2018 Football Preview: New Faces Join Brook Hill + Gorman

ETSN.fm Private Schools Preview

The private schools in East Texas will have plenty of storylines in 2018.

Brook Hill might be the most interesting, as the Guard add Khalan Griffin from Chapel Hill and a couple of foreign exchange students who look the part. With Griffin and Tobias Braun, Brook Hill has two legitimate Division I prospects.

It was an unceremonious season for the Guard in 2017. But the additions they made this offseason could spell success.

Tyler Bishop Gorman brings back its offensive firepower and will be a contender once again. The Crusaders added a transfer of their own in Chase Crumpton, and bring back the quarterback-receiver duo of Jake Smith and Tyler Hobbs.

Throw in Tyler Grace and Tyler All Saints, and there will be plenty to talk about. Brook Hill, Gorman and Grace may, however, still struggle to keep up with the schools in its district from the Metroplex, particular Dallas Christian and Cedar Hill Trinity.

Still, there are enough questions marks to make 2018 an interesting season for the private schools in the area. Without further ado, here is the ETSN.fm 2018 Private Schools Preview.

PLAYMAKERS

• QB/ATH Khalan Griffin, Jr., 5-10, 180
• OL/DL Tobias Braun, Sr., 6-7, 290
• QB Jake Smith, Sr., 6-2, 205
• WR Tyler Hobbs, Sr., 6-0, 192
• WR/DB Chase Crumpton, Sr, 6-0, 179
• QB Braydon Stone, Sr., 5-10, 170
• RB/LB Uchenna Uduma, Sr., 5-10, 180
• RB/DB Alvin Skipworth, Jr., 5-9, 182
• TE/DL Collin Gee, Sr., 6-1, 225
• RB/DB MJ Smith-Dukes, Sr., 5-6, 145
• LB Allen Schira, Sr., 5-10, 160

TOP GAMES

• Bullard Brook Hill at Tyler Bishop Gorman, Nov. 2
• Trinity Christian at Bullard Brook Hill, Sept. 21
• Dallas Christian at Tyler Bishop Gorman, Oct. 19
• Tyler Bishop Gorman at Tyler Grace, Oct. 26

TAPPS Division II, District II

Bullard Brook Hill Guard

Coach: Scott Ryle

2017 finish: 3-6 (TAPPS Division II bi-district finalist)

Returning starters: 5 offensive, 6 defensive

Players to watch

• QB/ATH Khalan Griffin, Jr., 5-10, 180
• OL/DL Tobias Braun, Sr., 6-7, 290
• LB Konstantin Krasser, Jr., 6-1, 215
• DB Seth Moss, Jr., 6-0, 155
• WR/DB Fisher Bass, Jr.
• LB/TE Jake Shaffer, Jr., 6-0, 175
• WR/DB Kirk Jean-Baptiste, Sr.
• OL/DL Peyton Adams, Sr., 6-1, 265

Offense: The Guard have a few new faces that should make an immediate impact on offense. Khalan Griffin transferred from Chapel Hill after a breakout sophomore campaign at quarterback (1,514 yards passing, 1,018 rushing, 30 total TDs).

Griffin will lead the offense, but a couple of foreign exchange students provide extra intrigue. Tobias Braun comes to Brook Hill by way of Germany. Built like a bruising lineman at 6-foot-7, 290 pounds, he already boasts a Division I scholarship offer from Towson. Kirk Jean-Baptiste traveled from Canada to join the Guard, where he’ll play receiver and safety.

These fresh legs, along with the returning contributors from 2017, should lead to an improved offense for Brook Hill.

Defense: The defense returns six starters from this past season, including linebacker Konstantin Krasser and defensive back Seth Moss.

They will be the leaders of the unit, with Krasser displaying a blend of size and speed (6-1, 215 with a 4.7 40-yard dash). Braun will also play on the defensive line, where his size will be equally imposing.

Brook Hill gave up 32.7 points per game in 2017, but should improve on that number with added experience and talent.

2017 outlook: The are plenty of question marks for the Guard.

It remains to be seen how Griffin will mesh with the offense. Even if he puts up similar numbers to last season, he’ll need help. Chapel Hill finished just 3-7 in 2017 despite Griffin’s efforts.

That said, there are plenty of promising prospects. Braun has the highest ceiling of the new players, but proven commodities of Moss and Krasser should give the Guard some strength on defense.

It won’t take much progress to improve on a dismal 3-6 record from a year ago. With the additions it made in the offseason, Brook Hill should be better and have a chance to contend for a playoff spot.

Tyler Bishop Gorman Crusaders

Coach: Randy McFarlin

2017 finish: 6-4 (TAPPS Division III bi-district finalist)

Returning starters: 9 offensive, 9 defensive

Players to watch

• QB Jake Smith, Sr., 6-2, 205
• WR Tyler Hobbs, Sr., 6-0, 192
• WR/DB Chase Crumpton, Sr., 6-0, 179
• OL/DL Matthew Navarro, Sr., 5-10, 158
• WR/DB Chris Jones, Sr.
• LB/OL Casen Salitre, Sr., 5-8, 145
• OL/DL Charles Lauffer, Sr.
• OL/LB Lucas Vega, Sr., 5-10, 190
• OL/DL Peyton Harris, Sr.
• RB Jeremiah Milton, Jr., 6-1, 180
• DB Emmanuel Milton, Jr., 5-10 180

Offense: Look for the Crusaders to continue to light up the scoreboard in 2018.

