2022 Team Preview: School of the Future Firebirds (12)

Written by: David Mika on Monday, August 15th, 2022. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

Head Coach: David Hand

Assistant Coaches:
Vian Dolo (QB Coach)
John Graham (WR Coach)
Marcus Justice-Bryant (DL Coach)
Tommy Nguyen (RB/LB Coach)
Victor Pastore (OL/DL Coach)
Tim Scott (Defensive Coordinator)
Anthony Thomas (DB Coach)

Team Name: School of the Future Firebirds

2021 Record: 6-3

District: District 12

Class: AAAA

League: Philadelphia Public League, American

Key Starters Lost:
Trayvon Collins
Derrick Howe (RB/LB/DL)
Markee Vanlee (OL/DL)
Mehki Moultrie (WR/DB)

Offensive Starters Returning: (8)
Nasir Gooden (Sr. RB 5’9 175)
Will Ashlock (Sr. OL 6’6 290)
Immanuel Stamps (Sr. WR 6’4 170)
Khalid Porter-Serious (So. QB 5’10 170)
Tavion Flythe (Sr. OL 5’11 240)
Brandon Tate (Jr. OL 5’7 265),
Dontay Armstrong (WR Jr. DB5’8 160)
Maxwell Kai (WR Jr. 5’10 170)

Defensive Starters Returning: (9)
Nasir Gooden (Sr. DB 5’9 175)
Will Ashlock (Sr. DL 6’6 290)
Jerime Brandon (LB 5’9 175)
Immanuel Stamps (Sr. LB 6’4 170)
Brandon Tate (Jr. DL 5’7 265)
Rashawn Williams (DL Jr. 6’2 185)
Dontay Armstrong (DB Jr. DB 5’8 160)
Mamadou Koita (DL Jr. 6’1 185)
Maxwell Kai (DL Jr. 5’10 170)

Special Team Starters Returning: (7)
Nasir Gooden (Sr. KR/PR 5’9 175)
Jahsear Rhodes (5’11 170)
Malik Wilkes (Jr. 5’10 185)
Mamadou Koita (DL Jr. 6’1 185)
Mehki English (5’9 165)
Rasheed Langley (5/10 165)
Michael Foreman (Jr. 5’10 175)

Key Newcomers:
M’Kel Best (Jr. OL/DL 6’3 235)
Jahlil Perry (So. RB/DB 5’10 175)
Rayshawn Scott (So. RB 5’10 190)
Nate Pascal (So. 5’11 180 WR/DB),
Nasir Wilkins (6’2 271 OL/DL)
Joe Patton (So. 6’2 265)
Daquan Goldston (So. 5’11 250 OL/DL)

2021 Returning Player Stats:
Nasir Gooden -RB/DB
Offense: 5 Games
Rushing:
75 Carries
645 Yards
9 Rushing TD’s
Receiving:
10 Catches
110 yds
2 TD’s

Defense:
31 Tackles
3 FF
2 recoveries
8 Passes Defended

Khalid Porter-Serious QB/DB
Offense
Passing:
8 of 13 passing
87 yards

Rushing:
31 Carries
122 yards
3 TD’s

Defense:
35 Tackles
12 Asst.
2 FF

Immanual Stamps WR/DB
Offense:
Receiving:
3 catches
27 yards

Defense:
37 Tackles
14 Asst.
1 Forced Fumble
2 Fumble Recoveries
4 Tackles for Loss

Jerime Brandon RB/DB
Offense:
Rushing:
7 Carries
15 yards

Defense:
28 Tackles
9 Asst
3 TFL

Maxwell Kai WR/DE/DB
Offense:
Rushing:
2 Carries
2 yards

Receiving:
3 Catches
45 yards
1 TD

Defense:
33 Tackles
7 Assts.
5 Sacks
6 TFL

Rashawn Williams DL
Defense:
30 Tackles
10 Assts
6 Sacks
2 TFL

Dontay Armstrong WR/DB
Offense:
Receiving:
4 Catches
68 yards

Defense:
25 Tackles
3 Assts
2 TFL
4 Passes Defense

Brandon Tate DL
Defense:
15 Tackles
3 Asst
2 TFL
1.5 Sacks

Mamadou Koita DL
Defense:
12 Tackles
5 Asst
1 TFL
2.5 Sacks

2022 Offensive Outlook: “We have three very talented running backs in Nasir Gooden, Jahlil Perry, and Rayshawn Scott. Our offense will go as potential MVP candidate Nasir goes! He is an all-around athlete who can take it to the house on every play on the ground or in the air. Additionally, we have a dual-threat QB in Khalid Porter. He is a very talented runner! We will try and bring him along slowly by protecting him with our run game and taking the necessary shots when the opportunity arises! Our usage of our 3 RB’s will alleviate the growing pains that all young QB’s such as Khalid go through. We have a lot of height at the WR position which will help our QB with their huge catching radius. Finally, we have a large group of linemen led by 6’6 290 pound OT Will Ashlock. We, finally, have some depth on the Oline but finding who plays where will be our biggest challenge! Our Oline is young and big but a work in progress, who will get better each week with game reps! Ultimately, the keys to having a successful year start and stop at the Oline growth. If the Oline who is young and inexperienced works hard each week to get better, then it will allow us to wear down teams with our deep running back group.”

2022 Defensive Outlook: “The key of our team on defense is our speed. From the Dline to the LB’s to the DB’s, we can run with anyone. We have a very fast defense who can play sideline to sideline. The strength of our defense starts with our LB core. Immanual “Manny” Stamps and Jerime “Deuce” Brandon have solidified our defense and has made our defense a formidable unit since being inserted at the positions midway through last year. After inserting them at the LB spot, our defense improved drastically and played at a high level. For example, in our first game vs Bartram HS last year, we lost 50-0. However, fast forward to the state playoff game vs Bartram (4-A Public league Champions) playing without our QB and whole junior class due to covid, battled with them through almost 3 quarters keeping the score 0-0. We eventually lost 23-0 but the improvements made were drastic! Now, after a great year of training and being in the system for a year now, we expect big, big things from these two players in the middle of our defense. The next key to our defense is the speed of our DL. To reiterate, it is led by 6’6 290 LB Will Ashlock, but when you see this athlete move at his size, it is scary! In addition, we have 3-4 DE’s who can flat out fly off the edge! Our backend is where we are most inexperienced. However, we have very talented players who just need game reps! Ultimately, the key to us having a successful year is keeping our defense healthy and fresh!”

2022 Special Teams Outlook: “We are working daily to make our special teams an important component of our team. We are still trying out many athletes including soccer players for our kicking and punting positions. On the receiving end, having three talented RB’s, our return game has a chance to be special if we can get the roles players to be effective!”

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