Corky Kell & Dave Hunter Classic Team Previews - Cass

The Cass Colonels made a fourth-straight postseason appearance for the first time in the program’s 74-year history this past season and the foundation that has been established under head coach Steve Gates since his arrival in 2020 has added optimism and excitement for 2025. Cass reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 1983 in 2023, and was on a similar quest to start the 2024 season. Mississippi State commit and quarterback Brodie McWhorter was coming off his phenomenal sophomore season that helped Cass make its deep playoff run and had Cass off to a 3-1 start before he suffered a broken fibula and dislocated ankle in the Region 7 opener against Hiram on Sept. 13. Cass rallied after a spell of key injuries and battled its way into the playoffs as a No. 4 seed, but the absence of McWhorter was too much to overcome and his return for 2025 is the overarching storyline following the Colonels into kickoff.

Mascot: Colonels

County: Bartow

Head Coach: Steve Gates (2020-25)

Coach’s School Record: 29-28

Coach’s Overall Record: 29-28

2024 Record: 6-5

2024 Region Rank: 4th

2024 Playoff Finish: First Round (L 41-7, Blessed Trinity)

Overall School Record: 245-475-5

State Championships: N/A

Key Returning Offensive Starters: Brodie McWhorter (QB), Bear McWhorter (OL), Elijah Slocum (WR), Chase Tatum (TE)

Key Returning Defensive Starters: John Abernathy (DL), Josh Love (FS), Malachi Harris (LB), Nazaire Fleurine (FS), Mason Tompkins (OLB)

Key Newcomers: Jerome Sanders (RB), Kalel Charles (RB)

Returning Kickers: Anthony Quijada (K), Chase Tatum (P)

Offensive Formation: Spread Multiple

Defensive Formation: 3-2, 3-3 Stack

School Enrollment: 1,623

Cass head coach Steve Gates has done a phenomenal job in raising the standards at the school since his arrival and he is looking forward to seeing the results again in 2025. The biggest position group that Gates has gained confidence in after a great spring is at running back and there will be a two-headed attack with Jerome Sanders and Kalel Charles sharing the role.

“Offensively, we will have a bunch of new pieces and first year starters out there,” said Gates. “The good situation is our running back situation. We have had two guys that have absolutely killed it in spring and that is Jerome Sanders and Kalel Charles. They have stepped up in spring and the month of June and have absolutely taken off and I am very excited about our running back situation this season.”

“This 2026 class could be the most talented overall class I’ve had from top to bottom,” said Gates. “I’ve had some very good players over the last five years, but we were kind of top heavy. We had one or two or three really great players and then a bunch of good high school players. This group obviously has three or four of those really big name guys, but I think finally in year six that we have created depth. So I’m anxious to see where that depth pans out, because that is where we get beat by bigger schools and some of these city schools. They just have so many move-ins coming in and out that it is hard to compete, but after five years I feel like we have finally gotten some depth. We had a bunch of sophomores that were very talented and so that is probably what I am more excited about this year is finally getting to see how our depth can pan out.”

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