Pensacola Catholic Set To Challenge Once Again In 2026

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As they boarded the bus following a regional final loss at Jacksonville Bolles, Pensacola Catholic head coach <strong>Bobby Clayton </strong>and his team prepared themselves for the long ride back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The convincing setback to the state runner up Bulldogs brought to an end a 10-game winning streak for the Crusaders and a season that finished 11-2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As frustrating as the loss was, this is a program that now expects to be in the state playoff mix every year, so while they have worked hard in the off-season with spring approaching, the objective has not changed for the 2026 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With some quality talent returning and coming in, this is a team that full expects to be in the hunt once again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rising senior class is stacked with playmakers and players who will continue to help elevate this program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some of those 2027 prospects to keep an eye on:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jaylin Brown, QB, 6'2, 180 – 3.7 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19866198/69078a6d295322328344308b" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19866198/69078a6d295322328344308b</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Keller Brown, PK, 6'5, 250 – 3.23 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/23528118/693234d4cd06d6b43c379bb3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/23528118/693234d4cd06d6b43c379bb3</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jayden Coleman, DB/LB, 5'11, 175 – 3.0 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19857160/6931dc6ee762a8a401ac4937" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19857160/6931dc6ee762a8a401ac4937</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ethan Crandall, RB, 5'9, 190 – 4.29 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/22263325/68e1776d9c4dae332bc31d64" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/22263325/68e1776d9c4dae332bc31d64</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tripp Dalton, LB, 6'0, 200 – 4.0 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19819194/692de36dcc386d2379607ff5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19819194/692de36dcc386d2379607ff5</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lane Grissett, LB/LS, 6'0, 190 – 4.3 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19844507/6932099755262ab8c7b8e896" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19844507/6932099755262ab8c7b8e896</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Donnelle Gulley, WR, 6'0, 170 – 3.39 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20186362/68ffc573891c27a71194e4b7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20186362/68ffc573891c27a71194e4b7</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1895237' first='Antonio' last='McCorvey'], WR, 6'3, 201 – 2.9 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20520603/6938afd1b354724b236dcf8c" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20520603/6938afd1b354724b236dcf8c</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ryan Moorer, WR, 5'10, 170 – 3.3 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://x.com/i/status/1987542767413637402" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://x.com/i/status/1987542767413637402</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Colton Pollard, TE/H-Back, 6'2, 210 – 3.25 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20013799/6931e2245e211df4d1cfe521" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20013799/6931e2245e211df4d1cfe521</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2148427' first='Zach' last='Wassil'], OL/LS, 6'3, 285 – 4.29 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19850279/6907c9746c4b96816ed13b24" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19850279/6907c9746c4b96816ed13b24</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Caleb Willoughby, RB, 5'10, 175 – 3.07 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20097729/692df134cd06d6b43c36033e" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20097729/692df134cd06d6b43c36033e</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HOW BRIGHT IS THE FUTURE?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While it's always tough to look ahead too far in the future, the Crusaders have some younger players to keep an eye on – with possible more on the way before we kick things off in late August:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS OF 2028</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2089724' first='Jake' last='Bates'], DE/TE, 6'4, 203 – 4.25 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22976933/Jake-Bates" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22976933/Jake-Bates</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nicholas McClendon, RB. Baseball.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/23045025/Nicholas-McClendon" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/23045025/Nicholas-McClendon</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>Tanner Brock, QB, 5'11, 175 – 3.86 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/23449949/6907c80a6c4b96816ed139b2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/23449949/6907c80a6c4b96816ed139b2</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Eli Rodgers, DB/WR, 5'10, 155 – 2.6 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/27500908/Eli-Rodgers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/27500908/Eli-Rodgers</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2130680' first='McKinley' last='Sluder'], OL/DL, 6'5, 288 – 3.43 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/27583291/69016469206aefcac228af04" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/27583291/69016469206aefcac228af04</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AWAITING SPRING VIDEO</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Konner Culpepper, OL, 6'5, 281</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 Pensacola Catholic Crusaders</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Navarre, W 42-27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pace, L 41-20</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tallahassee Godby, W 42-28</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Montgomery Catholic, Alabama, W 17-6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jacksonville Providence, W 35-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Freeport, W 58-17</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Destin, W 45-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DeFuniak Springs Walton, W 24-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Santa Rosa Beach South Walton, W 24-13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Delhi, Louisiana, W 44-6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Panama City Bozeman, W 48-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jacksonville Bolles, L 44-10</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! Floridakids1@aol.com.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->