2026 Preview: Bamberg-Ehrhardt Red Raiders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The two Hs were going to likely determine how close the 2026 Bamberg-Ehrhardt team compared to the 2025 version.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 15-0 record and a Class A state title were immediately followed by two words. Hangover and honeymoon.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Sometimes we get a little complacent,” rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1819949' first='Jason' last='Youmans'] said during last week's Prep RedZone Media Days series at Gilbert. “But we've got to forget about last year. Nobody cares about what we did last year. [The honeymoon] was over a week after the state championship. After the parade and stuff, it was over.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While putting that into the universe verbally is important, it's just as important to recognize that on paper, this year's squad is maybe even more loaded than the one that ran through everyone in its path last fall. The average score of those 15 victories?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Try 51-8 on for size.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now, for the potential encore, the Raiders have the horses to be even better. The team returns eight starters on each side of the ball, have an offensive line that's bigger and stronger (and more experienced) and a core defensive unit that knows how to take advantage of early leads by forcing opponents into devastating mistakes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So much of it all starts up front. The defensive line of <strong>Malika Atterberry</strong> (bandit), <strong>Hunter Ackiss</strong> (left end), <strong>Malachi Still</strong> (nose), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817745' first='Saveon' last='Bamberg']</strong> (right end) and outside backer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822054' first='Jordan' last='Williams']</strong> are responsible for replacing some of the losses from last year's team. They won't be alone, as the two primary interior linebackers - <strong>Darian Sease</strong> and <strong>Ahmad Busby</strong> - teamed up for north of 200 tackles last fall. Youmans (pictured) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1217173' first='Rakeem' last='Walker']</strong> will man the corners, while <strong>Jah'Mir Wright </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822457' first='Brian' last='McMillan']</strong> (yep, exactly who you're thinking of) will start at safety. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That's a whole bunch of production, and we haven't even gotten to everything on offense, yet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“When we have everyone together, we can see the level of play is different,” head coach Corey Crosby said. “Brian is making reads that he didn't make last year. He's calling plays, checking off that he couldn't do last year. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1214316' first='Ant' last='Williams']</strong> is making plays now on defense and understanding the nickel position. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1217173' first='Rakeem' last='Walker']</strong> making the move from receiver to running back, now he's taking the steps that <strong>Marcus Cann</strong> made last year. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819949' first='Jason' last='Youmans']</strong> is playing great.”<br>Soon, it will be time to see just how dangerous this team can be in trying to defend that state title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Youmans said he and his teammates are up to the job.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We have all of our guys back, so we're supposed to repeat,” Youmans said. “We have to work harder than last year. We know we've got better teams, but we're not worried about it. We think we're the best team in [Class] A. We're just going to prove it. … We're always just going to believe we're the best team, no matter what.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Darian Sease</strong> LB/RB, 2027 - Sease piled up tackles last fall like they were going out of style. The middle linebacker put up 146 of them to go along with 18 tackles for loss and four interceptions. He's going to be in the thick of most plays, be it in the middle of the field or near the sideline.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ahmad Busby</strong> LB, 2027 - Nearly as effective as his positionmate, Busby finished with 80 tackles and has had the type of offseason that has shown his teammates just how serious he is. He's able to roam the middle and feels like a shoo-in for triple digit tackles before his varsity football career is done.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822457' first='Brian' last='McMillan']</strong> QB, 2027 - The electric dual-threat quarterback isn't ranked in the top 30 of our overall rankings for the class by accident. As a junior - in his first year as a starter, no less - he made it look like a video game. His 951 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns on the ground wee only outdone by his 4,225 yards and 47 touchdowns through the air.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1217173' first='Rakeem' last='Walker']</strong> RB/DB, 2027 - Walker is going to again have an impact on the defense, where he picked off three passes as a junior. But his bigger role will change to offense, where he swaps from a guy who caught 21 passes for 545 yards and nine touchdowns to a tailback who is likely to get 80-plus carries in a wide-open spread known for huge running lanes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819953' first='Pierre' last='Fuller']</strong> OL, 2027 - There was so much flash in the Red Raiders' arsenal last year that most folks ignored what was happening in the trenches, and specifically behind Fuller, the team's left tackle. He's a violent and active blocker who always keeps his feet moving and is often springing blocks 7-9 yards downfield. In close quarters, he understands leverage requirements and truly utilizes - and helps create - the tempo for the offense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/23088960/691a5efe4a50c91c2d7dab03u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a3bddba56c37"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSSES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marcus Cann</strong> ATH - Cann took his tailback duties seriously, rushing for 1,050 yards and 16 touchdowns to go along with another 200 and two receiving.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jalen McGraw</strong> LB/RB - McGraw also finished with north of 1,000 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. He also had 93 tackles and 24 tackles for loss on defense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nahsiir Singleton</strong> DB/QB, 2029 - Singleton is going to double up on his shadowship of McMillan. He's expected to be McMillan's primary back up at both quarterback and safety. Given the Raiders' propensity for lopsided scores, we're positive we'll have plenty of chances to see him.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817745' first='Saveon' last='Bamberg']</strong> OL/DL, 2028 - The aptly named two-way lineman is prepared for his breakout campaign. He already started at both guard and one of Raiders' defensive spots last fall and put up 45 tackles. He's got contain down to an art with his ability to push offensive linemen out of the way.&nbsp;</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":2234026,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"ZaMari Brabham","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_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":"Bamberg-Ehrhardt","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-6a3bddba5935c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year taught us the Raiders are going to use their opportunities to get younger players involved. In this case, go ahead and pin point Brabham for 20-30 targets this fall, as he'll be directly behind Youmans at the X receiver spot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We haven't even mentioned the foundation of Brabham's game, yet.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He's 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds and sports an 80-inch wing span. Those measurements give him a massive catch radius and Bamberg-Ehrhardt is going to utilize that when it comes to pay dirt time.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->