2025 Preview: Eastside Eagles

Don't put a ceiling on what the Eastside Eagles can do in 2025.   After a 4-6 campaign in 2024 and falling to Indian Land in the playoffs, optimism is high from head coach Andre Woolcock that the Eagles will make some noise.   “I'm not going to put a ceiling on what we could do because I feel like this year we can do something pretty special. I feel good about who we are and the things that we can get accomplished this year, but to put a ceiling on what we can do, man, I think that's robbing the players of the hard work that they put in. So I'm not going to put a ceiling on it, but I am going to say we're gonna be a lot better than we were last year,” Woolcock said.   The offensive line for the Eagles will have three returning starters which includes Josiah McGee and Carter Williams. Expect the Eagles to look different offensively than they have in the past, with an emphasis on getting the ball in the hands of their playmakers.   As the 2025 season opener approaches on August 22 against Southside, the Eagles know their schedule will be challenging with the teams in their region, and Woolcock believes the mental aspect of the game will be key to handling it.   “I want to see how our mental toughness and, just putting us in tough situations in practices and in the weight room and see who's going to allow themselves to fall victim to fatigue, and see which guys are going to rise to the occasion and when they're tight, can they still make the play needed in order to win a big time football game.”   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1267215' first='Michael' last='Posey'] LB, 2026 – Posey made the switch to linebacker in 2024, and had a solid year doing it as he finished the year with 53 tackles, nine TFLs and 6 sacks. He currently has offers from Miami (OH), UNC Pembroke and Erskine.   Improvements heading into 2025: For one, I'm a way better edge rusher than I was last year and last year was my first year playing linebacker so I'm much better at covering and being able to read the run and fill the run gaps and everything like that.”   General expectations for the year: “I think this year, we're going to shock a lot more people than we did. I feel like we're going to win some games that people don't expect us to win.”   [player_tooltip player_id='1734598' first='Peyton' last='Schrader'] QB, 2026 – Schrader returns as he will be a three-year starter in the Eagles offense. He threw for 750 yards and two touchdowns in 2024, while also being a dual threat as he had 470 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground as well. He has a great arm and can get it to his playmakers and they will do the rest. If you get too caught up in that, he can make plays on the ground.   [player_tooltip player_id='1025807' first='Eli' last='Foster'] RB, 2026 – Foster only played in 7 games last year, but he made the most of his opportunities, running for 603 yards and 7 touchdowns. When you watch him run, he has a good balance of patience and speed to be able to know when to turn on the jets and leave defenders behind. And he does an excellent job of shaking off arm tackles.   [player_tooltip player_id='1592576' first='Lucas' last='Tankersley'] LB, 2026 – Tankersley will accompany Posey at the linebacker position and he was a force to be reckoned with in 2024. He registered 107 tackles, 9 TFLs and five sacks. He's another linebacker who can come into the box and make tackles against the run and he recognizes plays well.    KEY LOSSES   Jaquavious Dodd DL – After finishing his senior year with 92 total tackles, the Shrine Bowl selection is now at the University of South Carolina. Finding a way to replace his production will be tough.   James Odom IV WR – Odom was the team's leading receiver in 2024, finishing with 34 receptions and 378 yards receiving.   FILM REVIEW   [player_tooltip player_id='1025770' first='Cayden' last='Workman'] SS, 2026 – Workman will be one of the leaders in the secondary. He had an active 2024, tallying 70 total tackles with six tackles for loss and three forced fumbles. He excels at coming down into the box and making tackles against the run, and we expect that to continue heading into 2024. He brings good pressure on the quarterback to where he comes at full speed and by the time the quarterback sees him, it's either an incompletion or a negative play.    UP AND COMING POTENTIAL   [player_tooltip player_id='1719680' first='Messiah' last='Pearson'] LB, 2026 – Pearson returns for his senior season at Eastside, and he had a solid year defensively, registering 54 tackles, 5 sacks and two tackles for loss. He has a motor that is always running. There were many times when we went back and watched his film where opposing runners could not get anything going past the line of scrimmage. And even if he couldn't get home all the time, you could sense that he was coming and helping his teammates complete the play.   [player_tooltip player_id='1719852' first='Kelyn' last='Durham'] RB, 2027 – Woolcock has been impressed with what he's seen out of the rising junior. He did not play as much in 2024, but you can expect his role to increase in 2025. His stat line in 2024 was 50 yards rushing with 40 tackles and 2 PBUs. He keeps the ball high and tight and can change direction without losing momentum or speed. He can also contribute on defense as well at the free safety position, and is good at coming down in run support, as he's able to anticipate what opposing running backs will do.    Woolcock is expecting big things out of him as he's spent the offseason in the weight room working on improving. He had 15 receptions for 100 yards and one touchdown in 2024. He is quick and shifty once he gets in the open field. He can take a bubble screen for a 10 to 15 yard completion. He knows how to get open and when he has an opportunity to make a catch, he can go up and make the grab at its highest point.

