BRADY, TX — After tying for a district title last year, the Brady Bulldogs face the challenge of replacing 18 seniors this fall.
Making that task more difficult is a move into a district with two state-ranked teams.
The good news for Brady is the Bulldogs are dropping to Class 2A Division I, so they’ll be the biggest team in their new district.
Despite the loss of so many key players from last season, fourth-year head coach Jaron Roberts said there’s still some considerable experience coming back that will combine with some exciting newcomers who were part of a successful JV.
“The pieces that we do have coming back, they’ve played a lot of varsity ball,” Roberts said. “And you mix that with some younger guys coming back who could’ve played on varsity last year. So it’s been fun and exciting so far. There’s a lot of energy with kids battling and competing for positions.”
Anchoring everything is Nasir Menefield, a 6-foot-5, 365-pound lineman who was the Co-MVP of his district. He dealt out 61 pancake blocks last year while grading out at 96% as a tackle on the offensive line, and he had 72 tackles — including 21 tackles for loss — on defense.
“He’s a difference maker,” Roberts said. “You don’t get a body that size that moves as well as he does and is as strong as he is very often. He makes everybody on the field better on both sides of the ball.”
Along with fellow tackle Cooper Powell (6-4, 265) and center Brett Jacoby (6-3, 265), the Bulldogs are going to be big up front. David Roberts and Gagge Burns will help solidify the line with some athleticism as pulling guards in their Wing-T offense.
For the first time in Roberts’ time at Brady, he won’t have Sean Jacoby at quarterback following the graduation of the three-year starter.
Junior Blane James appears to be the frontrunner to take over, though he is competing with classmate Jaxson Nuncio for the job.
“Both of those guys have played quarterback for us down on the subvarsity level, so they know the offense,” Roberts said. “And they understand that whichever one is not the quarterback will be a wide receiver or running back. They’ll be a starter for us. And they’re both starting in the secondary for us at safety.
“We’ve been very fortunate with Sean Jacoby, who was very dependable and consistent for us, but you’re always one play away, so you’ve got to have multiple quarterbacks ready to go.”
Roberts said he likes the receiving options, led by sophomores Josh Thomas and Kaleb Hinton.
“Josh is probably the fastest player we have, and he was a regional qualifier as a freshman in the 3A long jump to tell you what kind of athleticism he has,” Roberts said. “Kaleb is 6-4, so he’s a big, tall body, and you don’t get that kind of height a whole lot at our level.
“So between Josh as a speedster and Kaleb as a big target, it takes some pressure off our quarterbacks. If you get it somewhere close, those guys are going to catch the football and make plays for you.”
Along with Nuncio and Adrean Rodriguez at wide receiver, and Benjamin Valdez as a pass-catching running back, the Bulldogs should have a more versatile passing attack than in years past, Roberts said.
At running back, Brady also has to replace a 1,500-yard rusher in Ashton Taylor. The leading tackler from their defense, linebacker Johnny Roque, is projected to take over as the featured back.
Roque was a second-team all-district running back last year with 26 carries for 244 yards, an average of 9.4 yards per carry.
With Menefield commanding double teams on the defensive line, Roque should again be free to rack up tackles. He had 134 stops last year, including 71 solos and 27 tackles for loss, along with four sacks and two interceptions, both of which were returned for TDs.
With five starters back on defense, Roberts said he’s optimistic about that side of the ball.
“Kids are flying around who love to tackle. And they love to study film and learn what opposing offenses are going to do,” Roberts said. “We take pride in holding opponents below their season average, and we did that multiple times last year.”
Brady is moving to a 3-4 defense, which will allow the Bulldogs to have less two-way starters up front.
Brady has a difficult nondistrict schedule, highlighted by matchups with defending 2A Division I state champion Hamilton, a 3A D-I state semifinalist in Llano and a rivalry game with Ballinger.
“We wanted to really get out there and challenge ourselves early on and not worry about wins and losses. We wanted tough competition that’ll prepare them for district play and the types of team we’ll see there,” Roberts said.
District 7-2A will include No. 5 Mason, No. 21 San Saba, Johnson City, Bangs and Coleman.
Brady is picked to earn the fourth and final playoff spot by Texas Football. Considering the Bulldogs were a 7-4 team last year in a higher classification, that prediction might be underselling this program.
“Any time you get some new teams and new blood, I think there’s an excitement about that,” Roberts said. “I think it’s going to be very competitive from top to bottom. I feel like any of the six teams could be the four in the playoffs, and it wouldn’t surprise me.”
Brady’s season will begin Friday, Aug. 28, at Comfort. The Bulldogs’ home opener is Sept. 11 against Hamilton, and their district opener is Oct. 9 at home against Coleman.
Brady Bulldogs
2026 schedule
Aug. 28 at Comfort
Sept. 4 at Ingram Moore
Sept. 11 Hamilton
Sept. 18 at Ballinger
Sept. 25 OPEN
Oct. 2 Llano
Oct. 9 Coleman*
Oct. 16 at Johnson City*
Oct. 23 Bangs*
Oct. 30 at Mason*
Nov. 6 San Saba*
*District 7-2A Division I game
MORE: Top 10 Quarterbacks to Watch in West Texas in 2026
MORE: Top 10 Running Backs to Watch in West Texas in 2026
MORE: Top 10 Wide Receivers to Watch in West Texas in 2026
MORE: Top 10 Offensive Linemen to Watch in West Texas in 2026
MORE: Top 20 Defensive Players to Watch in West Texas in 2026
Subscribe to the LIVE! Daily
Required
Post a comment to this article here: