Stepping Up
Following success in a historic postseason run last year, the Durant Cougars, under the leadership of head coach Claybo Varnum, will begin their season ranked No. 15 in division 6A. Varnum, a Durant football alum, has been at the helm of the program since the 2021 season. Before that, he was an assistant coach for the program. He has flourished in the role, leading the Cougars to their first postseason win since 2012.
The 2023 season saw Durant shut out Palm Harbor University High School 33-0, but Varnum’s sights are set higher than that.
Durant was undoubtedly successful last season, finishing 9-3 overall. In the regular season, they emerged with an 8-2 record. They won their district for the second consecutive year and had their third eight-win season in a row. A defining moment in a star-studded season was beating a dominant Sumner High School team 28-27 in the regular season – Varnum calls it a “staple win.”
Before meeting Sumner again in the postseason, the Cougars had to overcome another hurdle: winning their first playoff game. In their last two postseason appearances, other teams had shut the door on the Cougars, so they had something to prove.
“For a while, our mentality has been to get back in the playoffs and start winning in the playoffs,” Varnum said, “so after getting shut out in the playoffs the first two years, it was nice to [shut out Palm Harbor.]”
This outcome didn’t surprise Varnum, though.
“We’re not a fluke,” Varnum said. “We’ve got a good program and we’ve got a good system.”
Varnum believes the postseason win against Palm Harbor was a testament to the team and their desire to achieve their goals of garnering a playoff win.
As Durant seeks to go even farther this year, they’ll be on this journey without a few key players from last year’s squad. One loss that will be felt on the defensive side of the ball is that of Alex Smith, a class of 2024 graduate and three-year starter for the program.
Defensive back Quentin Pope also left big shoes to fill for the Cougars during the upcoming season. Pope, a multi-sport athlete during high school, graduated in May and took his talents to Division II football powerhouse Ferris State University. Pope led the Cougars in interceptions last year and was one of the team’s defensive MVPs.
Brant Bovee, a four-year outside linebacker and Durant team captain, also graduated in May. Varnum says that Bovee was an example of discipline and leadership on the field, in the locker room, and in the classroom. Replacing him is another hard task for the program.
Despite losing some key components, Varnum is looking for great things from the players who have stepped up to fill several roles on the team.
Starting for his fourth year, Jayden Cornelius is an impact player both offensively and defensively. Cornelius, a free safety and wide receiver, averaged 44.3 receiving yards per game last season, good enough for second-most on the team. He also trailed Pope in interceptions and Damari Styles in receiving touchdowns. Well-rounded players like Cornelius will be a key part of the Cougars’ strategy as they prepare for success this season.
“[Cornelius] has played a lot of Durant football, he knows how we do business and has made a lot of plays against people,” Varnum said. “Jayden is someone who, on both sides of the ball, will step up and fill some gaps for us.”
Cornelius’ father, former NFL player and member of the 2006 Florida Gators National Champion team Jemalle Cornelius, is now the wide receivers coach at Durant. The elder Cornelius took on this position after stepping down as head coach of his alma mater team, the Fort Meade High School Miners.
Varnum is confident in his offensive line, two of which already have Division I offers. As far as linebackers, Varnum says that returning starter Hale Sollman is the defensive heart and soul of Durant football.
“[Sollman] is a guy that most of our team looks up to. When things get tough, they look to his example, and he’s done a great job leading us this offseason.”
Another returning name for the Cougars is quarterback Michael Ryan. This will be the senior’s third year as a part of the varsity team. The 2023 season saw Ryan excel, with a completion percentage of .643 and 160.6 passing yards, on average, per game. Now a veteran of Durant football, only time will tell what Ryan will accomplish this season.
Cade Long, Amari Styles, and Hunter Smith are a few more familiar faces that can be expected to make moves for the Cougars this year. Alongside all the staple players returning to the Cougars’ roster, Durant has welcomed some new faces to its coaching staff.
Varnum and the rest of the Durant coaching staff will focus on every game one week at a time, but on a particularly tough schedule – and one that has recently been rezoned – Varnum has pinpointed some opportunity weeks for the team to set its sights on.
Competitive names like Armwood, Wharton, and Tampa Bay Tech make an appearance on the Cougars’ itinerary, as well as more recently added opponents like Lake Gibson and Bartow. Durant will play a pre-season on August 16 by hosting East Bay High School, led by former Durant head coach Mike Gottman.
