STAB football standout Jonah Brent has a game based on 'explosive' speed

A Waynesboro native heading into his senior season at St. Anne’s-Belfield, Brent plans to continue on the gridiron with the Spiders. First, however, Brent plans on taking care of some unfinished business in his final high school season.

STAB coach Heath Miller thinks Richmond is an excellent fit.

“Jonah is obviously a great player,” said Miller, who starred at the University of Virginia and with the Pittsburgh Steelers. “He’s very dynamic with the ball in his hands. He’s explosive. He’s fast.

“I think it’s a perfect fit. I think that’s why schools like the University of Richmond are attracted to kids from STAB. They know they’re going to be prepared. If they like what they see on the football field, they know they’re going to be prepared for the academic rigor.”

Student of the game

Another former University of Virginia football star and NFL alum, Joe Reed, is also on the coaching staff at STAB.

Beyond the on-the-field preparation, the two former professionals help Brent dissect film, understanding what defenses are seeing from his running back position.

For his part, Brent is no stranger to film sessions.

As a kid, the STAB star would pop in video home system (VHS) tapes of his dad’s college games. Joe Brent starred in the Valley District, before playing collegiately at Delaware State and Ferrum College.

It’s safe to say football is in the blood.

“I grew up around football,” said the younger Brent, whose brother also played football at Ferrum. “He was a hard runner. He was always looking for contact.”

AT STAB, Brent has added 20 pounds of muscle, which his teammates laughingly credit to his steady consumption of protein shakes. However, his game is based on speed.

“I’m agile, quick and I read the defenses really well,” Brent said. “I adjust to different fronts on the line. And I’m a pretty fast guy.”

The recruiting process

Brent grew up playing in the Waynesboro Youth Football program, and the star running back played two years of varsity for the Waynesboro Little Giants.

He transferred to STAB, which allowed him to repeat his sophomore year.

“He’s awesome to have on the team,” Miller said. “From the first day - Jonah’s first year was my first year - we’ve grown together. The maturation, the drive and the improvement we’ve seen from Jonah has been really great. All of the accolades and all the recognition that he’s got, he deserves. He’s a leader. The guys look up to him.

“And one thing that stands out most is he’s a great teammate. As good a player as he is, he’s never once made it about himself. It’s always been about the team, and that’s something I definitely take notice of, and I appreciate that from him.”

Brent has done everything possible to both help St. Anne’s win ball games and make himself recruitable.

“He’s put the work in the weight room, but it’s more than just lifting weights,” Miller said. “It’s making sure you’re getting enough calories, and you’re eating the right stuff to build the muscle and mass for a kid particularly at Jonah’s position of running back. He’s got to be able to build his body up, and maintain his speed and elusiveness. He’s done a really good job with that.”

Schools like Georgetown University got involved early in Brent’s recruitment, with several Division I schools from the New England region following suit.

At an Under Armour camp, Brent clocked a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash, prompting a surge in recruiting interest from Division I schools in the mid-Atlantic region, including Elon, James Madison University, Richmond and others.

Five of those interested schools had made official offers when Brent decided on the Spiders.

“I’d say the vicinity - just being closer to home - is where Richmond came into play,” Brent said. “On the academic side, Richmond was way up there.”

The upperclassman

Last year, Brent and his STAB teammates lost in the state championship game to North Cross. Brent rushed for over 1,600 yards on the season, despite only playing all four quarters in four of the team’s games.

In 2025, STAB played in a smaller private school classification, and Brent would often sit out quarters once STAB had defeated its opponents soundly.

As the school goes up in private school classifications for his senior year, Brent is excited to show what he can do before he heads off to play football collegiately.

“I want to set a 2,000-yard marker,” Brent said. “I’m trying to set the bar high.”

Miller is happy to have one more year with Brent.

“Jonah’s a great kid,” Miller said. “I'm so happy for him. His commitment to Richmond is well deserved. And after this season, I’ll be really excited to follow his career.”