High School Football
Buford Wolves 2026 Preview
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Buford is one of the most elite football programs in the state of Georgia and possibly the nation. They have won 15 state championships, with only one coming before the year 2001.
They also have multiple state championships in baseball, boys’ basketball, girls’ basketball, gymnastics, softball, volleyball, wrestling and girls’ track.
Last season they opened Philip Beard Stadium. It has a seating capacity of 10,000 at a cost of $62 million.
The Wolves finished last season going 15-0 and winning the state championship. They were also the consensus national champions.
They have a lot of talent on the team. Junior Edge Luke Nabors (6’4, 210 lbs.) is a four-star recruit. He has over thirty offers from teams like Georgia, Ohio State, Notre Dame, South Carolina, Florida State, Penn State, Texas, Clemson, Oregon, Indiana and Tennessee.
Junior WR Seven Rashad (6’5, 175 lbs.) is a three-star recruit.
Senior LB Ethan Hauser (6’3, 200 lbs.) is a three-star recruit that’s committed to Vanderbilt. They have another three-star LB, Brayden Watson who’s committed to Michigan.
Senior QB DJ Hunter (6’1, 190 lbs.) is taking over as the starter in 2026. He was the backup to Dayton Raiola (Oregon). Hunter is a dual-threat so he should be a new weapon for the offense. He’s a three-star player and he’s committed to James Madison.
Seniors CB Silas Nuckles (6’0, 175 lbs.) and S Jameer Cantrell (5’10, 175 lbs.) are also three-star recruits. Cantrell is committed to Arkansas.
Bryant Appling has been the head coach at Buford since 2019. He has a record of 90-8 and he’s the first coach in GHSA history to win state titles in his first three seasons (2019-21).
Buford graduated 21 players from last seasons national championship team. They are expected to reload the talent but I think that will be tougher than expected. They are the #1 team in the 7A preseason poll.
Their schedule is listed below:
8/22: vs. Gainesville
9/4: @ Mallard Creek (North Carolina)
9/11: vs. Miami Central (Miami, FL)
9/18: @ #3 Grayson
9/25: @ Seckinger
10/9: @ Dacula
10/16: vs. Collins Hill
10/23: @ Mill Creek
10/30: vs. Discovery
11/6: vs. Central Gwinnett
They have a few tough non-region games to start the season.
Week 1 is a nationally televised game on ESPN against Gainesville. The Red Elephants advanced to the 5A state championship last season. They have moved up to 6A this season.
Former Grayson head coach Santavious Bryant has taken over the same position in Gainesville. He was 37-5 in three seasons at Grayson and he won a state championship in 2024. They have one of the most talented rosters in the state.
Miami Central in Week 2 will also be a tough game. The Rockets were 10-2 in 2025. South Florida is known for speed and they have very good players.
Week 4 at #3 Grayson will be the toughest test of the regular season. The Rams expected to repeat as state champions last year but lost in the state quarterfinals.
After this game, the rest of the schedule is easy. Seckinger (Buford, GA) is the newest school in Gwinnett County. They opened in August 2022 and they made their first playoff appearance last season.
Region 8-AAAAAAA play begins October 9th at Dacula. Mill Creek is the second-best team in the region but I don’t think they can challenge Buford.
I expect Buford to lose two regular season games. At worst they will be 7-3 if they lose to Gainesville, Miami Central and Grayson. I think they’ll be tough to beat in the playoffs.
Grayson Rams 2026 Preview
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The GHSA preseason football rankings have been released. Grayson is ranked #3 in class 7A.
The Rams went 14-1 in 2024 and won the 6A state championship. They started 2025 ranked #1 and held that spot for most of the season. Their only loss came in the state quarterfinals, 34-14 to Carrolton.
Head coach Santavious Bryant led the Rams to a 37-5 record the last three seasons. He left to take over as the head coach at Gainesville after the season.
Grayson promoted defensive coordinator Greg Carswell to head coach.
