Preseason X Factors: Brentwood Academy Football

<p>Brentwood Academy returned to the top tier of the DII-AAA classification last season, reaching the state championship game and setting the bar back up to the level that people were used to a couple of seasons prior.</p>   <p>However, they came up just short in that title bout as they will be looking to take the trophy home this year as they return the overwhelming majority of the production and add some talented playmakers as well.</p>   <p>These five prospects will need to have major seasons this fall if the Eagles hope to win the state championship.</p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 RB [player_tooltip player_id='723428' first='Larry' last='Sanders II']</h2>   <p>The star tailback will once again anchor the offense with his rushing ability to knife through the defense in between the tackles, providing a strong foundation to build around for a dynamic passing attack with several Power Four level prospects.</p>   <p>He has a strong build that is low to the ground, making him hard to corral in tight spaces. With what projects to be a high-level offensive line unit in front of him this season, that will only become more prominent.</p>   <p>He has been one of the most productive players inside the state as of late and that will not change this fall as head coach Paul Wade continues to build his offenses around strong rushing attacks.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/shaynep_media/status/1996764051846652246?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 TE [player_tooltip player_id='402854' first='Judah' last='Lancaster']</h2>   <p>The potent passing attack led by quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='834810' first='Crews' last='Jenkins'] has been mentioned already, but the focus for most people immediately turns to the receivers such as [player_tooltip player_id='378855' first='Kesean' last='Bowman'] (Tennessee commit), [player_tooltip player_id='1410131' first='Lexton' last='Baskin'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1118087' first='Eli' last='Ferguson']. However, a tight end prospect transferred in this offseason that fills a big hole that was on the roster last season and he should have the opportunity to make some huge clutch plays.</p>   <p>Lancaster provides a much needed big body over the middle of the field in the receiving game that it felt like Jenkins searched for late in the postseason last year to no avail.</p>   <p>The South Carolina commit immediately fills that need and raises the ceiling that this offense holds to an entire new level in the pass game, but in the rushing game as a blocker as well.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/shaynep_media/status/2006448481968517610?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 IOL/IDL [player_tooltip player_id='1140547' first='Dylan' last='Taylor']</h2>   <p>Brentwood Academy relied on Bennett Spillman to move all over the defensive line to generate disruption up front last season and he has since graduated. While a completely different player, [player_tooltip player_id='1140547' first='Dylan' last='Taylor'] should provide an anchor to the unit from the middle that the program has lacked for some time now.</p>   <p>While he is a little undersized at 5'11 and 280 pounds, he can win the leverage battle and has impressive strength that makes up for it. Since arriving, he has already set the school record for the bench press at 415 pounds, displaying the strength he will utilize this season to free his teammates up this fall.</p>   <p>He also has plenty of experience on the offensive line and should get plenty of looks there as well, strengthening an unit that had no depth last season.</p>   <p>While this won't be the flashiest player, what he should do on the field will open up everyone around him to do their job at a noticeably higher level and the impact will be felt on every snap by his teammates.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/dylan_taylor73/status/2052856569650356664?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 OLB [player_tooltip player_id='1585726' first='Kenneth' last='Simon'] II</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1585726' first='Kenneth' last='Simon'] grew a strong amount in the offseason prior to his junior season and it allowed him to make the full-time switch from safety to linebacker. As the team looked for disruptors to play around the line of scrimmage, his role included a lot of work as an edge rusher as well, helping to fill a massive need that the team held.</p>   <p>HIs versatility as both a linebacker and edge setter gives the defense a lot of variety in what they can do and it would not run the same without everything he brings to the table. The Eagles will possess an athletic secondary with ball skills, which should give him plenty of opportunities to hunt down ball carriers behind the line of scrimmage.</p>   <p>As he gets more comfortable at the position with another offseason, expect a big year from the Alabama commit.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ESBN_BA/status/1969214698152190213?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 ILB [player_tooltip player_id='1318538' first='Roman' last='Jennings']</h2>   <p>On a talented defense, the middle linebacker returns as the leader of the unit entering his senior season. He is the clear vocal leader and security blanket in the middle of the field at the second level, providing a steady presence for what will be four straight years now.</p>   <p>As you would expect with a middle linebacker named Roman, he is relentless in pursuit, effectively hunting down ball carriers and putting an end to rushing plays consistently and constantly.</p>   <p>Jennings returns as one of the best linebackers in the entire state of Tennessee and will be crucial to getting everyone lined up properly along the defensive front and providing them with some insurance from the second level.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/shaynep_media/status/1992039593370108159?s=20 </div></figure>

Brentwood Academy returned to the top tier of the DII-AAA classification last season, reaching the state championship game and setting the bar back up to the level that people were used to a couple of seasons prior.