Bonnabel Bruins

By Lee Brecheen

Head Coach: B.J. Cohen (2nd Year)

2022 Record: 3-7

Class & District: Class 5A (District 8)

“We are young again and still working hard as a team,” said Bonnabel head coach B.J Cohen. “We don’t have any depth on the offensive line and the linebacking core and Defensive Backfield is the strength of this team.We did get our first win over rival East Jefferson in 2022 in over seven years.I am excited kids are working hard. Even though we had 18 seniors in 2022, only three or four played. By the third game we went with the younger players for the future of our program to get them experience for the long haul. I think it will pay off for us this year as we have more experience heading into 2023 than we did the year before. We played several ninth graders also in 2022. It’s my 16th month on the job and I like where we are at as a program.”

The offense for Bonnabel will start a new quarterback as senior Joseph Nyein (5-9, 175) will take the snaps under center. Nyein is athletic with a good arm and feet in the pocket. He has a strong arm and will surprise some people in 2023.

The run game returns  L.J. McMillian (5-7, 155) who has 4.45 speed or better and he’s quick in space. Everyone in the Bonnabel program calls McMilllian “Sproles” after former Kansas State & NFL RB Darren Sproles. 

The offense also has some two-way starters that will get the ball in the run game in senior RB/DB Nick Allen (5-10, 185) and RB/CB/SS Brandon Lewis (5-10, 185).

The WR group will have some two-way starters as well. Senior WR/SS David Perry (5-8. 170) who was the Defensive MVP of the team in 2022 and is a solid receiver as well. Then you have senior WR Julian Price (6-1, 190) with 4.5 speed, WR/FS Roshaan Addison (4.3 speed) and some young players might get some reps too. 

The Offensive Line will be built around Lawrence Breaux (6-2, 265) and senior OL/DT Juan Carlos (6-2, 290) coming back from an injury. TE/HB Roddrick Brady (5-10, 195) will also help the offensive line clear the blocking lanes.

The defense will center around its Linebacking core led by LB Donterio Davis all over making tackles, second-year starter Marvin Causey (5-9, 210) and senior OLB/SS Brandon Lewis. The defensive line has some talent to build around including DT Trey Lewis (6-0, 275) who had a team-high 12 sacks last season. The defensive backfield also returns senior CB Ryan Smith (5-10, 200, 4.6 speed), who can come downhill as a hitter as either an outside linebacker or as a defensive back for a team.

The special teams return a pretty good kicker Justin Acosta who was All-District in soccer in 2022 with a big leg. Acosta has made 60-yarders in practice.

Coach Cohen went to Cedar Grove HS which is located in Ellenwood, GA. He went on to play football at Marshall where he was All-Conference as a Defensive End. He was a college teammate of former first-round pick QB Chad Pennington (NY Jets and Miami Dolphins). Cohen also played professionally as well for the Oakland Raiders from 2000 to 2001 and the Arena Football League team the New Orleans Voodoo from 2004 to 2005.

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