2026 Preview: Brookland-Cayce Bearcats

In honor of the five-site Prep RedZone Media Days series this June and July, we're giving everyone a 50% offer code on all subscriptions throughout July 31. Get access to more than 100 team previews and everything else we have in store for readers as we gear up for the 2026 football season. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/subscribe">Simply head to our subscription page</a> and use the code "przscmediaday2026" at checkout to take advantage of the savings.   For Brookland-Cayce's football players, in 2026 there's no more wondering what the Bearcats are going to do.   Last year was a different story in the program's first season under head coach Louis Clyburn. The spring and summer of 2025 were spent learning each other, putting names to the new faces while also learning new systems on offense and defense and a new structure to the program as a whole.   That left less time to dial in the details, leaving the Bearcats a little bit behind their counterparts to begin the season. They struggled to a 3-8 record, their worst since 2012, but still managed three victories in Class 4A's Region of Doom to earn an at-large spot in the playoffs, only to run right back into Gray Collegiate for a second blowout loss to the War Eagles in the span of a month.   Fast forward a year, and this Brookland-Cayce team has so many of the same components yet still feels completely different. It's a more mature group, one that's comfortable in its system and is using this time to hone in on the finer points. And it's a group ready to make a statement.   "We're not the same team from last year," all-state middle linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1816473' first='Evan' last='Simmons'] stated, simply and adamantly, at last week's Prep RedZone Media Days at Westwood.   Brookland-Cayce brings back nine starters on offense and six on defense, and with several playing on both sides of the ball developing depth will be critical toward stretching the season well into November. Those returners have played a big part in improving the team's chemistry and culture, particularly with a healthy group of young players and others new to the program vying for playing time both now and in the seasons to come.   Add in that they already know what they're going to be running, and it's easy to see the reasons for the rise in confidence from a year ago.   "We don't have to install as many things. We don't have to get used to, 'This coach says this, this coach says that,'" fellow all-state wide receiver/defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1360306' first='Bennett' last='Plane'] said. "It's more of just going straight into our defense, offense, knowing which routes to run. All the installs are already there, so now it's just improving on the little things. ... As far as the whole scheme of things, it's just a lot quicker not having to relearn a new scheme for defense and a scheme for offense."   Of those returning starters, rising junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1816457' first='Andrew' last='Frick'] is the headliner. He had a big sophomore season and returns alongside almost everyone who helped him get there, meaning the Bearcats should see a decent uptick from their 14.7 points per game scored last year.   Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1817807' first='Anderson' last='Coggins'] Keondre Carmichael and [player_tooltip player_id='1824036' first='Franklin' last='Lykes'] all return on the offensive line, which will be a welcome sight for Frick and running back [player_tooltip player_id='1816469' first='Avery' last='King'] following a standout sophomore season of his own. Plane, [player_tooltip player_id='1816471' first='Mekhi' last='Pringle'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1816463' first='Campbell' last='Parsons'] are top returning targets, and [player_tooltip player_id='1809651' first='Max' last='Clyburn'] is back at tight end after missing some time last year due to injury.   The defense had its struggles last season against some explosive offenses and will be leaning on the leadership of Simmons, who along with rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1825502' first='Deleon' last='Gore'] will patrol the middle of the defense. Xavier Moody and [player_tooltip player_id='1824691' first='Antwain' last='Lawson'] are projected to be the starting outside linebackers.   [player_tooltip player_id='1817804' first='Ari' last='Jones'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1817558' first='Jamarieye' last='Jones'] are in line to bookend the three-man front, with rising sophomore Ethan Johnson in between. The starting receivers will also play plenty of snaps at defensive back, where they'll be joined by guys like [player_tooltip player_id='1816477' first='Jaden' last='Michael'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1876659' first='Trevione' last='Robinson'] in the secondary.   The schedule this year is cause for excitement for Brookland-Cayce, and not just because the Bearcats are headed back down to Class 3A. The new Region IV-3A, which also includes Airport, Camden, Gilbert, Lower Richland and Swansea, features more longstanding, natural rivalries against local opponents rather than just situational ones against the Aiken County schools in the previous SCHSL realignment.   "I think it's very positive for us. Our schedule last year was probably one of the toughest in the state, and we had a lot of ups and downs during the season," [player_tooltip player_id='1809651' first='Max' last='Clyburn'] said. "Now we're going into a new atmosphere, new people to play. We've got Hammond, Chapin ... and I feel like it's going to give us a lot more exposure in the state and how we're going to stand out throughout the season. I'm probably most excited to play Camden, my old team, now in our region. It's going to be a fun one."   The other big change is that being in a region of six teams, rather than eight, allows for two additional non-region games to have more chances to truly get into midseason by the time region rolls around. Plenty of eyes will be on the Bearcats the first two weeks of the season, as they'll kick things off with Hammond and Chapin in games with loads of local and statewide interest.   "If we can execute and we play hard, we give ourselves a chance to win in any game regardless of who we play. But having the spotlight on you early, definitely from a coach's standpoint, you capture the players' attention," Louis Clyburn said. "... Any of that can be intrinsic motivation to where all of a sudden you get that, it doesn't even have to be spoken, but just that we practice a little bit harder because you're more excited about that game. And I think our schedule plays through that all the way into our region."   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1809651' first='Max' last='Clyburn'] TE, 2027 - Clyburn is a program leader who also plays defensive end and long snapper, and he'll be ready to make up for lost time after missing some games last year due to injury.   [player_tooltip player_id='1816457' first='Andrew' last='Frick'] QB, 2028 - Frick was a 4A All-State selection after passing for 2,287 yards and 18 touchdowns along with 276 rushing yards. The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder again has the keys to a G.A. Mangus-coached offense, so last year's numbers may soon look like JV stats.   [player_tooltip player_id='1360306' first='Bennett' last='Plane'] WR/DB, 2027 (pictured) - Plane also earned All-State honors after pulling in 30 catches for 473 yards and six touchdowns while also making 59 total tackles with two interceptions and a blocked field goal.   [player_tooltip player_id='1816473' first='Evan' last='Simmons'] LB, 2027 - The tackling machine racked up 136 total stops with 10 tackles for loss, three sacks and two fumble recoveries, earning Simmons a spot on the honorable mention All-State list.   FILM REVIEW   [player_tooltip player_id='1824036' first='Franklin' last='Lykes'] OL, 2027 - Lykes is an absolute fighter, in the best way possible, from his center and right guard positions. He's going to run into defensive linemen who are taller, ones that are heavier, ones that have longer arms, ones that are quicker - and they're not going to push him backward. Lykes competes until the whistle, and occasionally beyond it, and he cleaned up practically everything in the middle while helping clearing space for 3,557 yards of total offense and 4.5 yards per carry last season. His first college offer came in early in July, and as long as his competitive fire doesn't dim we expect plenty more to roll in - especially with more eyes on the Bearcats this season.    BIGGEST LOSSES   Tyree Johnson WR/DB - Johnson was a key piece of the Bearcats' receiver trio, finishing his shortened senior season with 26 catches for 494 yards and four touchdowns. He also intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown, and even went 7-for-8 kicking extra points.   Stevie Bennerman LB - Bennerman was one of Brookland-Cayce's top tacklers in his senior season, having a hand in 69 total stops (seven for loss) with a pair of sacks.   UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL   [player_tooltip player_id='1816471' first='Mekhi' last='Pringle'] WR/DB, 2028 - Pringle led the team in receiving as a sophomore with 36 catches for 523 yards and two touchdowns, and defensively he was in on 25 total tackles with a forced fumble.   [player_tooltip player_id='1825502' first='Deleon' last='Gore'] RB/LB, 2029 - Gore earned a variety of opportunities last year as a freshman, getting onto the state sheet as a rusher, receiver, tackler and returner.    Like Frick, King made a big impact in the backfield last year as a sophomore. He finished the season as the team's leading rusher with 833 yards and four touchdowns, and he surpassed 100 yards in a game in region wins over Aiken and Airport.   He also caught 31 passes for 240 yards, pushing him over the 1,000-yard barrier for all-purpose yards, and added another touchdown. His numbers in all categories should go up this year for a Brookland-Cayce team returning so much talent on offense, and he should play his way onto plenty of watch lists by the time his senior season rolls around.

In honor of the five-site Prep RedZone Media Days series this June and July, we're giving everyone a 50% offer code on all subscriptions throughout July 31. Get access to more than 100 team previews and everything else we have in store for readers as we gear up for the 2026 football season. Simply head to our subscription page and use the code "przscmediaday2026" at checkout to take advantage of the savings.