“For a first-time head coach, this is a dream come true,” Carswell said. “I thank God for preparing me the six seasons I’ve had the opportunity to coach here on and off. I’m honored to be chosen to lead these young men. I love these kids so much and will take pride in pushing this program to the pinnacle of high school sports.”
They are coming off a 12-1 season, so we do not expect much to change with a new head coach.
“The standard at Grayson will never change,” Carswell said. “We have a relentless effort and approach to reach the highest level of success this program can reach. We will always play hard physical and dominate the trenches, but the fire, passion and energy that will exude from a coach Carswell team will be unmatched.”
They still have plenty of talent on the roster. Senior IOL Jordan Agbanoma is a four-star recruit and the tenth ranked player in the state for the class of 2027. Agbanoma is 6’2 and 300 pounds. He’s currently committed to Nebraska.
His teammate, KD Jones is a three-star IOL that is also committed to the Cornhuskers. Jones is 6’5, 303 pounds.
Junior Edge Elijah Tillman is 6’7, 215 pounds. He’s also a four-star recruit but that’s based more on his measurables. He should be a key contributor in 2026.
Senior CB Preston Glasco (6’2, 190 lbs.) is a three-star recruit and he’s committed to UConn.
Senior S Jalen Welch (6’3, 190 lbs.) is also a three-star recruit and he’s committed to Syracuse.
Senior DL Waylon Wooten (6’2, 300 lbs.) is committed to Georgia.
Senior QB David “Deuce” Smith (5’11, 190 lbs.) is a dual-threat. He became the starter after four-star QB Travis Burgess was injured last season. He passed for 2,355 yards and 24 touchdowns.
The season begins August 12th in the Corky Kell/Dave Hunter Classic at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) against North Gwinnett. The Bulldogs were 12-2 last season and they made it to the state semifinals.
Six of Grayson’s first seven games are on the road. Week 2 they travel to Sandy Creek. The Patriots have moved up to 4A but they were undefeated (15-0) and won the 3A state championship in 2025.
After a bye week the next game is at Langston Hughes. The Panthers are one of the top teams in 5A. They were 12-1 last season and they have a lot of talent.
On September 11th they travel to Brunswick. The Pirates were 9-3 last year and they have made the move to 6A this season.
The first home game of the season is the following week against #1 Buford. The Wolves were undefeated and won the 6A state title in 2025.
They face Carol City (Miami) October 2nd.
Region play begins after that with games @Archer, @Newton, South Gwinnett and Rockdale County.
I think Grayson will finish the regular season with a couple of losses but they will be tough to beat in the playoffs.
Valdosta Wildcats 2026 Preview
By: Ron Reagin
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Few things matter more in the new Post-Season Ranking Formula (PSRF) era than building the right schedule.
In the Valdosta Wildcats’ case, wins also carry more meaning as they are racing to be the first high school program to reach 1,000 wins.
Valdosta’s 2026 slate looks like a smart, strategic effort designed for this new system to maximize wins both in the regular season and postseason.
Here is the Wildcats’ confirmed 2026 schedule:
Aug. 7: Worth County (Scrimmage)
Aug. 21: @ Jones County
Aug. 28: vs. Howard
Sept. 4: vs. Bradwell Institute
Sept. 11: vs. KIPP Atlanta Collegiate (Homecoming)
Sept. 25: vs. Stockbridge
Oct. 2: vs. Booker High (Sarasota, FL)
Oct. 16: @ Colquitt County
Oct. 23: vs. Camden County
Oct. 30: @ Lowndes (Winnersville Classic)
Nov. 6: vs. Richmond Hill (Senior Night)
The Wildcats will play six home games, three road games, and four tough Region 1-AAAAAAA contests.
Non-Region Breakdown: Valdosta’s non-region schedule looks well-balanced.
The road trip opener to Jones County and home games against Stockbridge and Booker High (Sarasota, FL) provide quality competition that should boost both OWP and OOWP.
