Tough. Consistent. Athletic. Ultra-competitive — all adjectives Oakland Mills coach Tom Browne uses to describe senior quarterback Isaac Ramsey.

Ramsey moved from Connecticut late in his freshman year and joined the Scorpions football team as a sophomore. He started every game at safety that first season, then began working as wide receiver and running back to start his junior year. However, midway through last season, Browne approached Ramsey about switching to quarterback.

“After sophomore year, Coach Browne told me, ‘We’ve got some big ideas for you. We’ve got a big plan coming next year,’” Ramsey said. “He said, ‘The best player on the field at Oakland Mills plays quarterback.’ So, I decided to step up and take that on. I did everything I could to play my best game.”

After making the switch, Ramsey led the Scorpions on a five-game winning streak and 3A state quarterfinal appearance last season. This season, Ramsey grew increasingly comfortable as the signal caller and flourished as the dynamic leader of a high-octane Scorpions’ offense that averaged 35.5 points per game.

He guided Oakland Mills to a share of the Howard County championship and a 3A state semifinal appearance. A Georgetown University commit, Ramsey accounted for 36 total touchdowns (26 rushing, 10 passing), ran for 1434 yards on 165 carries and threw for 736 yards, completing 65.2% of his passes.

With his dominance and consistency, Ramsey is the 2024 Howard County Times Offensive Player of the Year.

“He embodies that mindset of, ‘I’m never going to back down and regardless of the situation. I’m going to play as hard as I can,’” Browne said. “More so than that, ‘I’m going to convince my teammates to play just as hard as I’m going to play.’ That’s a huge thing when you get your best player to play as hard as he does every play, it’s contagious. He demands a lot out of himself and his teammates.”

Ramsey’s parents, both of whom served in the military, instilled that hard-working mindset. Those values perfectly aligned with Oakland Mills’ football culture as it preaches the mantra, “Never tired. Always tough. Tough people win.” The Scorpions have TPW inscribed on their helmets, consistently reinforcing those values.

Mindset was also critical in his transition to quarterback. With the Scorpions’ run-heavy offensive approach, Ramsey and the coaching staff worked diligently on zone reads in the offseason. Browne believed attacking the perimeter would bring another dimension to their offense. Ramsey’s experience as a defensive back and knowledge of different defensive assignments helped him drastically improve in zone read situations.

“I feel like [playing defensive back] made me tough, even in the psychological aspect of it,” Ramsey said. “You’ve got to know next play [mentality] as a defensive back. If you get beat once, you’ve got to step back up and be that person with a level head because the team follows you and how you act. I feel like mindset is everything, playing defensive back and quarterback. If you’re able to do that for your team, I feel like you’re an unstoppable force on the field throughout the whole game.”

Ramsey was that unstoppable force in some of the Scorpions’ biggest games of the season. He sealed a Week 4 statement road win over Urbana with a 74-yard touchdown. He accounted for four touchdowns in the state quarterfinal win against Atholton.

While Ramsey consistently created big plays, his critical short-yardage runs and fourth-down conversions were equally, if not more impactful.“I think it’s super underrated how tough he is,” Browne said. “I’ve been here 14 years and I’ve had a lot of good quarterbacks. I’ve had two kids that were able to do what we asked them to do offensively, which is run the ball and also start on defense and be an impactful defensive player for us. Kanye Holland was one, and Issac is the other. I think that’s the thing I’m going to miss about him most is just his toughness and willingness to do things that he wasn’t necessarily comfortable doing.”

Despite, only playing quarterback for 1 1/2 seasons, Ramsey leaves a lasting legacy as one of the program’s best. Now, he’ll take his talents — and the same mindset — to the nation’s capital where he’ll suit up as a safety. “I’m very excited because I know what I can do for a whole game,” he said. “Just focusing on my technique and playing on one side of the ball, I feel like I can be very impactful when I first get there. I’m ready for what it takes, Division I football. I’m ready to win some games with the mindset that I was able to carry over as a Scorpion.”

All-County first team

Tyler Bell, Atholton, junior, quarterback: A dual-threat quarterback, Bell finished with a 58.5% completion percentage and 11 touchdowns. The two-year starter also was the team’s second leading rusher with 330 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

Ashton Clark, Marriotts Ridge, senior, running back: Coming off a torn ACL, Clark was a physical downhill runner who also showcased explosive speed. He ran for over 100 yards in eight games and was Howard County’s rushing leader (1,555).

Clark was also second in touchdowns (21), accounting for 70% of the team’s total offense.

Darius Moore, Howard, junior, running back: First team All-County for a second straight season, Moore was a dynamic weapon. He finished with 1,101 yards and eight touchdowns on 202 carries. He was also a capable receiver with 10 receptions for 163 yards and three touchdowns.

Anthony Charity-Quinn, Hammond, senior, wide receiver: Charity-Quinn was a consistent big play threat, averaging 23.4 yards per catch. He finished with a team-leading 26 receptions and was Howard County’s yards (609) and touchdowns (eight) leader among receivers.

Delbert Cowsette, Atholton, senior, wide receiver: A Howard University commit, Cowsette was the Raiders’ leader in receptions (22) and yards (450). The veteran wideout also scored twice, including a season long of 88 yards.

Ty Jenkins, Glenelg, senior, wide receiver: Jenkins was Glenelg’s primary playmaker and Howard County’s receptions leader (38). He had 412 yards and five touchdowns. He also excelled on the ground with 56 carries for 359 yards and six touchdowns.

Sean Myers, Howard, senior, wide receiver: Myers made a substantial impact as a two-way starter at defensive back and wide receiver. He led the co-county champion Lions in receptions (33), yards (476) and receiving touchdowns (five).

Jahcy Asomani, Oakland Mills, senior, all-purpose: Asomani was a Swiss army knife who played all over the field for the Scorpions. Offensively, he lined up all over the formation and finished with 18 receptions for 165 yards and three touchdowns.

Ricardo Samuels, Long Reach, junior, tight end: Samuels was the Lightning’s top pass catcher throughout the season. A reliable option, he was the team leader in catches (34) and yards (442), and scored two touchdowns.

Peyton Eby, Marriotts Ridge, senior, offensive line: A two-year starter, Eby was the leader of the offensive line at center for an offense that rushed for over 2,000 yards.

Joey McCann, Glenelg, senior, offensive line: A two-way starter up front, McCann was a stabilizing force on the Gladiators’ offensive line. He didn’t allow a sack in 10 games.

Olise Ndekwu, Oakland Mills, senior, offensive line: Ndekwu was the anchor of a dominant offensive line that helped the state semifinalists rush for over 3,400 yards and 48 rushing touchdowns.

Timi Osibodu, Reservoir, senior, offensive line: Second team All-County as a junior, Osibodu was a force on the Gators’ offensive line. He led the team with 27 pancake blocks.

Gus Rocha, Howard, senior, offensive line: A three-year starter, Rocha was the leader of the Lions’ offensive line at center.

GT Mann, Atholton, senior, kicker: Mann was a weapon for the Raiders, with a 58.1% touchback percentage on kickoffs. He made 26 of 27 extra points and four of five field goals, including a season long of 42 yards.