Back in the saddle again.

After a four-year absence, Tommy Brown is once again the head football coach at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School. He takes over a Bruins’ program that has fallen on harder times since his departure following the 2002 season. Not only has O-W posted a losing record (24-32 overall) and made just two playoff appearances the past six seasons, but the program is still seeking its first postseason win since 1996 and first region title since 1995.

Ironically, both took place under Brown and with former Clemson University quarterback Woodrow Dantzler at the helm. Over a decade later, Dantzler is also back at O-W as the quarterbacks coach, along with former teammate Jackie Robinson (wide receivers coach) looking to bring the Bruins back to prominence.

For that to occur, Brown acknowledged the Bruins must become a more disciplined and better conditioned team.

“We try to be more disciplined in what we do on both sides of the ball,” he said. “Basically, our plan is to know exactly what we’re going to do, what we want to get all the time. That goes for offense and defense. So, we’ve been working hard on being a more disciplined team ... in all aspects of the game because we feel like if we’re correct in what we do, we can compete with anybody no matter how good they are.”

Recent history is not the only burden O-W will carry into the new season. The team will also carry heavy hearts following the accidental drowning death in late May of rising senior and top offensive lineman Carlton Brown.

The young man known as “Seven-Deuce” was a team leader and was expected to be considered among the most sought-after recruits this fall. His loss was not only significant on the field, but for personal reasons as well.

“It was a big loss because Carlton was a leader on the field,” Brown said. “The thing is, he was a senior that actually took charge of what’s going on and it’s been a ... big adjustment losing him. But the thing is ... his spirit is still there and the kids are trying to rally behind it.”

At quarterback, junior Joshua Charles (5-8, 160) has spent the summer working with Dantzler to become more instinctive quarterback behind center in a more fast-paced offense.

“We’re demanding that he learnto read coverages, make adjustments on the run and through the summer, that’s the thing we’ve been working on. Teaching him how to check reads early, pre-snap reads and stuff like that. So that’s been an adjustment for him and he’s made great strides in doing that.”

When he’s not one of Charles’ favorite targets at wide receiver, senior Jayson Leverett (6-1, 165) has started seeing more time at quarterback. Brown sees Leverett playing a dual role on offense, believing it’s important to have two capable quarterbacks.

Both Charles and Leverett will hand off the football to running backs senior Jamarl Fogle (6-2, 265), juniors Joshua Davis (5-10, 170) and Devante Gibson (5-11, 185). The other wideouts are seniors Roy Haynes (5-10, 160) and Clayton Gidron (6-4, 180), juniors Robert Woods (5-10, 160), Raheem Howell (6-0, 160) and Alexicon Void (6-6, 175) and sophomore Kintrell Disher (6-3, 165).

Looking to help fill the leadership void of Brown is senior offensive tackle Thomas Hart (6-4, 265). After missing all of last season recovering from a torn ACL in his left knee, Hart has received heavy interest from the University of South Carolina and North Carolina State. Those offers are expected to increase as schools evaluate Hart’s progress early in the season.

“He’s getting a lot better,” Brown said. “His main thing is, sitting out a year, basically is kind of tough physically. He’s had to get himself in shape, that’s his main thing and he’s finally starting to get himself in better shape and you see the potential there.

“Conditioning has been a problem for him ... but he’s making strides and he has the potential to be a good offensive lineman if he continues to work the way he works.”

Joining Hart on the offensive line are senior center Edward Allen (5-10, 190), guards junior Travis Frederick (6-3, 290) and sophomore Nicholas Smoak (5-10, 240) and senior tackle Kenneth Hamilton (6-1, 225).

After allowing a total of 41 points in the first three seasons last year, all victories, the O-W defense gave up an average of 37.3 points in losing seven of the last eight games. Brown said the Bruins devoted more time in the weight room to improve the team’s overall conditioning and have stressed the proper technique in hopes of preventing another late season swoon.

The defensive line will have seniors Clinton Gidron (6-4,182) and Zayvan Pam at the ends and Tremaine Germany (6-3, 230) at tackle. At linebacker, junior Edward Charles (5-8, 160) and senior Travis Fox (5-11, 193) will play inside and seniors Brandon Graham (5-9, 170) and Marvin Howell (5-9, 166) are at the outside position.

Howell will also punt, while senior Anthony Anderson (5-10, 170) will handle all the place-kicking duties. Rounding out the defense is senior safety Curtis Simmons (5-10, 155) and junior Joshua Davis (5-10, 170) and senior Donovan Disher (5-10, 150).

Unlike the past two seasons, O-W will compete in Region 5-AAAA with familiar foes Aiken, Lexington, Richland Northeast, Irmo, Dutch Fork, North Augusta and White Knoll Another change Brown would like to see is once again getting off to a strong start in non-region play and sustaining it.

In short, finish what you start.

“We want to be the best that we can be,” he said. “We’re still learning each other and each day is a step in the right direction. We’re telling the kids that you reach for the stars and you can be as you want to be as a team. The thing is, realistically, whatever you want to achieve, you can.

“We’re not going to go out thinking we can win so many games. That’s not the goal. To put a number on what we’re doing. What we want to do is be the best Bruin football team that we can be and then we can walk away with our head up.”

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