Booker, a consistent playoff team in Florida, could prove to be a strong addition.
The home games against Howard, Bradwell Institute, and KIPP Atlanta Collegiate are winnable matchups that should help build the win column without being too soft.
But as we all know too well, you can never overlook an opponent that has nothing to lose. Those types of teams historically pull out all the stops to beat Valdosta.
The Region 1 Gauntlet: Region 1-AAAAAAA remains one of Georgia’s strongest regions year after year.
The late-season stretch: @ Colquitt County, vs. Camden County, @ Lowndes, and vs. Richmond Hill will be critical.
In a small five-team region, every result carries heavy weight under PSRF. Avoiding a late-season loss will be critical in maintaining a strong playoff seed.
From the unbiased broadcast booth, a 9-1 record with three region wins feels like the most realistic strong outcome.
That should position Valdosta comfortably inside the top 20 statewide with a favorable seed. However, most Valdosta fans will not be happy with anything but a championship.
The expectation to win, especially after a region championship and semifinal run last season, is even higher this year.
Strengths: Six home games help accumulate wins for the 35% winning percentage component.
Quality non-region opponents (especially Booker, Stockbridge, and Jones County) combined with a tough region give Valdosta a legitimate strength-of-schedule advantage without sacrificing winnable games.
Risks: As we’ve alluded to with the new PSRF, late-season swings are very real. The final four games are all region contests. A tough stretch in October and early November could drop the Wildcats several spots in the rankings even with a winning record. This risk is one that all Region 1 teams will be trying to avoid.
Overall, Valdosta’s 2026 schedule appears well-constructed for the PSRF era. It balances winnable home games with enough quality competition to reward a strong season.
Valdosta fans should be excited, as this slate gives the Wildcats a legitimate chance at a high seed and deep playoff run.
GIAA Powers
By: Joseph Stuckey
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
With the high-school football season right around the corner, I thought it would be a good time to examine the state of GIAA teams across the area.
GIAA stands for Georgia Independent Athletic Association, otherwise known as the private school league here in Georgia.
I follow GIAA sports very closely as I am the play-by-play broadcaster for the Bulloch Academy Gators football team.
One thing I became aware of last year, with the Gators making several trips up Interstate 16, is that there is a belief among football fans in that area that you have to beat out the Middle Georgia teams to win a GIAA state title.
What I mean by this is that you can always count on a Middle Georgia area team making a push into the Final Four and State Championship game of the GIAA playoff brackets.
Last year, 3 of the 4 state titles went home to Middle Georgia teams. Brentwood Academy in Sandersville brought home the AA title for the second straight season. John Milledge Academy added another trophy to its very large trophy case. And finally, Stratford Academy won the big prize of the AAAA state title, even though they did lose to John Milledge handily in the regular season, 51-13.
Another powerhouse in the Macon area is First Presbyterian Day, which reached the final four in 2025 and lost to Bulloch Academy in the State Championship in 2024.
Also, there is Strong Rock Christian, which is in Locust Grove, that made the elite eight the past 2 seasons.
So, as you can see, there is some backing to the claim of having to beat out Middle Georgia teams to win a GIAA state title.
Southeast Georgia was able to claim 1 of the 4 titles this past season, with Robert Toombs in Lyons winning the A State Championship.
Robert Toombs beat Edmund Burke Academy in the rematch of the 2024 State Championship, which Edmund Burke won.
Right down the road, there is Pinewood Christian Academy in Bellville, which made the elite eight in 2025.
Then, finally, there is the premier GIAA region in Southeast Georgia, which consists of Frederica Academy, Bulloch Academy, St. Andrews, and the newest addition from GHSA, Savannah Country Day.
Pinewood has been in this region in years past, but they are moving down to an A/AA region starting this season. This region consists of AAA/AAAA teams, and the last 3 champions have been Frederica Academy (2025), Bulloch Academy (2024), and Bulloch (2023).
Not only did Frederica win the region last year, but they also reached the Final Four in the AAA playoffs before losing to John Milledge.
