Pringle brings the crunch for Brookland-Cayce

Potential, that’s the word that has followed Octavious Pringle since middle school. This season, the Brookland-Cayce senior has accepted a leadership role and is beginning to maximize the talent coaches saw when he was a seventh grader.

“In middle school, he was the giant on the field,” B-C head coach Rusty Charpia said. “Things came easy for him. Starting in ninth grade, other players were starting to catch up to him, and that’s when the work started.”

Charpia told Pringle he had the opportunity to play Division I football, but he was going to have to make some changes.

“He put in the extra work, in the classroom, in the weight room and on the field,” Charpia said. “Now he is the core of our defense.”

Despite his individual accolades, Pringle is quick to praise his team’s effort for the Bearcats 3-0 start.

“The season is going great for us as a team,” Pringle said. “In years past, we may not have been as disciplined, but we’re working together, and that work is paying off.”

Pringle said more is being expected of this team this season, because of the work they put in over the summer. He said the work ethic from practice has bled over into B-C’s style of play.

“We’re more prepared for the fourth quarter,” Pringle said. “We can take the things thrown at us, and overcome.”

B-C’s fourth quarter prowess was shown with a come-from-behind win over rival Airport and a late defensive stand to hold on for a victory over Lexington. Pringle, a defensive end last season, made the move to nose guard this year. Charpia says that move has made things easier for everyone else on defense.

“With just three down linemen, we have to have a player that can play two gaps,” Charpia said. “(Octavious) has proved he can do that, when we line him up over the center, it’s going to be a long night for whoever is playing across from him.”

Pringle said the transition to the inside has been smooth, but he was forced to learn a new skill set over the summer.

“Playing nose guard, it’s about out-thinking, and out-powering the player in front of you,” Pringle said. “It’s not about rushing up the field, I’ve had to learn more technique. It’s about releasing my power.”

At 6-2 and 305 pounds, Pringle could probably light the city of Cayce all night with the amount of power he can generate, but off the field, Charpia said he’s the nicest kid you will meet.

“He looks like a man, but he’s a teddy bear,” Charpia said. “He comes from a great family, says ‘yes sir’ and ‘no sir,’ everybody loves him.”

Pringle has already made plans to continue his career, verbally committing to Coastal Carolina after taking an official visit last weekend.

“After looking at everything, I felt (Coastal) was the right fit for me,” Pringle said. “The fact they are moving to the Sun Belt was a major factor.”

Charpia said he has no doubt that Pringle can succeed at the next level.

“(Coastal) got a steal,” Charpia said. “We coached Langston Moore at James Island and some other players that made the NFL, and (Octavious) fits right in that mold. If he continues to work hard, you will see him playing on Sundays.”