Don't put a ceiling on what the Eastside Eagles can do in 2025.

After a 4-6 campaign in 2024 and falling to Indian Land in the playoffs, optimism is high from head coach Andre Woolcock that the Eagles will make some noise.

“I'm not going to put a ceiling on what we could do because I feel like this year we can do something pretty special. I feel good about who we are and the things that we can get accomplished this year, but to put a ceiling on what we can do, man, I think that's robbing the players of the hard work that they put in. So I'm not going to put a ceiling on it, but I am going to say we're gonna be a lot better than we were last year,” Woolcock said.

The offensive line for the Eagles will have three returning starters which includes Josiah McGee and Carter Williams. Expect the Eagles to look different offensively than they have in the past, with an emphasis on getting the ball in the hands of their playmakers.

As the 2025 season opener approaches on August 22 against Southside, the Eagles know their schedule will be challenging with the teams in their region, and Woolcock believes the mental aspect of the game will be key to handling it.

“I want to see how our mental toughness and, just putting us in tough situations in practices and in the weight room and see who's going to allow themselves to fall victim to fatigue, and see which guys are going to rise to the occasion and when they're tight, can they still make the play needed in order to win a big time football game.”

STARS SET TO SHINE

Michael Posey Michael Posey 6'1" | 215 lbs | DL Eastside | 2026 State SC LB, 2026 – Posey made the switch to linebacker in 2024, and had a solid year doing it as he finished the year with 53 tackles, nine TFLs and 6 sacks. He currently has offers from Miami (OH), UNC Pembroke and Erskine.

Improvements heading into 2025: For one, I'm a way better edge rusher than I was last year and last year was my first year playing linebacker so I'm much better at covering and being able to read the run and fill the run gaps and everything like that.”

General expectations for the year: “I think this year, we're going to shock a lot more people than we did. I feel like we're going to win some games that people don't expect us to win.”

Peyton Schrader Peyton Schrader 5'10" | 165 lbs | QB Eastside | 2026 State SC QB, 2026 – Schrader returns as he will be a three-year starter in the Eagles offense. He threw for 750 yards and two touchdowns in 2024, while also being a dual threat as he had 470 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground as well. He has a great arm and can get it to his playmakers and they will do the rest. If you get too caught up in that, he can make plays on the ground.

Eli Foster Eli Foster 5'11" | 165 lbs | RB Eastside | 2026 State SC RB, 2026 – Foster only played in 7 games last year, but he made the most of his opportunities, running for 603 yards and 7 touchdowns. When you watch him run, he has a good balance of patience and speed to be able to know when to turn on the jets and leave defenders behind. And he does an excellent job of shaking off arm tackles.

Lucas Tankersley Lucas Tankersley 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB/RB Eastside | 2026 State SC LB, 2026 – Tankersley will accompany Posey at the linebacker position and he was a force to be reckoned with in 2024. He registered 107 tackles, 9 TFLs and five sacks. He's another linebacker who can come into the box and make tackles against the run and he recognizes plays well.

KEY LOSSES

Jaquavious Dodd DL – After finishing his senior year with 92 total tackles, the Shrine Bowl selection is now at the University of South Carolina. Finding a way to replace his production will be tough.

James Odom IV WR – Odom was the team's leading receiver in 2024, finishing with 34 receptions and 378 yards receiving.

FILM REVIEW

Cayden Workman Cayden Workman 5'8" | 175 lbs | LB/DB Eastside | 2026 State SC SS, 2026 – Workman will be one of the leaders in the secondary. He had an active 2024, tallying 70 total tackles with six tackles for loss and three forced fumbles. He excels at coming down into the box and making tackles against the run, and we expect that to continue heading into 2024. He brings good pressure on the quarterback to where he comes at full speed and by the time the quarterback sees him, it's either an incompletion or a negative play.

UP AND COMING POTENTIAL

Messiah Pearson Messiah Pearson 5'10" | 200 lbs | ATH Eastside | 2026 SC LB, 2026 – Pearson returns for his senior season at Eastside, and he had a solid year defensively, registering 54 tackles, 5 sacks and two tackles for loss. He has a motor that is always running. There were many times when we went back and watched his film where opposing runners could not get anything going past the line of scrimmage. And even if he couldn't get home all the time, you could sense that he was coming and helping his teammates complete the play.

Kelyn Durham Kelyn Durham 5'8" | 185 lbs | RB/DB Eastside | 2027 State SC RB, 2027 – Woolcock has been impressed with what he's seen out of the rising junior. He did not play as much in 2024, but you can expect his role to increase in 2025. His stat line in 2024 was 50 yards rushing with 40 tackles and 2 PBUs. He keeps the ball high and tight and can change direction without losing momentum or speed. He can also contribute on defense as well at the free safety position, and is good at coming down in run support, as he's able to anticipate what opposing running backs will do.