Wiregrass Ranch loses quarterback, receiver to new district foe Armwood

Armwood appeared to be set at quarterback with the return of Cam’Ron Ransom, a multidimensional player who led the Hawks to the Class 6A state title game in his first full season as a starter. Now, it seems there will be competition with the addition of Wiregrass Ranch’s Hunter Helton, who said via Twitter that he will be attending Armwood this season.

Helton, a senior, played mostly as a receiver last season and was entering his first season as the Bulls’ full-time starting quarterback.

Wiregrass Ranch coach Mark Kantor said he found out about his quarterback leaving on social media. Kantor declined to comment on the situation, except to say that Rocco Becht, the son of former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Anthony Becht, will take over at quarterback.

Armwood coach Evan Davis had no comment because he has yet to see Helton at his school. A few other skill players have joined the Hawks this summer, including Bloomingdale running back Charles Montgomery, who has already committed to South Carolina, and Wiregrass Ranch wide receiver/defensive back Noah Biglow.

Those new faces provide even more depth — and talent — to Armwood’s already stacked offense. The Hawks return their leading passer (Ransom), rusher (Eric Wilson) and receiver (Agiye Hall) in addition to the bulk of their offensive line.

Ransom was a first-team selection to the Tampa Bay Times’ all-Tampa Bay team after throwing for 1,724 yards, running for 412 and accounting for 32 touchdowns.

Though Helton is a newcomer, he already has some familiarity working with Armwood’s skill players, such as Hall and Montgomery, all of whom played for Team Tampa’s 7-on-7 team this summer.

The Bulls, meanwhile, have to regroup after dealing with transfers at high-profile positions for the second time in the past three seasons.

In 2017, Wiregrass Ranch lost running back Da Da McGee (Hillsborough), athlete Raymond Woodie III (Oregon) and defensive back Shamaur McDowell (IMG Academy) to other schools.

That year, the Bulls rebounded from those defections to make the playoffs for just the second time in school history. Wiregrass Ranch reached the postseason again last year.

To do it again, the Bulls will have to get past a formidable opponent. When the classifications were realigned in the offseason, Wiregrass Ranch was placed in the same district (Class 7A-8) as Armwood.

The teams meet on Sept. 27.

Wiregrass Ranch loses quarterback, receiver to new district foe Armwood

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