Bulloch Academy is celebrating 3 straight seasons of reaching the Elite Eight or beyond (2023-Final 4, 2024-State Championship, 2025-Elite 8) and has its sights set on another State Championship run in AAAA with a loaded senior class.
The unknown in this region is Savannah Country Day, which is coming from GHSA after going 4-7 last season.
Anytime a GIAA school plays a GHSA school, most would think it would be a tough victory. However, GIAA schools have been holding their own; Frederica beat Savannah High School last season 34-7, and Bulloch Academy has gone 4-0 against GHSA schools over the last 2 seasons.
So, with all of that being said, this should be a very exciting year of GIAA High School Football!
Georgia’s Top High School Football Players
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Georgia high school football season will start in August. We are going to take a look at some of the most talented recruits in the state. NIL has made a huge difference in recruiting because most of the elite players are not committed to Georgia.
Edge DJ Jacobs, Blessed Trinity Catholic (Roswell, GA): Jacobs is listed at 6’5 and 235 pounds. He’s a five-star recruit and the top-rated player in the nation. He’s currently committed to Ohio State.
He finished last season with 102 tackles (24 TFL), 16 sacks and 2 FF in 11 games. Jacobs participated in both the Under Armour All-America Game (1 TFL) and the Polynesian Bowl (1 sack, 1 TFL) as an underclassman.
The Titans were 7-5 in 2025 and they lost in the second round of the AAAA playoffs. We will see if they can become state championship contenders this season.
Edge KJ Green, Stephenson (Stone Mountain, GA): Green is 6’4, 230 lbs. and a five-star recruit. He’s the second ranked player in Georgia and sixth nationally. He’s an LSU commit.
He had a monster junior year, with 129 tackles (40 TFL), 18 sacks, 4 FF and 1 FR. Also caught 1 pass for 10 yards and 1 TD on offense.
Green was the Region 5-AAA Defensive Player of the Year. Ha also participated in the Polynesian Bowl (1 tackle) as an underclassman.
The Jaguars were 11-2 in 2025 and only lost one regular season game by one point.
S Kamarui Dorsey, Hampton (Hampton, GA): Dorsey is committed to Texas A&M. The 6’3, 200 lbs. safety is a four-star recruit.
In 2025 he had 61 tackles, 2 TFL and 4 interceptions. As a sophomore in 2024 he had 58 tackles, 4 TFL and 3 interceptions.
He helped lead the Hornets to an 8-3 record last season.
WR Jaden Upshaw, Lee County (Leesburg, GA): We have our first offensive player on the list. Upshaw is the fourth ranked recruit in the state and a four-star player. He’s also committed to play for Texas A&M.
He finished his junior season with 47 catches for 902 yards (19.2 YPC) and 8 TD in 10 games after missing a few contests due to injury. Upshaw also played in the Navy All-American Bowl (3 catches for 19 yards on 5 targets) as an underclassman. He’s 6’1, 200 pounds so he has good size for a receiver.
The Trojans were 8-4 last year. In 2024 they made it to the AAAAA state championship game.
OT Kennedee Jackson, Lithonia: Jackson is the fifth ranked recruit in Georgia and he’s committed to UGA. He’s 6’6, 297 pounds so he has perfect size for an offensive tackle.
He also plays on the defensive line full-time and he plays basketball. He’s a very good athlete and he’s good when pulling and climbing.
The Bulldogs were 10-3 in 2025 and they got to the third-round of the AAAA playoffs.
ATH AJ Tillman Jr., Lithonia: He’s a four-star player like his teammate that we talked about previously. Tillman has committed to Louisville. He plays running back and defensive back. I believe he wants to play on offense at the next level.
As a junior, Tillman ran for 461 yards on 61 carries, averaging 7.6 yards a pop. He also managed to reach the end zone five times.
At DB, Tillman had 22 tackles, 6 passes defended, and a fumble recovery. He combined for over 1,500 rushing yards and 17 TD’s the last two seasons.
