The Woodruff Wolverines are coming off of a 2024 campaign that saw head coach Brett Sloan’s squad go 8-1 in the regular season as well as a playoff win before falling in the 3A bracket to Powdersville by one score on the road. The nine total wins racked up by Woodruff represent the most wins in a single-season for the program since 2019 and a five win improvement for Sloan to his second season as the head coach from his first.
After falling in the second round of the playoffs last season, Sloan brings back several starters on a defense that should continue to get better as well as weapons on a top-tier offense from 2024.
Defense
A key absence from the Powdersville playoff loss was the presence of now-senior linebacker Shaun Graybill, who earned region defensive player of the year in 2024 after racking up 123 tackles. An MCL injury in the previous week’s win against Pendleton kept Graybill out for what ended up being the final game of the season, but Graybill is back to 100% health this preseason and is expected to lead a unit that has eight players with starting experience.
He will be joined in the linebacker position by two seniors. Jordan Hood, who Sloan says has the ability to be the biggest weapon on his defense at both linebacker and defensive end, and another all-state pick in Travon Lee.
“Jordan can play every position in the box for us, he gives us so much versatility,” Sloan said.
Sophomore corner Malachi Thompson started six games late in the year as a freshman, and is a breakout candidate in the secondary alongside returners senior Ty Moates and senior Jackson McCarley.
In 2024, the offense averaged over 40 points per game in the regular season and got a lot of the credit for the Wolverines breakout season. However this time around, the Woodruff defense is the unit returning tons of veteran, all-state, and all-region quality experience that can help ease pressure on the offense to keep up on the scoreboard, as they often had to last year. But that is not to say that the offense won’t be able to light it up again in 2025.
Offense
“We don’t need [our quarterback] to go out and win the game for us, just drive the car,” Sloan said about his 2025 offense.
When the car you’re taking is 6 foot and 200 plus pound junior running back Aiden Gibson, you can go far.
Gibson spent the summer reeling in college offers from schools around the country, featured on his social media including South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Florida State, Virginia Tech, NC State, and more. It’s hard to not be impressed by a 2024 season of 1,366 yards and 21 touchdowns in 9 regular season games, especially as only a sophomore. Sloan is encouraged for his 2025 season to be an added weapon as a pass catcher.
Several wide receivers return to supplement the downfield attack including seniors Kori Moates, Kam Taylor, Rhylan Renfrow, and Dre Jenkins. Sloan mentions Renfrow specifically as a candidate to play a much bigger role in the offense, and sophomore Connor Davis to be featured as well.
The quarterback position for Woodruff is where the biggest hole is left from 2024. Gone is 2,000 yard and 21 touchdown passer TJ Morris, who often had the offense humming as a well-oiled big play machine. Sloan is not decided as of this writing on a starter for the August 22nd opener at home against Clinton, but there is a two-man battle being played out in practice every day.
Candidate #1: Senior Jackson McCarley. The oldest signal-caller in the room and two-year primary backup to Morris, but has not thrown a pass in a varsity game since his sophomore year in 2023 and just 9 attempts total in his Woodruff career.
Candidate #2: Sophomore Connor Davis. Less experience, but certainly looks the part at a listed 6’2” and 210 pounds for that age and has had a good summer for the Wolverines.
Sloan expects to use both early in the season, and has confidence that each can go out and win for him.
“They’re battling it out, but we have two [quarterbacks] that we feel like can get the job done.” Sloan said. “We feel good about the talent, they just have to go out and do it.”
Woodruff opens the season with back to back home games against Clinton and Fountain Inn, two opponents that gave the Wolverines scares early last year but held on for one possession wins. Road games to Emerald and Woodmont are next, followed by a home matchup with Chesnee and a road game at Wren.
Region 3-3A play opens for the Wolverines on the road against Broome on October 3rd, followed by the bye week. One of the county’s marquee games for 2025 follows, as Woodruff looks to avenge last season’s two point loss to MVP, this time at home on October 17th. The slate wraps up with the final home game on October 24th against Chapman, and a road game at Union on Halloween night.
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