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NORTHWEST WHITFIELD BRUINS
Head coach: Josh Robinson (77-45 here and overall)
Returning starters: 5 offensive; 5 defensive
Last year's record: 8-4 overall, lost in GHSA Class AAAA second round
Key players: Owen Brooker (6-0, 205) Sr. QB, Hudson Gray (6-2, 190) Jr. WR, Jax Brooker (6-1, 200) Sr. LB, Conner Cummings (6-3, 190) Sr. LB, Dominique Smith (5-10, 185) Sr. DB, Gyan Gomez (6-0, 210) Sr. OL, Braxton Floyd (5-11, 155) Sr. WR/DB, Ike Ralston (6-1, 195) Sr. LB
Season outlook: There's a little extra pep in the step of Coach Robinson this summer, and not just because the Bruins are coming off two consecutive seasons in which they won a playoff game, the first time in program history that has happened.
Robinson admits he's "an old defensive coach," so it's no surprise he's a bit giddy about the Bruins' prospects on that side of the ball.
"The front seven on our defense is going to be a good, talented group," he said. "We're deeper than we usually are and bigger than we have been in years. As an old defensive coach, it makes you feel good to see what we have."
What they have at linebacker is three elite starters returning in Jax Brooker, Rawlston and Cummings to go with two talented sophomores in Caden Ramsey and Dominique Johnson. Jackson Holt returns to the line after missing last year with a foot injury, and Robinson got an early Christmas gift when 6-3, 320-pound tackle Bryce Bryant transferred from Sprayberry this summer.
All that defense is, on the surface, overshadowed by the return of four-year starter Owen Brooker, who is positioning himself to end his prep career with some lofty numbers. Robinson said Brooker is on pace to finish in the top 10 in Georgia high school history in passing yards if he has his usual 2,500.
"He's had a special career, and Owen is one of those kids - and not because he's a good player - who is a pleasure to coach and he's a real treasure for Northwest Whitfield," Robinson said.
Brooker will have to produce despite the graduation of receivers Ray and Brayden Morrison, but Hudson Gray returns and will step up to the No. 1 spot, with Isaiah Foster moving from defense to give the Bruins another receiving threat.