2020 Team Previews: Belmont Charter School Tigers (12)

Written by: David Mika on Tuesday, August 11th, 2020. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

Head Coach: Edward McCabe

Assistant Coaches:

Kyshaun Hall- Assistant Head Coach/ Defensive Coordinator
Anthony Vizcarrondo- QB’s/ Special Teams
AJ Eaddy- WR’s/DB’s

Team Name: Belmont Charter High School

2019 Record: 7-0 Junior Varsity

Key Starters Lost: none

Offensive Starters Returning: (11)

QB-Laminakil Long-McKenzie (So) 6-2 210
OL-Tashin James (Jr) 6-0 265
OL-Shaleese Davenport (Jr) 6-0 260
OL-Bryan Burgos (So) 6-1 185
OL-Laquil Laury (Jr) 6-0 250
OL-Marcus Barksdale (Sr) 5-10 210
RB-Jayshawn Copeland (Sr) 5-8 160
WR- Shiheem Robinson (So) 5-7 150
WR- Yasire Brooks (Jr) 5-8 130
WR- Maceo Gatewood (So) 6-2 175
WR- Chris Palmer (Jr) 5-10 165

Defensive Starters Returning: (11)

DL-Tashin James (Jr) 6-0 270
DL- Marcus Barksdale (Sr) 5-10 215
DL- Kalan Hall (Jr) 6-2 190
DL- Shaleese Davenport (Jr) 6-0 250
LB- Shual Bryant (So) 5-11 205
LB- Jualeem Cater (Jr) 5-8 170
LB- Marquise McClain (So) 5-7 180
DB- Maceo Gatewood (So) 6-2 175
DB- Shiheem Robinson (So) 5-7 150
DB- Jayshawn Copeland (Sr) 5-8 160
DB- Talib Copeland (So) 5-7 170

Special Team Starters Returning: (4)

PR/KR Shiheem Robinson
KR Jayshawn Copeland
P- Yasire Brooks
LS- Bryan Burgos

Key Newcomers:

QB/WR- Zekieyh Evans (So) 5-9 160
LB- Nasir Tillery (Sr) 5-11 170
WR/DB- Shakir Barber (Sr) 6-1 185
OL- Mekhi Bridges (Jr) 5-9 180
DB- Namir Watson (Sr) 6-2 165
WR/DB- Shamere Davenport (Fr) 6-3 170

Key Stats: This will be Belmont Charter High School’s first varsity football team. The nucleus of the team is made up of sophomores and juniors that have came up together through Belmont’s highly successful middle school program (3 straight Philadelphia Public League Championships in a row). In 2019 BCHS played a junior varsity schedule averaging 35 points per game on offense and giving up 3 points per game on defense. The Tigers are looking forward to the challenge of a varsity schedule in 2020.

2020 Offensive Outlook: The Tigers offense is led by multi-talented sophomore quarterback Lamin Long-Mckenzie. He can play any position on the field and can beat you with his arm or his legs. Lamin has an abundance of playmakers around him highlighted by Shiheem Robinson, Jayshawn Copeland, Yasire Brooks, Maceo Gatewood and Marquis McClain. One of the keys to the Tigers success this year will depend on the offensive line. This line anchored by Tashon James and Shaleese Davenport really jelled as the season went on last year. This unit will have to continue to improve and add depth if the Tigers are going to be successful in 2020.

2020 Defensive Outlook: The strength of the Tigers defense is on the defensive line where Marcus Barksdale and Tashon James love to wreck havoc in the opposing teams backfield. Versatile senior Jayshawn Copeland leads a talented group of defensive backs with his sure tackling and coverage skills. The Tigers defense prides itself on getting 11 hats to the ball and being fundamentally sound.

2020 Special Teams Outlook: The Tigers have multiple players that are threats to score with the ball in their hands on special teams including Shiheem Robinson, Marques McClain, Jayshawn Copeland, Lamin Long-McKenzie and Yasire Brooks . The kicking game needs to be more consistent.