2025 Preview: Camden Bulldogs

Camden finished the 2024 season with a 9-4 record and fell to the eventual 4A runner up in Westside in the third round of the playoffs.    The Bulldogs have a lot of experience returning, especially at the skill positions in 2025 who have won a lot of games. The non-region portion of the schedule is tough, beginning with the season opener on the road against White Knoll on August 22, before back-to-back games against Hartsville and Ridge View before region play begins against Richland Northeast on September 19.   “We have a tough schedule, but we know how to win. We have great coaching and great players and we know we're ready to take on that challenge and we're going to go deeper in the playoffs like we do every other year,” senior [player_tooltip player_id='1165092' first='Tylin' last='Drakeford'] (pictured above) told us at the Prep Redzone Media Day at Westwood on July 11.   [player_tooltip player_id='1822669' first='Worth' last='Thomasson'] and Ryan Lawson are the two returners on the offensive line. Tyler Williams will be a guy to keep your eye on the defensive line at the end spot. Williams spent time learning the position last year and he's gotten bigger and stronger this summer.   As the summer 7-on-7 and camps season wind down, Bulldogs' head coach Brian Rimpf says the physical transformation and improvements are almost over with, now it's time to focus on executing the playbook.   “We want to maintain what we've built at this point. It's execution from here on out. Knowing the plays, knowing the intricacies of each play, knowing if a ball should be a back shoulder ball or a jump ball, those sorts of things. That's what good teams have to do and, you know, if you play late in the playoffs, like we've been able to do, you've got to make plays when they're covered. You've got to make tackles when you're one-on-one in space. So those are the specifics that we want to work toward from now until our first game,” Rimpf said.   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1165092' first='Tylin' last='Drakeford'] ATH, 2026 – Drakeford will be the Bulldogs' most important player in 2025. He was impactful on offense as he had 132 yards rushing and two touchdowns rushing, while most of his work was done at the receiver, recording 56 receptions for 938 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was also impactful in the special teams' game as well. He is down to two schools in his recruitment: Georgia State and Georgia State and plans to make a decision during the 2025 season.   Improvements heading into 2025: “I've been working on getting bigger, faster, stronger and getting a better connection with my quarterback. This is about to be his second year and we've got a new offensive coordinator so we're going to be running a lot of new plays but I think we're going to be pretty good.”   Something he feels he can take to another level in 2025: “I'm pretty good with the ball in my hands. On defense, I can take away one side of the field but on offense, I can really make the game really different. Having teams key in on me (opens) up open windows for my guys.”   Grayson Rimp QB, 2027 – Rimp saw time as a sophomore for the Bulldogs and made the most of his opportunity. He threw for 853 yards and six touchdowns. He has great size for the position and has a nice velocity on his throws to where he can put it only where his receiver can get it. He can make plays on the run when plays break down.   Something he feels he can take to another level in 2025: “Just making the game easier and getting guys like him the ball and letting them run, just makes my job easier, too.”   Expectations heading into 2025: “I expect us to be really explosive on offense and last year wasn't the best year that we would want to have so we want to have a better year this year and win more games.”   Improvements heading into 2025: “Just settling down with our new offensive coordinator and what all he's putting in and figuring everything out.”   [player_tooltip player_id='1513514' first='Navier' last='Boykin'] RB/LB, 2026 – Boykin was second on the team in carries with 519 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns. He had 34 total tackles on defense as well. He is a big, physical running back that is tough to bring down at first contact – he runs with power and once he gets in the open field, it could be a touchdown. He brings the same physicality to the linebacker position.    Improvements heading into 2025: “My agility (and) my speed and just keeping my body right and staying in shape.”   Something he feels he can take to another level in 2025: “Reading the field (and) patience. It can be better.”   [player_tooltip player_id='1662325' first='Dontrell' last='Wilson'] DL, 2026 – Wilson is a four year starter for the Bulldogs, which Rimpf says is rare at Camden. He can get around the edge and is a nightmare for opposing linemen to block. At 6-foot, 300 pounds, Rimpf says he's big and wide in the middle that attracts those blockers, which opens things up for the linebackers.   KEY LOSSES   Jojo Crim DB – The Virginia Tech signee had 63 tackles and four tackles for a loss in 2024. He will be missed in the Bulldogs' secondary.   Logan Freeman DL – Freeman was the team's leading tackler with 123 total tackles, which was the second most ever in school history.   FILM REVIEW   [player_tooltip player_id='1720755' first='Jaden' last='Manning'] RB, 2027 – Manning is a speedster for the Bulldogs and can make plays on special teams with his lightning quick speed. Once he finds an open hole, it could be a house call. When he's a running back, he's patient in the hole to wait for his blocks to develop and then he explodes with a burst.  Rimpf told us he can play about five or six different positions but the staff thinks he will likely play linebacker in 2025.    UP AND COMING POTENTIAL    Khamrin Holman DB, 2026 – Holman enters his senior season for the Bulldogs. He played outside linebacker in 2024 and will play safety this year. He is all over the ball and can create negative plays.   [player_tooltip player_id='1734538' first='Isaiah' last='Smith'] WR, 2027 – Rimpf expects Smith to have a breakout season as a junior. He is a speedy receiver who recently set the 100 meter dash record at Camden this past spring.    Green played on the freshman squad last year and helped lead the Bulldogs to an undefeated season in 2024. Rimpf says he is a dynamic athlete who can run and when the ball is in his hands, good things normally happen.

Camden finished the 2024 season with a 9-4 record and fell to the eventual 4A runner up in Westside in the third round of the playoffs.