2025 Football Preview: Rock Hill Redmen

PEDRO — “We're playing those mind games together

Pushing the barrier, planting seed.”

— John Lennon from the song Mind Games.

Success last season for the Rock Hill Redmen had a lot to do with the mindset of the veteran senior class. And getting that mindset to carry over to this season will determine if that success will continue.

The Redmen were 8-4 last season with a Division 6 playoff berth under first-year head coach Tony Love who said the senior class delivered plenty of leadership that resulted in their success.

“Last year’s bunch did an unbelievable job as leaders for us. It’s always difficult when you have to inherit a new head coach your senior year. You don’t know what’s coming down, the structure of how things are going to be, if you’re going to play the same position,” said Love.

“They did a great job of embracing me and setting the tone for this program. And they set the bar. Eight wins. That’s something that hasn’t happened here for a while. And they got a home playoff game and a playoff win.”

But heavy graduation losses have left the Redmen filling holes all over the field as they look to not just match last year’s results, but surpass last season’s 8-4 record and a fourth place finish in the roster.

QUARTERBACK

Starter: senior Dallin Cox (6-1, 160)

Backup: freshman Connor Moore

Love: “It’s been a transition for Dallin. 2024 Dallin Cox is completely different from 2025 Dallin Cox. They went from a pretty simple play calling to pretty complex. It’s a mouthful of words sometimes how we communicate motions and alignments and blocking schemes.

“When we started out last year, he was thinking about moving to receiver. I told him we’re going to baby step this. By the end of the year he’s noticeably different. Moore is a very mature freshman. He has a football mentality. He really understands football.”

RUNNING BACK

Gone is first team All-Ohio Anthony Stamper so the Redmen will do the job by committee. Stamper set single season rushing and scoring records and had 8 interceptions on defense and was named the Southeast District Defensive Player of the Year.

Starters: senior Brady Murrell, juniors Kelan Davidson and Yaden Bailey, sophomore Aaron Workman

Love: “There’s so much competition for positions, but there is much of a gap between the running backs. Kelan Davidson, Brady Murrell, Yaden Bailey, Aaron Workman will all be part of the backfield. (Davidson) is one of the most competitive kids I’ve been around. Bailey is a bigger kid but he has great feet for a big kid. I look for him to take off. He can be a running back or jump out there and be an H-back. Aaron Workman works in the backfield now and then. He’s very athletic.”

RECEIVERS

Starters: junior Braylon McClelland, sophomores Gavin Malone, Cash Lyons, Bridger Kerns, senior Preston Malone

Love; “McClellan has size and speed. Malone has really changed his body and developed speed and the ability to catch the ball, Kerns is really coming along. Workman is going to be another receiver for us. Lyons is a blur out there. He’s worked hard. It’s not going to be a one-man show.”

Tight end: senior  Eli Hamlin, Workman.

Love: “They are sharing the duties. Both are athletic and strong. They’ll rotate in and out and stay fresh.”

OFFENSIVE LINE

Senior Daniel Medinger (6-5, 290) is the anchor of the line at tackle. A four-year starter and third team All-Ohio selection, Medinger is getting several Division 1 college offers.

Tackle: Medinger, sophomore Caden Robinson, sophomore Maverick McFann, junior Thomas Miller, junior Gavin Brooks

Center: senior Levi Ross, senior Jaiden Hackworth

Guards: Carson Doolin, Ross, Hackworth, McFann, Miller, Brooks, Robinson

Love: “(Medinger) has been a player on Friday nights for several years. He’s the one who will be calming the waters out there and help them out with blocking schemes and adjustments. And he’s a pretty calm kid as well which really helps. The center is a battle between Levi Ross and Jaiden Hackworth. Whomever doesn’t play center or tackle will slide into a guard position along with Carson Doolin.

“Doolin understands schemes. Robinson is a big kid and super strong. We lost five of the six counting (tight end) Drew Schug on the line. Offensive line takes the longest to coordinate and gel as a group. All six of those guys have to be in harmony or you’re missing blocks. Just looking at the kids, they’ve made the improvements and have the athleticism and I feel that we could have a pretty good offensive line.”

