There are big shoes to fill for the Bradwell Institute Tigers this season.

For one, Coach DeShon Brock has to find an anchor for his offensive line after Elyjah Thurmon signed with Clemson. Second, he has to get a replacement for record-setting quarterback Chris Garrett. And third, he’s got rebuild a receiving corps for his new quarterback.

One of the biggest changes for the Tigers isn’t who is in the helmets – but how they act.

“We are more of a disciplined team than we were last year,” Brock said. 

The Tigers went 3-7 a year ago, missing out on the playoffs with two painful losses at the end of the season, including a last-second 32-29 loss to Greenbrier. Brock pointed to a lack of discipline that led to penalties on third downs and not coming with a big play, or a big stop, in crucial moments.

“We weren’t disciplined enough last year to get those things done,” he said. “That’s what we’ve been harping on as a staff and a team, to be disciplined and doing the little things. If we are disciplined and play quality football, we can make the playoffs. Everybody has to buy in, from players and parents to coaches.” 

To that end, Brock has been encouraged by what he has seen to date – for instance, there were only three absences out of 103 players for a 6 a.m. practice this week. 

Brock has to find replacements for some notable players, including Clemson signee offensive lineman Elyjah Thurmon and record-breaking quarterback Christopher Garrett.

Garrett threw for a school-record 2,426 yards and 20 touchdowns last season. He was also the Tigers’ second-leading rusher.

Sophomore Carlito Savea, who stepped in when Garrett was knocked out of a game last year, has been around the program since he was a sixth grader, Brock pointed out. Savea played on the junior varsity as an eighth grader and is expected to take over with ease at quarterback.

“His confidence is very, very high,” Brock said. “He’s a natural born leader. Some kids have that ‘it’ factor and he definitely has it. The sky’s the limit. He has the God-given talent.” 

Receivers Zay Thomas and Bryant Thomas combined for 1,111 yards and 13 touchdowns, but they too graduated. 

The Tigers, though, bring back speedster Tyon Jones, who had 10 touchdowns and 1,000 yards receiving as a junior. 

“Tyon is a marked man,” Brock said. “Everyone knows who he is.”

Brock, though, believes there will be a strong contingent of receivers again, including 6-foot-6 tight end Braelon Brock, Jonathan Holloway, Tyson Spears, Marlon Torres and DaWahyne Chatham.

Wade Cobb, who topped the Tigers in rushing a year ago and was an honorable mention all-Region 1-AAAAA pick, returns, and Brock also likes what he has seen from Jacobi Pasley, who might be the fastest of all the players.

“He has to be on the field somewhere,” Brock said of Pasley.

Thurmon, the four-star offensive lineman, won’t be clearing holes for Cobb and Pasley this year. The Tigers also lost Noah Quarles and Antonio Walthour to graduation. 

Joseph Morris, a 6-3, 290-pound, all-region honorable mention choice, returns.

“He has long arms and a lot of potential,” Brock said of his senior offensive lineman.

Brock and the coaches also liked what they have seen from Sonny Young and Gunner Hawkins, along with Cam Perry and Michael Martin.

“Those kids have stepped up,” the coach said. 

In a preseason jamboree with Bryan County and Windsor Forest, the Tigers posted a pair of 14-0 decisions, and Brock has been enthused with the defense’s effort in the preseason.

“I like what I saw Friday,” he said. “They were physical, disciplined, play fast, play with kind of an edge. If they can emulate what they did last week, I think we’ll be in great shape.” 

Defensive back Davyion Tillman is expected to be a leader on defense, along with Kevin Ford and nose tackle Kamdon Melvin. 

A new region means no longer facing Ware County, the 2022 Class AAAAA state champion, and Coffee, the 2023 Class AAAAA state champ. The Tigers will pick up Effingham County, Glynn Academy and Brunswick, all state playoff participants at Class 6A a year ago. 

Evans, the fourth playoff team from Region 2-6A, also joins the new region, as does South Effingham, which went 6-4 and missed the playoffs. Lakeside-Evans also will be in the new Region 1-5A, and the Tigers finish the season with lengthy back-to-back road trips to Columbia County to face Evans and Lakeside.

Bradwell was on the cusp of ending its playoff drought before falling on the road to Jenkins in its penultimate game of 2023 and then suffering a heart-breaking last-second loss to Greenbrier in the final game. 

The Tigers have just two out-of-region games, against Liberty and against Westover on August 23, before a week off and then the start of the region schedule.

“I, a region this big, you can’t afford to lose many games,” Brock said. “This group has worked really hard. They’ve worked really hard. They have come in daily. They have been in the weight room since January. They’re grinding and working their butts off. 

“I think it’s a schedule where we can surprise some people.”