven.   Herbert, Cottingham and Hodge will return on the front with junior [player_tooltip player_id='473017' first='Kyler' last='Johnson'] joining the group. Burch and Bex return at linebacker with Logan Galloway being the lone returner in the secondary.   “Every day, we try to get 1% better,” Hodge said. “The main thing is to get the underclassmen to be a part of the team and listen to us. We're trying to be one.”   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='272703' first='James' last='Herbert'] TE/DE, 2025 – Herbert is a huge part of the blocking and added 13 receptions last season. He's a large target and is a safety valve for Amell. He played linebacker last season but is making the move to defensive end. He totaled 101 tackles with 18 tackles for loss.   [player_tooltip player_id='1165123' first='Mac' last='Burch'] TE/LB, 2026 – Burch was also more of a blocker last season from the tight end position, but he can catch the ball if given the opportunity. His biggest impact will come on defense, where he was the leading tackler last season with 114 tackles and 19 tackles for loss.   Johnathon Cottingham OL/DL, 2026 – Cottingham was limited in some games last fall but should be a mainstay on both lines of scrimmage. He moves well and could end up being a mainstay on the defensive line as long as he stays healthy.   [player_tooltip player_id='1036752' first='Owen' last='Bex'] WR/LB, 2027 – Bex saw plenty of action as a freshman last season and finished with 56 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, three sacks and two fumble recoveries. He will add wide receiver to his duties this season.   FILM REVIEW   Cade Amell QB, 2029 – How many seventh graders do you see that look like they fit and belong on a varsity field? Amell more than held is on and looked very comfortable in doing so. He threw for 1,629 yards and 16 touchdowns but will need to cut down on the 11 interceptions. He can make every throw and has a cannon of an arm. Watching his development over the next five seasons will be fun.    BIGGEST LOSS(es)   Courtland Brunson RB/LB – Brunson was the leading rusher last season with 1,022 yards and seven touchdowns. He was the second leading receiver with 31 catches and for good measure, Brunson added 19 tackles and seven tackles for loss on defense.   Gates Chapman OL/DT – Chapman was the signal-caller for the offensive line from his center position and he doubled as a defensive tackle, where he registered 27 tackles and a sack.   UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL   Robert Mack RB/DB, 2027 – Mack is a youngster with very little varsity experience but should be a well-known name by the time November arrives. He will compete for carries in the backfield and also be counted on to make plays in the secondary.   [player_tooltip player_id='1856861' first='Garrison' last='Copeland'] WR/DB, 2028 – Copeland is another unknown that should make a splash this season. He was 5-foot-8, 135 pounds as an eighth grader but smooth with his route running. The more he gets comfortable this year, the more involved he will be on both sides of the ball.    Jackson is another player that has limited varsity experience but will battle for opportunities out of the backfield. He's already a solid 5-foot-9, 175 pounds. He should also factor into the linebacker rotation.

Trinity Collegiate coach Jared Amell has been around for 20 years and knows what it takes to win so he never hesitated when asked about one of the goals this offseason and going into the 2024 campaign.

The Titans are coming off a disappointing 4-8 season in which they lost to Hammond in the first round of the SCISA Class AAAA playoffs. Trinity College is moving to SCISA Class AAA this season and the expectation is to get back to the years when they were winning double digits games.

“The overwhelming idea coming out of this summer has been confidence and increased confidence. As coaches, we don't like to use the word rebuild but that's what it was last year. We had a lot of young kids playing against a difficult schedule,” Amell said. “We have a wealth of experience returning and a lot of young skilled talent that people haven't seen on the varsity level yet. We will be disappointed if we're not playing in the last game of the season.”

The Titans had a seventh grader at quarterback last season – Cade Amell – and he more than held his own. He threw for 1,629 yards and 16 touchdowns and is bigger than the 5-foot-9, 160 pounds he played at last season.

