- May 23, 2025
Mainland football players run through drills during the first week of spring practice. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland football players run through drills during the first week of spring practice while head coach Jeremy 'Squatty' Bell (center) supervises. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland football players run through drills during the first week of spring practice. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland assistant football coach Ethan Simpson (right) runs the linemen through drills the first week of spring practice at Mainland High School on April 30. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland assistant football coach A.J. Mallory directs 'player' traffic the first week of spring practice at Mainland High School on Wednesday, April 30. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mianland head football coach Jerrime 'Squatty' Bell shows his linemen how the drill is done during the first week of spring practice at Mainland High School on Wednesday, April 30. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland assistant coach Jeremy Victor jokes around with the players during the first week of spring practice at Mainland High School on Wednesday, April 30. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland assistant coach Jeremy Victor (left) runs drills with the players during the first week of spring practice at Mainland High School on Wednesday, April 30. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland assistant coach Jeremy Victor (center) runs drills with the players during the first week of spring practice at Mainland High School on Wednesday, April 30. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland running back coach Arthur Westbrook. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland football players particiapte in the first week of spring practice at Mainland High School on Wednesday, April 30. Photo by MIchele Meyers
A Mainland running back sprints between obstacles during the first week of spring practice at Mainland High School on Wednesday, April 30. Photo by Michele Meyers
A Mainland running back works with coach Arthur Westbrook (right) and coach Joe Cohagan (left) during the first week of spring practice at Mainland High School on Wednesday, April 30. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland receivers keep their eyes on the ball during the first week of spring football practice at Mainland High School on Wednesday, April 30. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland assistant coach A.J. Mallory (second from right) goes over plays during the first week of spring practice at Mainland High School on Wednesday, April 30. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland senior Bubba Westbrook returns for spring practice after undergoing knee surgery in July last year. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland football players take a water break during the first week of spring practice at Mainland High School on Wednesday, April 30. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland quarterback Sebastian Johnson launches the ball during the first week of spring practice at Mainland High School on Wednesday, April 30. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland receivers jump for the pass during the first week of spring practice at Mainland High School on Wednesday, April 30. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland senior Bubba Westbrook (19) demonstrates he is ready for spring practice after undergoing knee surgery in July last year. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland senior Bubba Westbrook said he is happy to be back at football practice with his fellow Buccaneers. Photo by Michele Meyers
Things get a little rough for Mainland receiver Christian Cooper (center) as he hits the ground after making the catch during the first week of spring practice on Wednesday, April 30. Photo by Michele Meyers
Footballs have been flying through the air across Florida since April 28 when high schools held the first day of spring practice.
This is the second spring with the Buccaneers for Mainland head football coach Jerrime “Squatty” Bell after stepping into the position in March 2024. The team is losing 28 seniors, but Bell said his young group is special and believes the Bucs will be really good this fall and even “scarier” the following year.
Mainland lost its first five games last season but followed that with five wins, a District 4-5A title and its 31st consecutive playoff berth.
“I’ve seen a lot of hustle and a lot of attention to detail in practice,” Bell said. “The guys that went through the downs last year, the 0-5, you can see a hunger in them to never let it happen again. I’ve seen a lot of leadership step up and a lot of back-to-the-old-Mainland way — the Buc way. Everyone is holding each other accountable but having fun doing it.”
Senior Sebastian Johnson is expected to be the starting quarterback again this year. In addition to gaining two inches in height, Johnson took offseason conditioning seriously and has put on some weight, Bell said.
“Leadership-wise he’s taken that next step to be a vocal guy on offense,” Bell said. “He’s always the one that smiles and doesn’t say anything in the back. He gives you that nice smile that brightens up the room, but now we’re trying to get him to be a little more assertive.”
At practice, Johnson said he sees his teammates coming together and growing as one. He said they will be ready for the spring jamboree which is less than two weeks away.
“We have got to learn a little faster, though,” he said. “We have less days to get ready this year so we have to learn faster.”
Mainland will travel to Palm Beach Gardens High School for its Spring Jamboree on May 17. Seven teams will participate in the jamboree with games scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mainland will play Palm Beach Gardens at 5 p.m. and Delray Beach Atlantic at 6 p.m.
“That jamboree is a big deal, they do it every year,” Bell said. “College coaches from all over come down. That’s why I’m driving that far, to give our guys some exposure. And we play against a team that we might see late in the playoffs in Atlantic who made a semifinal run last year.”
Bell said the Bucs’ linebackers and secondary will, once again, be a team strength. Jahvin “Bubba” Westbrook has returned to play safety following knee surgery in July last year to repair a torn ACL. He will help anchor the secondary with Kieran Sullivan at nickel back and Tre Prince. Bell believes Mainland has four of the best cornerbacks in Volusia County —Marcus Day, Tyrell Edwards III, Theo Bryant and Denzel Shropshire.
Linebacker Tamaj Woodard is part of the group of approximately 15 sophomores on the team. Bell said a lot of the young players are not on anyone’s radar yet and will be something to watch. Two rising seniors he thinks will be standouts in fall are Westbrook and Day.
“Jahvin Westbrook sat out last year with an injury so I think he’s coming back for a lot this year,” he said. “Corner Marcus Day hasn’t been in the spotlight yet so I think he is ready to show what he can do his senior year.”
Rising junior Chevin Davis Jr. is excited to face the competition at the jamboree. He plays on the offensive line and is currently the center.
“We have a good defense,” he said. “I think offensively we need to be more competitive and score for the defense, take all the weight off their shoulders this year. We’re just going to go down there and play hard.”
New to the coaching staff are Chris Fricke, Gordon Cohagan, Rick Rumph and Adam Elam. Jeremy Victor has returned to coach the offensive line. He coached in 2023 when Mainland won the state championship. Bell said he is hoping to fill a few more coaching positions before the start of the season.
“We have a team full of leaders now,” Bell said. “I’m looking forward to seeing them grow more in their leadership roles. No changes really to the lineup or plays. Only changes are the new faces and new places. We’re going to be the same old Mainland. What you see is what you get. We are not going to window dress much. We may add some things here and there, but we’re the same old Mainland High School.”
