Familiar Face Taking Over Wakulla War Eagles Football

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the past 20 years (two full decades), <strong>Scott Klees</strong> had been making a difference in the lives of high school students – on and off the football field at Wakulla High.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Compiling an impressive 178-55 record with two state championship appearances with the War Eagles, Klees won many big games, developed numerous athletes and helped to build character of his players and students he taught.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When spring opens, this football program will have a new man in charge, and while it will be strange for the school, the community in and around Crawfordville and for the players, at least the changing of the guard will have a familiar face.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When <strong>Derek Allen Jr.</strong> was named as the new head football coach, the program was hiring someone who graduated from the school - a former student-athlete, with coaching experience at both the high school and middle school levels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Allen brings high school coaching experience as an Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach at Blountstown High School, as well as Wide Receivers Coach/Pass Game Coordinator at Harris County High School.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Allen's coaching philosophy emphasizes student-athlete development and building strong relationships.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“As a coach, I am first committed to player development at every level of their lives. I believe that creating positive, caring relationships is the foundation of their growth… It is essential to create an environment that is conducive to learning and the ‘want' to grow.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ALLEN HOPES TO BUILD ON PLAYOFF TEAM</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While they finished 6-5 last season, this program did win the district and advance to the state playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To take things one step further in 2026, this rising senior (2027) class will be needed to step up and use the experience and leadership it has earned.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at some of those prospects:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Danny Godbolt, Athlete, 6'1,&nbsp;175&nbsp;- 2.58 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22892077/Danny-Godbolt-III">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22892077/Danny-Godbolt-III</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Antonio Harvey,&nbsp;DL,&nbsp;6'1,&nbsp;240 -&nbsp;2.5 GPA.&nbsp;Track &amp; Field. Weightlifting.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/24453045/antonio-harvey">https://www.hudl.com/profile/24453045/antonio-harvey</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jaylen "JJ" Jones,&nbsp;DB/Athlete, 6'2,&nbsp;185 -&nbsp;3.29 GPA,&nbsp;Basketball.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22892054/Jaylen-Jones">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22892054/Jaylen-Jones</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2152179' first='Wyatt' last='Jones'],&nbsp;OL,&nbsp;6'3&nbsp;300 - &nbsp;3.0 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/24442595/Wyatt-Jones">https://www.hudl.com/profile/24442595/Wyatt-Jones</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RyHeem Moore,&nbsp;Athlete,&nbsp;5'8,&nbsp;160&nbsp;- 2.67 GPA.&nbsp;Basketball.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/26524153/Ryheem-Moore">https://www.hudl.com/profile/26524153/Ryheem-Moore</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jarell Randolph,&nbsp;WR/DB,&nbsp;5'11,&nbsp;160&nbsp;- 2.72 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/23040836/Jarell-Randolph">https://www.hudl.com/profile/23040836/Jarell-Randolph</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Demarkus "Mark" Roberts, Athlete,&nbsp;5'9,&nbsp;155&nbsp;- 3.31 GPA.&nbsp;Basketball.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/26524148/Demarkus-Roberts">https://www.hudl.com/profile/26524148/Demarkus-Roberts</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1705517' first='Brice' last='Rowan'],&nbsp;OL,&nbsp;6'2,&nbsp;286&nbsp;- 3.42 GPA.&nbsp;Track &amp; Field.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/26369040/Brice-Rowan">https://www.hudl.com/profile/26369040/Brice-Rowan</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AWAITING SPRING VIDEO</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kasen Small,&nbsp;DL,&nbsp;6'0,&nbsp;230 -&nbsp;2.83 GPA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HOW ABOUT THE FUTURE?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach Allen and his staff will fully rely on the younger players as well. The underclassmen coming back, and coming in this off-season, will also be the backbone of the program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS OF 2028</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jayce Hoffman,&nbsp;S/QB,&nbsp;6'1,&nbsp;175&nbsp;- 3.52 GPA.&nbsp;Baseball.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/27365089/jayce-hoffman">https://www.hudl.com/profile/27365089/jayce-hoffman</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kyler Jones,&nbsp;LB,&nbsp;6'2,&nbsp;185&nbsp;- 3.58 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/26359715/kyler-jones">https://www.hudl.com/profile/26359715/kyler-jones</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Armon Lindsey,&nbsp;RB,&nbsp;5'9,&nbsp;175&nbsp;- 3.29 GPA.&nbsp;Baseball.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/27361963/Armon-Lindsey">https://www.hudl.com/profile/27361963/Armon-Lindsey</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Peyton "Bryce" Manning, Athlete, 5'9,&nbsp;165&nbsp;- 2.77 GPA.&nbsp;Track &amp; Field.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/26450814/Bryce-Manning">https://www.hudl.com/profile/26450814/Bryce-Manning</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Trenten "Meatball" Barwick,&nbsp;OL,&nbsp;6'2,&nbsp;300&nbsp;- 2.77 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/24442609/Trent-Barwick">https://www.hudl.com/profile/24442609/Trent-Barwick</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS OF 2029</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AWAITING SPRING VIDEO</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joe Bunce,&nbsp;OL,&nbsp;6'4,&nbsp;295&nbsp;- 2.86 GPA.&nbsp;Basketball</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1895147' first='Crawfordville' last='Wakulla'] War Eagles</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tallahassee Leon, W 37-20</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perry Taylor County, L 27-21</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tallahassee Chiles, L 23-21</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tallahassee FAMU DRS, W 48-6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Live Oak Suwannee, W 30-23</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fort Walton Beach, W 30-22</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tallahassee Godby, W 38-21</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Santa Rosa Beach South Walton, L 38-35 (2 OT)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Glen St. Mary Baker County, W 13-7 (2 OT)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Havana Gadsden County, L 28-20</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STATE PLAYOFFS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jacksonville Bishop Kenny, L 43-19</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FLORIDA EXPOSURE EVENT COMING MAY 23RD. Right after spring and a week before summer. This is a cannot miss exposure camp/combine. Sign Up Early!!! <a href="https://events.prepredzone.com/e/2242/register/exposure-series-florida">https://events.prepredzone.com/e/2242/register/exposure-series-florida</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Statewide Coverage Daily. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/florida/">https://prepredzone.com/florida/</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com.</strong></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! <a href="mailto:Floridakids1@aol.com">Floridakids1@aol.com</a>.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->