He is one of nine returning starters on offense. The Titans will have to figure out the running back rotation, but receiver and the offensive line looks more than solid. James Herbert James Herbert 6'4" | 215 lbs | DL Trinity Collegiate | 2025 State SC and Mac Burch Mac Burch 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB/WR Trinity Collegiate | 2026 State SC return at tight end with Davidson Lynch Davidson Lynch 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB Trinity Collegiate | 2026 State SC and Owen Bex Owen Bex 6'3" | 185 lbs | LB Trinity Collegiate | 2027 SC at receiver. The offensive front has four starters back that includes Charlie McKay, Caden Hodge (pictured), Johnathon Cottingham and Kyler Johnson Kyler Johnson 6'4" | 260 lbs | DL/OL Trinity Collegiate | 2026 State SC .

“We've worked really hard this offseason with our new strength coach and we're returning a good amount of talent, so I think we're poised to have a good year,” McKay said. “We're trying to great a new culture, like we had our freshmen and sophomore years when we had good teams.”

Trinity Collegiate has seven starters returning on defense with a huge emphasis on the front seven.

Herbert, Cottingham and Hodge will return on the front with junior Kyler Johnson Kyler Johnson 6'4" | 260 lbs | DL/OL Trinity Collegiate | 2026 State SC joining the group. Burch and Bex return at linebacker with Logan Galloway being the lone returner in the secondary.

“Every day, we try to get 1% better,” Hodge said. “The main thing is to get the underclassmen to be a part of the team and listen to us. We're trying to be one.”

STARS SET TO SHINE

James Herbert James Herbert 6'4" | 215 lbs | DL Trinity Collegiate | 2025 State SC TE/DE, 2025 – Herbert is a huge part of the blocking and added 13 receptions last season. He's a large target and is a safety valve for Amell. He played linebacker last season but is making the move to defensive end. He totaled 101 tackles with 18 tackles for loss.

Mac Burch Mac Burch 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB/WR Trinity Collegiate | 2026 State SC TE/LB, 2026 – Burch was also more of a blocker last season from the tight end position, but he can catch the ball if given the opportunity. His biggest impact will come on defense, where he was the leading tackler last season with 114 tackles and 19 tackles for loss.

Johnathon Cottingham OL/DL, 2026 – Cottingham was limited in some games last fall but should be a mainstay on both lines of scrimmage. He moves well and could end up being a mainstay on the defensive line as long as he stays healthy.

Owen Bex Owen Bex 6'3" | 185 lbs | LB Trinity Collegiate | 2027 SC WR/LB, 2027 – Bex saw plenty of action as a freshman last season and finished with 56 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, three sacks and two fumble recoveries. He will add wide receiver to his duties this season.

FILM REVIEW

Cade Amell QB, 2029 – How many seventh graders do you see that look like they fit and belong on a varsity field? Amell more than held is on and looked very comfortable in doing so. He threw for 1,629 yards and 16 touchdowns but will need to cut down on the 11 interceptions. He can make every throw and has a cannon of an arm. Watching his development over the next five seasons will be fun.

BIGGEST LOSS(es)

Courtland Brunson RB/LB – Brunson was the leading rusher last season with 1,022 yards and seven touchdowns. He was the second leading receiver with 31 catches and for good measure, Brunson added 19 tackles and seven tackles for loss on defense.

Gates Chapman OL/DT – Chapman was the signal-caller for the offensive line from his center position and he doubled as a defensive tackle, where he registered 27 tackles and a sack.

UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL

Robert Mack RB/DB, 2027 – Mack is a youngster with very little varsity experience but should be a well-known name by the time November arrives. He will compete for carries in the backfield and also be counted on to make plays in the secondary.

Garrison Copeland Garrison Copeland 5'10" | 145 lbs | WR Trinity Collegiate | 2028 State SC WR/DB, 2028 – Copeland is another unknown that should make a splash this season. He was 5-foot-8, 135 pounds as an eighth grader but smooth with his route running. The more he gets comfortable this year, the more involved he will be on both sides of the ball.