Can Mainland Return To The Top?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are so many ways to look at head coach <strong>Jerrime “Squatty” Bell's</strong> first season at Daytona Beach Mainland.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While many will not look at the reasons behind the 5-6 season, which if you follow high school football, you know that it is rare when this program finishes below .500, others will point to the early portion of the schedule.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taking over a state championship team is never fun, especially when a majority of the team that captured the title graduated.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the first five games of the year, the Buccaneers lost to Orange City University, multiple state champion Cocoa, Flagler Palm Coast, 2024 3A finalist Jacksonville Raines and defending Georgia state champion Coffee County. They were 0-5. But the second half of the year saw this program start to turnaround.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Winning five straight games kept this school's district championship streak alive and sent them into the first round of the state playoffs, on the road, losing to Tallahassee Lincoln.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While the year ended on a sour note, this program headed toward the off-season confident that they can get back to where they have been for decades – near the top.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If they are going to maintain those high standards, the rising senior (2026) class will be needed in a major way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are some quality prospects who will add the experience, talent and leadership.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some of those players to keep an eye on:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Amare Campbell, DL, 6-1, 265.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/18842873/Amare-Campbell" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/18842873/Amare-Campbell</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Christian Cooper, WR, 5-7, 150 – 3.7 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19372443/Christian-Cooper" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19372443/Christian-Cooper</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marcus Day, Jr., DB, 6-2, 175.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/24288612/6742cd5b463c11153b9b3b5b" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/24288612/6742cd5b463c11153b9b3b5b</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jeffrey Harris Jr., DB, 5-8, 155.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/18675362/Jeffrey-Harris" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/18675362/Jeffrey-Harris</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dennis King III, LB, 6-3, 205.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/17832225/Dennis-king-3rd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/17832225/Dennis-king-3rd</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Amarion Lee, OL/DL, 6-2, 240.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19334813/Amarion-Lane/highlights" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19334813/Amarion-Lane/highlights</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1143151' first='Stephone' last='Ross'], OL/DL, 6-4, 270. DeLand transfer.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/17862879/Stephone-Ross/about" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/17862879/Stephone-Ross/about</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1206736' first='Kiarin' last='Sullivan'], Athlete, 5-10, 165. Track &amp; Field.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22330237/Kiarin-Sullivan/highlights" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22330237/Kiarin-Sullivan/highlights</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cortez Waring, DL, 5-11, 235. Track &amp; Field.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/17860782/Cortez-Waring" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/17860782/Cortez-Waring</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jhavin Westbrook, DB, 6-0, 165 – 3.0. Basketball.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/18011159/Jhavin-Westbrook" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/18011159/Jhavin-Westbrook</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AWAITING VIDEO</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Calvin Blackman, OL, 5-10, 320</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sebastian Johnson, QB, 6-3, 170</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>THE FUTURE IS IN GREAT HANDS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Buccaneers understand that if this team is to get back to the top and be in the mix for a state title, the underclassmen will be essential.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are some playmakers that Coach Bell and his staff are anxious to watch this coming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS OF 2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chris Butler, WR, 6-1, 185.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/23276334/67107148f23cc950a4ce4ba7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/23276334/67107148f23cc950a4ce4ba</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chevin Davis, OL, 6-2, 270 – 3.3 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/21518141/Chevin-Davis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/21518141/Chevin-Davis</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Shawn Holmes, LB, 6-0, 198 – 4.3 GPA. Track &amp; Field.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19986436/Shawn-Quinn-Holmes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19986436/Shawn-Quinn-Holmes</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tron Ledbetter, LB/RB, 6-0, 190. Transfer from Port Orange Atlantic.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22876312/Tron-Ledbetter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22876312/Tron-Ledbetter</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='901768' first='Ayden' last='Lewis'], OL/DL, 5-11, 280 – 3.2 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/22338306/6751ea6d1a174f5cd0aaa4bd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/22338306/6751ea6d1a174f5cd0aaa4bd</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Demetrick Prince, DB, 5-10, 165.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19871228/Demetrick-Prince" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19871228/Demetrick-Prince</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Braylyn “Juice” Simmons, WR, 6-0, 180. Flagler Palm Coast transfer – 3.2 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19660835/Braylyn-Simmons/about" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19660835/Braylyn-Simmons/about</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AWAITING VIDEO</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tommy Bostick, DL/OL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tamaj Woodard, LB, 6-1, 203</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS OF 2028</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AWAITING VIDEO</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jaden “Melo” Parks, WR, 6-3, 171</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jace Payne, QB, 6-0, 165</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keith Simmons, WR, 6-3, 171</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Faunte Stubbs, FS, 6-1, 170</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tres Walton, RB/SS, 6-1, 185</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Statewide Coverage Daily.</strong> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/florida/"><strong>https://prepredzone.com/florida/</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: </strong>Floridakids1@aol.com.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>COACHES, PLAYERS: Do You Have A Subscription? Contact us for a savings code so you can see what everyone has been talking about!</strong> <a href="mailto:Floridakids1@aol.com">Floridakids1@aol.com</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->