HAZELWOOD EAST SPARTANS – FOOTBALL

Hazelwood East comes off an 8–3 season and will be younger up front but still experienced at key positions. Head coach Bobby Cole, in his sixth year, notes that the Class of 2026 was “a large senior class, with 18 seniors graduating,” and says, “we will be young up front, but we do return varsity experience at key positions.” He adds that this season they “expect to be just as fast, taller, and even more explosive at the skill positions” and “look to improve in the area of special teams, which has affected us in key moments in past seasons.” 

Offensively, Hazelwood East returns two starters and runs a Flexbone/Split Back Veer. The staff writes, “We are a Flexbone/Split Back Veer team and have been committed to that system for the past four years,” and that they have “operated it very efficiently.” They highlight that “outside of Fox, we are the only team in the area running this style of offense,” which “makes weekly preparation difficult for opponents,” while also creating its own challenges since “most opponents rarely face option-based offenses.” Senior quarterback Tyshawn Tillman is a returning starter, senior receiver Trent Johnson gives them a playmaker outside, and junior tackle Jeremiah Rhodes anchors the offensive front as the lone returning lineman.

Defensively, three starters return. Hazelwood East is “well-versed in odd front defenses,” and the staff notes their defensive line and linebackers “are built with smaller, quicker athletes, so the movement and flexibility that odd fronts provide fit our personnel well.” In the secondary, they “utilize a variety of coverages and do not rely on one true ‘base’ coverage,” striving to “play fast, physical, and fundamentally sound football while being strong, efficient tacklers.” Junior corner Shaun Johnson, senior outside linebacker Thomas Traylor and senior strong safety Tra’Shon French headline the returning group.

Tillman is the MVP nominee; the row notes he is “a returning starter who has proven to be highly efficient in both the passing and running game” and brings “strong leadership, toughness, and consistency” while excelling as “an honor roll student.” Sophomore Marquan Kholiem is the underclassman to watch, described as “a speedy and explosive ball carrier” with a “relentless, physical playing style” who can impact “all three phases of the game.”