DEFENSIVE LINE

The Redmen will operate out of a 3-4 alignment this season with seven different players expected to rotate up front.

Linemen: Medinger, Robinson, Hamlin

Nose guard: Miller, Hackworth

Love: “You’ve got to stop the run and you’ve got to have a passion to play defense. I’ve seen that passion with our guys and it’s more than eleven. Hackworth is a powerful kid.”

LINEBACKER

Inside: Bailey, Workman, Murrell, Doolin

Outside: Murrell, senior Peyton Clutters, Preston Malone, Doolin

Love: “Bailey and Workman are both thumper kind of kids. They run through the alleys well. We have some depth at linebacker.”

SECONDARY

Cornerback: Cox, McClelland, Gavin Malone, Preston Malone, Kerns, Lyons

Safeties: Lyons, Moore, Davidson

Love: “The secondary is a strength with its speed and athleticism. I feel good about those guys.”

KICKING GAME

Punting: Preston Malone

Placements: sophomore Cameron Howard

Love: “Preston did a great job for us last year. Howard is a soccer player who works hard. The sun is going down on Rock Hill and Howard is still out there kicking. He’s pretty solid.”

OVC

In the Ohio Valley Conference, Love said “Coal Grove is at the front of the table going into the season. They have so many kids coming back.

“But you can’t overlook anybody in our conference. Portsmouth is always there. Fairland has athletes and they’re slinging it all over the place. Chesapeake has a new coach. South Point is competitive and scrappy, Gallia has over 50 kids out and a new coach and they’re always athletic. It’s not a cake walk for anyone.”

Rock Hill Redmen 2025 Football Roster

No. Player Pos. Gr.

  1 Braylon McClelland WR-DB Jr.

  2 Connor Moore WR-DB Fr.

  3 Cash Lyons WR-DB So.

  4 Colton Lewis WR-DB So.

  5 Brady Murrell RB-DL Sr.

  6 Peyton Clutters WR-LB Sr.

  7 Gavin Malone WR-LB So.

  8 Cameron Howard OL-DL So.

  9 Dallin Cox QB-DB Sr.

10 Vander Green WR-DB So.

11 Jarrod Bridges QB-DB Fr.

12 Eli Hamlin TE-DL Sr.

14 Mayson Black WR-DB Sr.

20 Preston Malone WR-LB Sr.

22 Bridger Kerns WR-DB So.

23 Kelan Davidson RB-DB Jr.

33 Marshall Maddy WR-DB Fr.

34 Aaron Workman RB-DB Jr.

44 Yaden Bailey RB-LB Jr.

45 Elijah Boyd RB-LB So.

51 Gavin Brooks OL-DL Jr.

52 Thomas Miller OL-DL Jr.

53 Tucker Boggs OL-DL Fr.

55 Carson Doolin OL-DL Jr.

59 Levi Ross OL-DL Sr.

60 Jaiden Hackworth OL-DL Sr.

62 Justin Bundy OL-DL So.

64 Cooper Webb OL-DL So.

66 Aiden Dillon OL-DL So.

67 Maverick McFann OL-DL So.

70 Ryder Henry OL-DL Fr.

72 Gabe Chamblee OL-DL Fr.

73 Elden Myers OL-DL Jr.

74 Daniel Medinger OL-DL Sr.

75 Caden Robinson OL-DL So.

76 Aiden Cochran OL-DL So.

77 Nate Stone OL-DL Sr.

88 Matthew Watson TE-DL Fr.

Head coach: Tony Love

2025 Football Schedule

Aug. 22 at Minford W 34-13

Aug. 29 BOYD COUNTY, KY 7:00PM

Sept. 5 at Oak Hill 7:00PM

Sept. 12 at Fairland# 7:00PM

Sept. 19 at South Point# 7:00PM

Sept. 26 CIN. PURCELL MARIAN 7:00PM

Oct. 3 GALLIA ACADEMY# 7:00PM

Oct. 10 PORTSMOUTH# 7:00PM

Oct. 17 at Chesapeake# 7:00PM

Oct. 24 COAL GROVE# 7:00PM

#- Denotes OVC game