2025 ETB OFFICIAL GILMER FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Glory days: A return to the big time for the Buckeyes?
GILMER –- Winning eight games and going two rounds deep in the UIL state football playoffs last November may be considered pretty good in some places, but not so on the streets of Upshur County. No sir-ee.
The standard of excellence since the school board hired Jeff Traylor, who grew up and attended Gilmer High School, now the head football coach at UT-San Antonio prior to the 2000 season is kind of like a great stock: they just keep going up.
And under coach Alan Metzel, the train keeps on rolling.
Metzel, who was on Traylor’s coaching staff back in the day, guided the Buckeyes to the 4A Division II state championship to cap the 2023 season at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
And it’s not just state titles that matter in Gilmer. The Buckeyes have won 17 district championships in the 25 years since 2000 to go along with four state titles. (Source: Gilmer football historian Joe Dodd).
“We play wars in our five non-district schedule this year and that’s the way we like it. We feel it makes us better later and that’s really when it counts,” said Metzel, beginning his 24th season at Gilmer and his sixth as the head football coach.
Got to keep your foot on the pedal and checking the rear view mirror often in the coaching business.
The Buckeyes’ all-time winning percentage is 62.9 percent – that’s 755 W’s before this season even starts, and that’s 12th-best in the state. The only team higher in East Texas is Longview. (Source:www.TexasHighSchoolFootballHistory.com)
Current Buckeyes defensive lineman Tyler Hagler was selected the preseason Defensive MVP of 7-4A Division II by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazineand the Buckeyes, ranked ninth in the preseason poll, are picked to finish behind Pleasant Grove in the preseason district standings.
This season, much like previous ones, won’t find Gilmer shying away from tough non-district opponents.
“We open at Pine Tree… then play Chapel Hill, Kilgore and Lindale, and meet Brenham in Longview at Lobo Stadium on Sept. 26,” Metzel noted.
Pine Tree, a new addition to the ETBlitz.com coverage area, made the 4A-DI playoffs last season, the Pirates’ first in 4A since being re-classified there in UIL realignment. After facing PT, the Buckeyes move on to meet No. 11 Chapel Hill, a rematch of “Light-gate” a year ago – Gilmer was driving late in the game when the stadium lights went off. The lights eventually came back on, and the game was completed: Chapel Hill’s Demetrius Brisbon intercepted a Gilmer pass to seal the contest.
After meeting CHHS, it’s a Gilmer road trip to Kilgore, ranked third in the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football state preseason poll, and another home date against No.18 Lindale before closing non-district with Brenham, coming off an 11-2 season and ranked No.3 in 5A, Division II.
This year’s team possesses the top defensive line, though, in 4A football, according to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football.com, and you can always count on the Bux being a tough out when it comes to the football playoffs in November and December.
Metzel has nine guys he feels comfortable with playing across the D-line. Hagler (6 feet, 325 pounds), who will play guard on offense, has offers from Texas Tech, Houston and UTSA, among others. Next to Hagler will be Davion King, a 2027 prospect with offers from North Texas, UTSA and UTEP. King (6-2, 275) has been a starter since he was a freshman.
On the edge, the Buckeyes have Jet Bates (6-2, 204), a senior who had 62 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and five sacks a year ago. Another senior, Trey Lee (6-1, 225), and Mac Granville should see plenty of action with Rashaad Buchanan (6-2, 280) and Ismael Camara (6-6, 330, an offensive tackle), expected to see more action on the offensive line, but both being available as well as defensive tackle Tahj Bush, defensive tackle-O-lineman Chance Walker on the defensive side of things.
Defensive ends Korbyn Jones and Jaden Holladay, along with Amare Garrett (6-1, 188) also are ready to provide depth.
Players of note offensively are Solomon Jackson (5-11, 183, WR, a senior), Trayce Haynes (6-2, 171, WR, a senior), Atavian Ector (5-5, 179, RB, a senior), Gauge Trossbach (5-10, 170, WR, a sophomore.) and Camara.
Of course, everyone will want to know what the Buckeyes are doing at quarterback, because it’ll definitely be a new player there after graduation.
Zade Taylor, a junior, who grew up in the Gilmer system playing quarterback, was a running back last season and was selected as the district’s offensivenNewcomer of the year. Taylor (5-6, 181) moves back to his natural position as quarterback.
“It’s a big role,” Taylor said, “and I’m going to strive to help us be the best we can be. I’m excited about getting the chance to lead the way. This program has had a lot of great players and I hope to be remembered as one of them.”
Last season, he played primarily as a linebacker and the little he played on offense, it was as a running back, so he fits in schematicallyvery well as a dual-threat QB, having rushed for 519 yards on 95 carries.
The Buckeyes welcome a handful of offensive line returnees, but the only two starters back are Hagler and Walker.
If you’ve heard about the big guy, that’s Ismael Camara, who moved to Gilmer at the end of his freshman season. He’s 6-6 and 330 and that’s after trimming down some this summer. “I’ll be a junior this season. I think we’re going to do good, be great. The chemistry and tradition is really strong here. I’ve had a great summer, preparing, really grinding for the season,” he said, following an early morning preseason workout.
And, yes, he’s had some offers. Thirty-seven was his count going into August practices. “I’m going to work hard, do my best and see what happens. I’m in no rush. And we’ll see.”
Hagler’s numbers defensively were 103 tackles and two sacks.
“We’ve put in a lot of work this summer,” Hagler said when asked about his preparations. “I’m excited about getting started and really looking forward to my senior season. I praise my mother, my coach Daniel Grigsby, really coach Metzel and all the coaches for me being where I am.”
To be a business on the ETBlitz.com Gilmer team poster this season, email Jenna Lucas at ads@etblitz.com. The cost is just $100, and gets your ad on the poster for as long as the Buckeyes play – and the poster will be on every Gilmer football story on ETBlitz.
Here’s an example of what it’ll look like:
Gilmer scrimmages are at home on Aug. 15, and away on Thursday, Aug. 21. The Buckeyes kick off the season on the road at Pine Tree on Aug. 29.
Hear every game of Gilmer football on Gilmer Buckeyes Broadcasting; check them out on Facebook.