QB Jake Smith is the second-leading returning passer in East Texas (3,496 yards). He finished a little more than 300 yards shy of Carthage quarterback Gunner Capps despite playing six less games.

The loss of 1,000-yard receiver Isaiah Haggerty stings, but should be mitigated by the return of Tyler Hobbs (1,078 receiving yards). Gorman also adds Lindale transfer Chase Crumpton, who will play receiver and defensive back.

Jeremiah Milton (648 rushing, 148 receiving) also returns and should improve upon an impressive sophomore season.

The only weakness appears to be the offensive line, which is undersized. Skill players may have to fight more for their yardage, but still expect the offense to hum along at its usual pace.

Defense: The most interesting piece of the defense was a late addition. Crumpton transferred from Lindale this summer after taking the defensive back MVP at the ETSN.fm combine in May.

He joins Emmanuel Milton and Chris Jones in the secondary, which should be Gorman’s strongest defensive unit.

Like its offensive counterpart, the defensive line lacks size. However, linebacker Isaiah Milton (6-0, 180) could provide some power to a defense that needs it.

2017 outlook: The Crusaders return plenty of starters from a team that made the playoffs last season. That bodes well for improvement.

The loss of Haggerty will be the biggest blow, but the addition of Crumpton should help alleviate that pain. The offense won’t have any issue continuing its output from a year ago, barring injury.

The defense returns nine starters as well, so expect the Crusaders to get better all around. Gorman could very well be the best of the private schools in East Texas.

Tyler Grace Community Cougars

Coach: Norm Thompson

2017 finish: 5-6 (TAPPS Division II regional semifinalist)

Returning starters: 5 offensive, 5 defensive

Players to watch

• QB Braydon Stone, Sr., 5-10, 170
• RB/LB Uchenna Uduma, Sr., 5-10, 180
• RB/DB Alvin Skipworth, Jr., 5-9, 182
• LB John Moore, Jr.
• LB Jacob Peña, Jr., 6-0, 177
• LB Joseph Spitzer, Jr.
• Wes Tolleson, WR/DB, Sr., 6-0

Offense: The Cougars bring back plenty of firepower on offense.

Braydon Stone (1,825 passing yards, 1,181 rushing) will command the unit at quarterback. Grace also brings back its backfield duo of Uchenna Uduma (1,107 rushing) and Alvin Skipworth (738 rushing, 668 receiving). Add in receiver Wes Tolleson and there will be plenty of familiar faces on offense.

The biggest loss comes on the offensive line, and how Grace copes with that could determine its finish this year.

Defense: Tolleson’s value comes mainly on defense, where he racked up 92 tackles and two interceptions this past season. The Cougars also have a slew of linebackers waiting to make their mark in John Moore, Jacob Peña and Joseph Spitzer.

The defense is in a much more ambiguous situation than the offense, though. Tolleson is the only major contributor returning for a unit that lost six starters. How the new players respond will determine Grace’s finish this season.

2017 outlook: Grace isn’t likely to see much improvement from its 5-6 finish a season ago.

The Cougars simply lose too much to keep up with the rest of the teams in their district. The offense brings back many skill players, but too many questions remain on defense. At best, Grace will match its record from a season ago and make a playoff appearance if it can find some luck.

TAPPS Division V

Tyler All Saints Trojans

Coach: Drew Starnes

2017 record: 4-5

Returning starters: 8 offensive, 10 defensive

Players to watch

• TE/DL Collin Gee, Sr., 6-1, 225
• RB/DB MJ Smith-Dukes, Sr., 5-6, 145
• LB Allen Schira, Sr., 5-10, 160
• WR/DB Daylon Lewis, Sr., 6-1, 172
• QB/DB Jackson Jordan, Sr., 6-1, 155
• OL/DL Smith Reynolds, Sr., 6-0, 245

Offense: Tight end Collin Gee should be the main target in the passing game. He’ll be taking throws from quarterback Jackson Jordan. MJ Smith-Dukes returns after talking 821 rushing yards and touchdowns this past season.

While the skills positions appear brimming with talent, it remains to be seen how the line will perform.

Defense: Allen Schira (55 tackles, 4 for loss) is back, as well as all but one starter from a season ago. Gee joins the defensive line and Daylon Lewis will be a force in the secondary. This veteran group should have a fairly good grasp of what its coach needs.

2017 Outlook: There are 18 starters back from a year ago, which is a good thing.

However, the Trojans finished just 4-5 last season, and it’s unreasonable to expect a large jump from a team simply because it returns most of its players. All Saints will likely see some improvement, though, and may end up with an above .500 record.