Buchholz heads into season with talented junior class, playoff ambitions

Heading into last season, Buchholz head coach Mark Whittemore raved about the potential of his sophomore class. Now with a year under their belt — and another loss in a state semifinal — that now-junior class heads into 2026 more confident and hungrier than ever.

“That sophomore class from last year, playing 14 games, going 12-2, being in a lot of tight contests, really, really grew up,” Mark Whittemore said. “And they’re talented. They come to work every day. Their attitude, their approach to the game is really, really healthy. They are going to be the class that we lean on here.”

Headlining that group is quarterback Andrew Whittemore. 

Thrust into the starting position last season as a sophomore, the fourth Whittemore brother to don the black and gold went through his fair share of growing pains before breaking out towards the end of the season. He finished the year with 2,116 yards, 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions passing, along with eight touchdowns rushing.

“I think just trusting my arm strength,” Andrew Whittemore said on his growth. “There’s a lot of throws in the beginning of the season where I overthrew it. Mechanics weren’t really there. But as the season went on, I just got kind of more comfortable in my own skin.”

Andrew Whittemore’s growth as a leader will also be crucial considering Buchholz is replacing a key leader in receiver Justin Williams, who is now at Florida. There’s also the task of replacing his on-field production after three straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons, over 1,600 yards rushing and 69 touchdowns in his career.

Mark Whittemore mentioned junior running backs Josh Menefee (684 yards, six touchdowns), Avery Norris (259 yards, four touchdowns) and rising sophomore Jerrell Hopkins as key names in the ground game, while Andrew Whittemore said Norris (10 catches, 104 yards) and Suwanee transfer Koy Frier (36 catches, 408 yards, two touchdowns) will be key receivers.

Hawthorne transfer and FAU commit Dominick Harvey is another name to watch at receiver.

It also helps that the Bobcats will boast one of the top offensive lines in the state, headlined by senior UAB commit Bryce Daniels, senior Ibrahem Shaer and junior Bryan McDonough.

“I don’t know if you can replace a 1000-yard rusher and 1000-yard receiver. However, with the cast of players that we’ve got there at Buchholz right now, I don’t think we will be in trouble necessarily,” Mark Whittemore said. “We just got to focus and make sure we disperse the ball and get it in the right people’s hands. But Justin definitely carried the torch. There’s no doubt about that.”

Defensively, the Bobcats lost valuable senior leadership from safety Caleb Young, defensive end Evan Walker and linebacker Evan Amar, but rising senior safety Troy Fleming is confident, like his head coach, that last year’s sophomore class can take a big step forward as juniors.

“This year just gives us another year of development, another year for the guys to know what it’s like to be a Bobcat and to go through all the hard training and summer workouts and build the chemistry,” he said. “So I feel like this year we’ll be a lot more ready for all the challenges, especially deep in the playoffs.”

Four seniors in linebackers Zay Robinson and Messiah Gent (Hawthorne transfer), defensive lineman Jayvyn Williams and Fleming will headline the group, while notable juniors include linebacker Ray Sanchez and Hawthorne transfer defensive end Dracen Martin. Sophomore Virgil Lee III will be key as well, Mark Whittemore said.

While confidence is high, there is the elephant in the room: five straight losses in a state semifinal, four of which were by one score. Mark Whittemore said the Bobcats’ expectation is the season is a “failure” if they do not at least make it back to the state semifinal.

“After five straight regional championships and then losing in the first round of the final four, we’ve got a really, really bad taste in our mouth,” he said. “I think this group is out to prove that not only can we get there, but we can go win this thing.”

Buchholz opens the regular season on Aug. 21 at Vanguard (Ocala).