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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney
ArMari Towns (17)
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Cameron Torbor (18)
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
Jonah Winston (4)
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Hoover kicker Matthew Daibes (90) kicks the extra point during a Class 7A first-round playoff game against James Clemens at Madison City Schools Stadium in Madison on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Hoover offensive lineman Storm Fain (55) leads the blocking for Hoover running back Kamal Amerson (26) during a game between Hoover High School and Auburn High School on Friday, Aug 25, 2023, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama. Photo by Barry Stephenson
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Hoover quarterback Jonah Winston (14) turns upfield after a reception during a game between Hoover High School and Bob Jones High School on Friday, Nov 4, 2022, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Al. Photo by Julia Freeman
What was supposed to be the launching point for the next great era of Hoover High School football took a drastic turn on Aug. 6, less than three weeks before the start of the season.
Hoover head coach Drew Gilmer, who was hired in January to lead the Bucs, was placed on administrative leave, along with defensive coordinator Adam Helms.
The reason for the action was not disclosed at the time. The decision to put the coaches on administrative leave "was made to ensure a thorough and impartial review of recent developments," a statement from the school system said.
“The safety and well-being of our students and staff are our top priorities. We are taking this matter seriously and working diligently to resolve it promptly and fairly,” Hoover schools Superintendent Kevin Maddox said.
Gilmer and Helms resigned Aug. 8 and associate head coach and offensive coordinator Chip English was named the interim coach for the entirety of the 2024 season.
Gilmer compiled a record of 81-12 in seven seasons at Clay-Chalkville. The Cougars posted double-digit wins in six of those years, including the 2023 season, in which they went 14-0 in a campaign that included wins over 7A power Thompson and defending state champ Saraland in the 6A championship game.
Hoover High School has a long history of winning, having nabbed 11 state titles since 2000.
The uncomfortable reality for Hoover is that it has not advanced to the state championship game since 2017. Thompson beat Hoover in the Class 7A semifinals five years in a row, and the Bucs were knocked out in the second round of the playoffs last fall.
The hiring of Gilmer was supposed to get the Bucs back to that level. Regardless, the Bucs will aim to maximize their talent and put together a winning product despite the preseason turmoil.
(Editor's note: the following is what Gilmer had to say about the team during the summer.)
OFFENSE
One of the challenges for offensive coaches is adapting the offense each year to best suit the personnel on the team.
“We’ll kind of figure it out; it may take a couple games to figure out what our identity is,” Gilmer said.
Mac Beason has transferred in from Gardendale and appears to be the one to take the reins of the Hoover offense. Beason is not a traditional dual-threat quarterback, but he certainly possesses the ability to extend plays in the pocket.
“He’s very accurate with the football and makes good decisions,” Gilmer said.
One of the top playmakers for the Bucs will likely be Jonah Winston, a tremendous athlete who was forced to step in at quarterback for the Bucs at times last fall.
“He can play any position on the field, which is good,” Gilmer said. “But the good thing, too, is we don’t have to play him on every position on the field.”
Winston is capable of playing receiver, running back or quarterback, and the Bucs will look to get him the ball in a variety of ways each game.
The offensive line should be a significant strength for Hoover, as Storm Fain, Toby Richard, Trot English and TJ Fields all return as starters from a year ago.
ArMari Towns, Avery Crawford and Spain Park transfer Reggie Jackson headline the group of outside receivers. Hunter Purdue is a slot receiver and tight end Chris Warren returns.
The running back room will be “by committee” until a hot hand emerges.
DEFENSE
Pa Drammeh, Tyson Bacon and Branden Rudolph jumped out immediately over the spring and summer, anchoring the defensive line.
At linebacker, Cameron Torbor and Trey Sanders fall into the same boat, standing out as players who will make an instant impact in the middle of the Bucs defense. Justyn Hartley and Dylan Bunkley play on the outside and cover receivers or rush the passer.
In the back end, Tre Darden and JJ Moultrie are two ball-hawking corners. Moultrie intercepted four passes and blocked four kicks last season.
“He’s another that stood out to me. He always has a smile on his face,” Gilmer said of Moultrie. “He’s a ballplayer.”
Guys like Jeremiah Robinson, Jackson Lassiter, Cam Spates and DK Bolden are all set to contribute in the secondary as well.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Matthew Daibes returns as the Bucs’ kicker, as does James Bryant. Those two got the bulk of the action for the Bucs last year.
SCHEDULE
Hoover plays in one of the toughest regions in the state in Class 7A, Region 3. The Bucs will play their first two region games on the road this season, heading to Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa and Hewitt-Trussville the first two weeks of September.
They also head to Tuscaloosa County and Thompson in region play, while hosting Prattville, Oak Mountain and Vestavia Hills.
In non-region action, Hoover travels to south Florida to take on Western High in the season’s opening game. The following week, the Bucs take on city rival Spain Park, with the Jags now in 6A and no longer in the same region. Hoover also takes on Parker, one of the preseason favorites in 6A, in the middle of the season.
