The562’s coverage of football in 2024-25 is sponsored by The Terry Donahue Memorial California Showcase.
Compton football is approaching a tipping point.
After years of uncertainty, the Tarbabe’s are finally in their last year of practicing at Roosevelt Middle School while their campus concludes a long-awaited remodel. Head coach Calvin Bryant and his program have taken a toll being without their own campus, and he says he’s ready for a full change of atmosphere ahead of their return to the new school.
“Sometimes I drive by [our campus] and get visions of the success we’ve had and plan on having when we go back,” he said. “It’s hard to even imagine being in a new place after being here for these few years and having to go through the battles that we’ve had to go through. But I can see all the great things that are about to occur and all the guys that are embodying what we’re trying to do here.”
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In part of creating a new atmosphere, Bryant has elected to run a traditional spread offense after decades of his patented double-wing formation. He thinks that the new offense along with a new campus will help attract more players and get his program moving in the right direction.
“I think it’s just a new everything. I wanted the new offense with the new school, and I thought the right time to do it would be the year before we go to the new school. It’s a new time and era. Going into next year, I wanted to do something where it’s possible to attract new kids. But I wasn’t going to do it unless I had the right people to do it.”
That’s when Bryant opened up his offensive coordinator role before landing Compton alum and offensive mind Lamar Freeman. Freeman recalled memories of Bryant as a teacher at Compton while he was a student, and he later coached with Bryant while the two were at Paramount. He’ll be joined by his twin brother and new wide receiver coach Lamount Freeman, concluding a full-circle moment for the pair of Compton alums.
“I’ve never had so much fun coaching in my life,” said Freeman, who will take over play-calling duties full time. “Man, I’m excited. Every day I wake up excited, looking at how to attack each day. Some days are frustrating while we’re putting in this new [offensive] system, but the kids are buying in. I’m living the dream right now.”
Signaling calls at quarterback for the Tarbabes will be second year starter and sophomore Francis Madera. The six-foot QB came on strong towards the end of last season and has begun solidifying himself into Compton’s future.
Senior Diontae Dill returns as the teams most experienced wide receiver, and will play next to returning slot receiver and sophomore Ronnie Mixon. Also returning at receiver will be Nate Willard and Robert Smith, and toting the ball out of the backfield will be junior Ameer Freeman.
“We wanna be disciplined and focused. We want to get our guys the ball in space and let them go to work,” said Freeman, who says the transition to a spread offense has been smooth with his skilled players. “A lot of these kids play 7 on 7, so we’ve just been implementing what they know into a scheme. It’s just simple concepts that as a coach we know, but it’s not what we know it’s what we can teach. So it’s them grasping that and understanding our offense that’ll make things go well.”
On the O-line, Alex Martinez will be at center while Bruna Carbajal and Truth Taavao will be at guard. Cash Maluia will start at left tackle alongside six-foot-five, 245-pound transfer Ryan Evans at right tackle.
The Tarbabes plan to start six players on both offense and defense, including Mixon and Willard at safety, while Dill will start at nickel. Freeman will also play both ways at linebacker on the defensive side. On the line, Maluia will start at tackle on both sides while Traavao will also play defensive end.
“We’ve been focusing on strength and conditioning, and also keeping those guys mentally fresh,” said Bryant. “We just gotta get our guys to understand that you may not come off the field and you gotta be ready to go.”
At the other linebacker spot will be sophomore Jay’Rome Norwood, a Mater Dei transfer with promising potential in his six-foot-two frame. On the left side of the line will be defensive end Troy Joyner, while Brian “Biggie” Whitaker will start at nose tackle.
The defense concludes with corners Tasai Parker and Demari Weathers in the secondary.
“It’s a wait and see game until we see how we play against somebody else, but what we have right now and what we see at practice I think is far ahead of the game than what we anticipated defensively. I’ll be able to tell you more once we get into league, but I’m excited with what we have.”
Compton will start their season off against Rancho Dominguez on Aug. 23 before facing Centennial, Paramount, and Dorsey in non-league play. They’ll open up their Moore League season at Lakewood on Sept. 20.
Probable Starters
Offense
QB – Francis Madera, So.
RB – Ameer Freeman, Jr.
WR – Diontae Dill, Sr. / Ronnie Mixon, So. / Nate Willard, So. / Robert Smith, Sr.
LT – Cash Maluia, Jr.
LG – Bruno Carbajal, Jr.
C – Alex Martinez, So.
RG – Truth Taavao, Jr.
RT – Ryan Evans, Sr.
Defense
DE – Troy Joyner, Jr. / Truth Taavao, Jr.
DT – Cash Maluia, Jr. / Brian Whitaker, Sr.
LB – Jay’Rome Norwood, So. / Ameer Freeman, Jr.
CB – Tasai Parker, So. / Diontae Dill, Sr. / Demari Weathers, Jr.
S – Ronnie Mixon, So. / Nate Willard, So.
2024 Compton Tarbabes Football Schedule
8/23 – vs. Rancho Dominguez
8/29 at Centennial
9/6 – at Paramount
9/13 – vs. Dorsey
9/20 – at Lakewood
9/27 – vs. Cabrillo
10/3 – vs. Wilson
10/18 – at. Jordan
10/25 – at Millikan
11/1 – vs. Long Beach Poly
