Cumberland County Jamboree Recap Part 1

The Cumberland County Jamboree brought together eight teams from across the 910 for four games and one final tune-up before the regular season gets underway. With plenty of talent on the field, this was a great opportunity to get another live look at some familiar names while also finding a few new prospects who are ready to make some noise this fall.   For Part 1, we're breaking down the standouts from the first two matchups: West Columbus vs. Douglas Byrd and Seventy-First vs. Gray's Creek. Here are the prospects who caught my attention. 👀🔥   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   Douglas Byrd vs West Columbus   Douglas Byrd vs. West Columbus kicked off an extremely hot day at the Cumberland County Jamboree. Byrd is starting over once again under a new head coach, but this time there seems to be more optimism surrounding the program. The Eagles have increased their numbers, added some intriguing pieces, and enter the season with more hope than we've seen in the last few years.   West Columbus enters the year on the opposite end of the spectrum. The Vikings are coming into the season with high expectations in the 2A classification, and after getting another live look at this group, the roster has the talent to back those expectations up. There are legitimate playmakers on both sides of the ball, making West Columbus a team to keep an eye on in the 910 this fall.   Top Performers    McCrae had a strong showing running the football for Douglas Byrd. The senior ran with toughness and excellent contact balance, consistently fighting through first contact and picking up extra yards. What also stood out was the explosiveness he showed when given some space. When a crease opened, McCrae was able to hit it quickly and accelerate into the second level. He gives Byrd a dependable, physical option in the backfield who can also create explosive plays when the opportunity is there.     Cox showed a lot of poise and command for a young quarterback. He looked comfortable running the offense, showed a strong understanding of where to go with the football, and tossed a touchdown during the jamboree. I got a chance to see Cox last year as a freshman, and the growth since then is noticeable—not only physically, but in his confidence and overall presence at the position. He has continued to add size, and his character and approach stand out as well. If Cox continues developing at this trajectory, look out. He has a chance to become a very intriguing quarterback prospect in the 910 over the next few seasons.     Graham looked like a three-year starter from the moment he stepped on the field. He played with complete command of the West Columbus offense, made confident decisions, and showed off a strong arm that allowed him to attack multiple levels of the field. Of all the quarterbacks I watched across the eight teams at the jamboree, Graham had the best overall day. His experience, confidence, and ability to control the offense really separated him from the group. West Columbus enters the season with high expectations, and Graham looks ready to lead the way. Conference Player of the Year loading.     Wilcox looked every bit like the leader in the middle of the West Columbus defense. He has good size for the position and plays with an aggressive, downhill mentality in the box. Wilcox was a tackling machine throughout the matchup, consistently finding the football and making plays around the line of scrimmage. He showed good instincts, physicality, and a willingness to take on contact rather than work around it. His presence sets the tone for this Vikings defense, and he should be one of their most productive defenders this season.     Vereen was one of the biggest playmakers on the field for West Columbus, finding the end zone twice during the jamboree. He brings an impressive combination of length, speed, and explosiveness to the receiver position. Vereen has a tall frame with long arms that gives his quarterback a big target, but he also showed the speed to separate and create explosive plays downfield. Add in his sure hands, and he has the tools to become a major problem for opposing secondaries this fall. After this showing, First Team All-Conference loading.     McKenzie wasted absolutely no time making his presence felt, scoring on the very first play of the game and immediately setting the tone for West Columbus. Beyond the big-play ability, what stood out most was the energy and emotion he brought to the field. McKenzie plays with a great attitude, brings juice after every big play, and looks like one of the emotional leaders of this Vikings team. He's the type of athlete who can impact a game in multiple ways, but his energy, confidence, and leadership may be just as valuable as his production.     Reaves is a newly transferred prospect who wasted no time introducing himself in a West Columbus uniform. The 2028 athlete made an impact early, coming away with an interception on defense while also finding the end zone offensively. His ability to make plays on both sides of the football immediately stood out. Reaves brings versatility and playmaking ability to an already talented Vikings roster, and he gives the coaching staff another weapon they can move around and create opportunities for. If the jamboree was any indication, Reaves could be a major breakout name in the 910 this season.    <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   Seventy-First vs Gray's Creek   Seventy-First and Gray's Creek gave us one of the most exciting one-score, 60-play scrimmages you'll ever see. Both defenses played at an extremely high level, creating pressure, flying to the football, and coming away with an interception apiece. Despite the turnovers, both quarterbacks showed poise and made some impressive throws throughout the night. We also saw several explosive plays from some up-and-coming prospects who are ready to make a name for themselves this season. In a competitive matchup that came down to the smallest details, plenty of players stood out.    The future is extremely bright for [player_tooltip player_id='2333581' first='Jeremiah' last='Floyd']. The young receiver already flashes an impressive combination of natural hands and speed, giving Gray's Creek a promising playmaker to develop. As he continues to learn the nuances of the position—route running, releases, spacing, and understanding coverages—his game should take a major jump. Floyd has plenty of time to develop, but the raw tools are already there. He has a chance to become one of the top young prospects in the area.     [player_tooltip player_id='2333584' first='Chris' last='King'] is a monster out of the backfield. I first saw him as an eighth grader, and even then, he looked like a future difference-maker. Fast-forward two years and King hasn't disappointed—he's bigger, faster, and stronger while keeping the explosiveness that initially stood out. He's extremely difficult for one defender to bring down, running with power and balance through contact. If King gets to the second level, he punishes defensive backs and can turn a good run into a huge play. One of the top young backs to watch in the 910.     [player_tooltip player_id='2134435' first='Javione' last='Smith'] made his presence felt throughout the scrimmage, coming away with an interception and making several impressive open-field tackles. The senior is transitioning into a new role at safety, and while there will naturally be a learning curve, he already looks comfortable on the back end. His linebacker background shows up with his physicality, tackling ability, and willingness to come downhill against the run. As he continues to adjust to the position, Smith's versatility could make him a valuable piece of the Gray's Creek defense.     [player_tooltip player_id='1271067' first='KJ' last='Jackson'] put together a solid performance and showed why he can be a difference-maker for the Gray's Creek offense. He was decisive with the football, making quick reads and delivering darts all over the field. Jackson had one mistake during the scrimmage, but what stood out was how quickly he bounced back and continued to attack. His ability to process, reset, and stay confident after a turnover was impressive. Jackson looked poised, accurate, and in control of the offense.     [player_tooltip player_id='2333601' first='Rmaunni' last='Watson'] had one mistake on the opening drive, but after that, he was cooking. Watson didn't have many incompletions the rest of the way, settling in and playing within the flow of the Seventy-First offense. He spread the football around, took what the defense gave him, and attacked downfield when the opportunities were there. What impressed me most was the response after the early mistake—he stayed poised and continued to make plays. Watson ultimately delivered the only touchdown of the scrimmage, putting together a strong performance against a tough Gray's Creek defense.     [player_tooltip player_id='653512' first='Shon' last='Pone Jr']. really got it going at receiver during the scrimmage. Already known for his speed and overall athleticism, Pone stepped up with a couple of Seventy-First's starting receivers out and gave the Falcons a legitimate vertical threat. He consistently put pressure on the secondary with his ability to stretch the field and also came down with a tough contested catch, showing there's more to his game than just speed. Pone's versatility and explosiveness make him a weapon Seventy-First can use in multiple ways this season.     South Carolina commit [player_tooltip player_id='1408808' first='John' last='Archer'] was an absolute problem up front. Archer consistently flashed the speed-to-power combination that makes him one of the premier defensive linemen in the state. His explosiveness off the snap, strength at the point of attack, and ability to collapse the pocket made him nearly impossible to handle one-on-one. You simply can't block Archer with one person—he demands extra attention on every snap and has the ability to completely disrupt an offense's game plan.     [player_tooltip player_id='2333604' first='Zay' last='Brunson'] handled the brunt of the carries for Seventy-First during the scrimmage and gave us a good look at the physicality he brings to the backfield. For a sophomore, Brunson is already an impressive power runner, running behind his pads and showing the strength to fight through contact. He didn't get many opportunities to open it up and showcase his speed, but the power was on full display. As the game begins to slow down for him and more opportunities come, Brunson has the tools to develop into a major weapon in the Falcons' backfield.

The Cumberland County Jamboree brought together eight teams from across the 910 for four games and one final tune-up before the regular season gets underway. With plenty of talent on the field, this was a great opportunity to get another live look at some familiar names while also finding a few new prospects who are ready to make some noise this fall.