“Our schedule is challenging, but we’ve built a team that we believe is ready to challenge that schedule,” Varnum says.
Of course, Durant’s schedule also features rivals Plant City High School and Newsome High School.
“We know that no matter how good or how bad the other team is, those games are going to be dog fights,” Varnum says.
The Cougars will host the kickoff classic on Friday, August 16 at 7:30 p.m. at home against East Bay. Their official season begins August 23 at Lake Gibson High School.
SCHEDULE
Note:All games are scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. Games are broadcast live online at NFHSNetwork.com
08/16/24: vs East Bay
08/23/24: @ Lake Gibson
08/30/24: vs Plant City
09/06/24: vs Gaither
09/13/24: @ Armwood
09/20/24: @ Wharton
09/27/24: vs Riverview
10/04/24: vs Newsome
10/10/24: @ Bloomingdale
10/18/24: vs Tampa Bay Tech
10/25/24: @Bartow
ROSTER
1 Hunter Smith LB 5’ 8” 135 SR
2 Ryan Porter WR/DB 6’ 2” 160 JR
3 Emmanuel Lee RB 5’ 9” 165 SR
4 Christian Gambrell DB 5’ 7” 160 SR
5 Cooper Watson DB 5’ 9” 150 SR
6 Jayden Cornelius WR/DB 5’ 10” 160 SR
7 Michael Ryan QB 5’ 11” 165 SR
8 Damari Styles WR 5’ 9” 160 SR
9 Ajani Peavy WR 6’ 0” 160 SR
10 Michael Gibson RB 5’ 6” 165 JR
12 Landon Snapp TE 6’ 1” 180 JR
14 Isaiah Sawyer K 5’ 7” 125 SR
15 Chris Lankford WR 6’ 3” 180 SR
20 Isaiah Hench DB 5’ 6” 125 JR
21 Kairee Barnum DB 6’ 1” 155 SO
22 Kaidyn Taylor DB 5’ 8” 155 SR
23 Ian Mercer LS 5’ 11” 180 JR
24 Caleb Waters DL 5’ 11” 188 JR
25 Samuel Zelaya QB 5’ 11” 145 SO
26 Rashad Joyner DB 5’ 7” 165 SR
27 Jayden Jefferson DB 5’ 11” 155 JR
28 Cole Castle LB 6’ 0” 190 SR
32 Hunter Rose DL 5’ 8” 170 SR
33 Paul Dilley DL 6’ 0” 205 JR
35 Remus Randall DB 5’ 8” 150 JR
36 Kristien Cook RB 5’ 5” 175 SR
40 Nykel Young LB 5’ 8” 195 SO
42 Jeremy Cannon LB 5’ 9” 165 JR
44 Hale Sollmann LB 6’ 1” 205 SR
45 Wyatt Zinke LB 5’ 9” 205 SR
48 Kamryn Peavy DB 5’ 11” 160 SO
49 Darius Vaughn LB 5’ 7” 155 JR
50 Cade Long OL 6’ 1” 250 SR
51 Jayden Goddard DL 5’ 7” 240 SR
52 Jamaar Hilton DL 6’ 0” 230 SR
53 Jack Brooks ATH 6’ 3” 225 SR
55 Jontrel Washington OL 6’ 2” 220 SO
56 Colton Knitz DL 5’ 10” 205 JR
57 Michael Everhart OL 6′ 5″ 250 SR Head Coach: Claybo Varnum
58 QB: Jackson Barwick
59 Colin McClellan OL 6′ 2″ 225 JR OL: Alex Wood
62 OL: Jon Finley
63 Gavin Pinner OL 6′ 0″ 240 JR RB: Vincent Buggs
66 Aiden Caldas OL 6′ 0″ 250 JR WR: Jemalle Cornelius
71 Dylan Livernois OL 6′ 2″ 220 SR DC: Randy Baker
72 Landon Collins OL 6′ 3″ 305 JR DB: Brodie Gonzalez
74 DB: Randy Baker Jr
77 Jahmari Thompson OL 5′ 11″ 230 SR DL: Scott Reed
78 Josiah Dennis OL 6′ 1″ 330 JR
85 Prince Rivera WR 5′ 10″ 150 JR LB: Greg Barwick
88 Tyson Ramsey WR 5′ 11″ 170 JR WR: Eric Brown
89 RB: Thomas Cotta
90 DL: Brian Brothers
92 DB: Anthony Kirkland
95 QB: Luke Hardiman
97 OL Greg Preseau
