2025 Preview: Carolina Trojans

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chris Glover knew all about some of the challenging aspects of the job when he took over as head coach at Carolina three years ago, having served as an assistant there for 11 seasons. He also knows what success looks like for the Trojans. Glover was the defensive coordinator during Carolina's last winning season in 2011, when it went 8-5 and finished one game shy of the Class AA Upper State Championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Turning the program around has been tough. The Trojans had nine players transfer away prior to last year's 1-9 campaign. Glover believes the challenges are part of the building process.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"Adversity is part of growing the program. Part of building is that you have to work and trust the process, but you have to commit to it," Glover said. "If you don't commit to it, you're not going to develop that growth that you need in order to be successful."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Glover believes his team is still has some areas to improve in it, he's been pleased with the commitment he's seen this offseason. That goes for in the weight room and on the field. He said that's been particularly true for this year's seniors and the leadership and character they've displayed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"Leadership has been our focus this year, because I believe a team that is more player-led gives you a better chance of having success," Glover said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two of those seniors set to lead the Trojans this year are [player_tooltip player_id='1667546' first='Jordyn' last='Rice'] and <strong>DJ Brown</strong> (pictured above). While they're working to develop chemistry on offense as Rice will be Carolina's starting quarterback and Brown is a wide receiver, their biggest contributions for both could come on the other side of the ball. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound Rice is a hard-hitting outside linebacker, while Brown is the Trojans' lockdown cornerback.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"Rice is getting some looks from colleges on the defensive side of the ball, so we don't want to diminish that," Glover said. "At the end of the day, wins and losses are important, but the most important thing is setting our guys up for success at the next level."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When it comes to going from playing quarterback to trying to get after the quarterback, Rice has no issues there whatsoever.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"Playing both ways can be challenging, but it also makes my job a little bit easier," Rice said. "As a linebacker, I kind of know how the quarterback is thinking and as a quarterback, it can work the same way."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brown is ready to get going this season after being limited to just two games last year due to an injury.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I've gained a lot of confidence in working back from my injury. I feel like I've got to come out with more energy because I know that last year was going to be my breakout," Brown said. "I know I'm a year behind on that and I've got to show everybody what I can do."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carolina has a couple of big linemen who will play on both sides of the ball in senior <strong>Jeremiah Wells</strong> and junior <strong>Jeremiah Mangle</strong>. Wells is a 6-foot-0, 315-pound center and defensive tackle, who was a starter last season. Mangle is a 6-foot-3, 285-pound offensive and defensive tackle, who is back with the team after not playing a year ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Besides Wells, the Trojans' other two returning starters on offense are lineman <strong>Rico Robinson</strong> and junior receiver <strong>Jordan Ellman-Sanders</strong>. Glover believes junior receiver <strong>Kyleat Belcher</strong> could make an impact on offense as could freshman running back <strong>Qua Butler</strong>. Butler will compete for carries with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1718897' first='Caleb' last='Gamble'] and leading returning rusher <strong>Cord'e Davis</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carolina returns five starters on defense including Rice, Brown and Belcher, who plays free safety. The other returning starters are inside linebackers <strong>Bryson McMoore</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822834' first='Norberto' last='Godinez']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1667546' first='Jordyn' last='Rice'] LB/QB, 2026 - Rice may play quarterback, but he doesn't hit like one. He had 41 tackles, including six tackles-for-loss, and had four pass breakups last season. Offensively, he passed for 237 yards and two touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jeremiah Wells</strong> C/DT, 2026 - After a solid junior season, Wells has been an active participant in linemen camps this offseason. "He's our leader in the trenches," Glover said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kyleat Belcher</strong> FS/WR, 2027 - Glover, who also coaches track, expects this track star to have a breakout season. Belcher finished sixth in the state in the 400-meter run and was on Carolina's 4x100 relay team with Brown last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bryson McMoore</strong> LB/RB, 2028 - As a freshman last season, McMoore was the Trojans' leading tackler. He piled up 59 tackles and also caused a fumble and recovered one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DJ Brown</strong> CB/WR, 2026 - Brown is a cornerback who doesn't shy away from contact as he's displayed good open-field tackling skills. Brown, who also runs track at Carolina, has also shown an ability to go up and the get the ball on either side of the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18376607/670b4b432e0dd8de64ddf361' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-687e5898ec708"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSSES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mison Smith</strong> ATH - Smith led Carolina in rushing last season and ran for three touchdowns in the Trojans' lone win. He's now playing at Erskine.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ja'Sean Bowers</strong> ATH - Bowers played a little bit of everything for Carolina before graduating. After starting the season at quarterback, he ended up as the Trojans' leading receiver.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Qua Butler</strong> RB, 2029 - Glover believes Butler could make an impact this season. In addition to the backfield, the freshman might also line up at a slot receiver. He won't be anywhere on defense this season. "We're just keeping him on one side of the ball this year, just to kind of get him acclimated to the varsity level," Glover said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jeremiah Mangle</strong> DT/OT, 2027 - After sitting out last season, Mangle hasn't missed a workout this offseason. "He's been here at eight o'clock every morning, working hard," Glover said. Even with his 6-foot-3, 285-pound frame, Mangle is an agile lineman who moves well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jarrett Banks","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"175","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Carolina","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-687e5e4d1ab33"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">At 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds, Banks provides a big target in the passing game. He's shown breakaway speed on deep balls and an ability to break tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17871029/66ee2e09a76eec55d8ea9ae6' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-687e5e4d1acef"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->