Image via The CW Network: “All American” official Season 7 promotion poster

By Miles Pierre, Photographer/ Staff Writer

After its announcement and renewal in September 2024, All American released its Season 7  two-episode premiere on The CW Network Monday night. 

This upcoming season will see the departure of several original fan favorites, such as Daniel Ezra, Samantha Logan, Cody Christian, Kamirah Westbrook, Monét Mazur, and Chelsea Tavares. Ezra, who portrayed the show’s main lead football star, Spencer James, will now take on a more prominent role in directing future episodes rather than starring. Michael Evans Behling, Greta Onieogou, and Bre-Z return to their original roles as Jordan Baker, Layla Keating (now Layla Baker), and Tamia Cooper respectively. 

Season 7 introduced new characters and new storylines but with the same heart and passionate spirit as the original crew. All-American show runner, Nkechi Okoro Carroll decides to take the show’s narrative back to the beginning, high school life in both Crenshaw and Beverly Hills. 

“With the introduction of the new characters and everything, it felt like we were to an extent launching a whole new show with the same heart.” Okoro Carroll tells The Maroon Tiger in an exclusive interview. “It feels like a season one show because we are introducing new characters, and also our OG characters are experiencing that step into adulthood, some of them are being dragged into adulthood, and that in itself gives it a new spin.”

While new characters introduced in the show, such as new Beverly Hills football coach Cassius Jeremy, played by Osy Ikhile, and his teenage son Kingston “KJ” Jeremy, portrayed by Nathaniel McIntyre, bring fresh dynamics to the story, Alexis Chikaeze and Antonio J. Bell has been upgraded to the main cast from their guest roles as Amina Simms and Khalil Edwards respectively. 

“It’s been an absolute honor to continue to find her life and then express her life throughout this season,” Chikaeze said when asked about the transition from a recurring lead to a main role. 

The finale of Season 6 also set the stage for a new storyline for Evans Behling’s character Jordan Baker, who accepted his father’s old position as the football coach of South Crenshaw High. 

“Jordan is taking a different approach where he doesn’t feel like he has to yell at anybody or be mean or talk down to anybody,” Behling said when asked about Jordan’s approach in the upcoming season. “With that being said, you will see bits and pieces of Billy come in and come out as the season progresses if and when he is pushed by certain characters. Bits and pieces of Billy, but it’s different.” 

As the series continues to undergo its new transformation, it continues to remain committed to heartfelt narratives that resonate with the audiences by exploring themes of family, identity, and ambition. 

New episodes of All American Season 7 will drop on the CW every Monday at 8 p.m. EST. 

Copy Edited By Features Editor Niles Garrison