He has taken an official visit to Virginia Tech after committing to Louisville, so we will see if he changes his mind.
The GHSA Transfer Rule
By: Ron Reagin
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
We have all seen how GHSA transfer and eligibility rules can change the course of a season with a single decision.
One case in particular still gets talked about around South Georgia, the Jake Garcia situation that gave birth to what many now call the “Jake Garcia Rule.”
The Jake Garcia Case (2020): Highly recruited quarterback Jake Garcia transferred from California to Valdosta High School prior to the 2020 season. He was initially ruled eligible and even played in the season opener. After an ESPN interview raised questions about the family’s move, the GHSA reversed its decision. Garcia was declared ineligible because they determined the family had not made a true “bona fide move.” Valdosta was forced to forfeit a win.
To add insult to injury, Garcia then transferred to Grayson, where he was quickly ruled eligible and played a major role in their state title run that year.
The case highlighted how the GHSA interprets its own rules and led to stricter enforcement moving forward. The lack of clear transparency from the GHSA also fueled speculation and public scrutiny about perceived north/south differences in how rules are applied.
In what many viewed as a “saving face” move, the GHSA strengthened its by-law (By-Law 1.64), which now clearly states: A student who is not eligible at the former school cannot regain eligibility that same year by transferring to a new school. This became known by some as the “Jake Garcia Rule.”
How We Got Here: For decades, the cornerstone of GHSA transfer rules has been the bona fide move requirement; the entire family unit must actually move into the new school’s attendance zone for immediate eligibility. Without it, a transferring student is labeled a “migrant student” and must sit out one full calendar year at the varsity level.
The Garcia case accelerated a trend toward much stricter scrutiny, especially on high-profile and out-of-state transfers.
This led to major rule changes for the 2025–2026 school year:
Automatic one-year ineligibility for second transfers after 9th grade.
Much stricter documentation requirements for proving a bona fide move.
These changes were also driven by big numbers. GHSA Executive Director Tim Scott reported that roughly 59,000 of the state’s 460,000 student-athletes, or 1 in 8 were transfers during the 2024-25 school year.
My Take from the Booth: The GHSA has a very tough, and legitimate job protecting high school sports from recruiting and undue influence. Most of us don’t want programs turning into free-agent destinations.
However, the stricter rules and the heavy burden placed on families to prove a move was not for athletic reasons and have created real frustration in many cases.
All while seemingly having little effect on some high-profile programs with a history of multiple transfers every semester.
With the new PSRF system making every win matter more, these eligibility and transfer decisions now carry even heavier weight. One ruling can shift an entire season as proven with the Jake Garcia situation and others.
The system isn’t perfect, no system ever will be. But greater transparency and more consistent application of the rules would go a long way toward rebuilding trust between the GHSA, schools, coaches and the families of student athletes in this new era of NIL and extremely competitive college recruiting in Georgia.
Camden County Wildcats New Defensive Coordinator
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
When Tucker Pruitt arrived at Camden County High School earlier this year, one of the biggest questions surrounding the Wildcats football program was how quickly the new coaching staff could come together and establish its identity.
Pruitt’s track record spoke for itself. The veteran head coach built championship programs at Fitzgerald and Appling County and arrived in Kingsland with a reputation for developing tough, disciplined football teams.
But no successful head coach does it alone. Building a staff is just as important as building a roster. That is where Alan Rodemaker enters the picture.
The new Camden County defensive coordinator brings a wealth of experience, championship credentials, and perhaps most importantly, an unmistakable passion for the game.
For football fans across South Georgia, Rodemaker is a familiar name. He served as head coach at Valdosta High School from 2016 through 2019 and immediately made an impact, guiding the Wildcats to the 2016 state championship.
That title was Valdosta’s first football state championship in 18 years and cemented Rodemaker’s reputation as one of the area’s top defensive minds.
Prior to joining Camden County, Rodemaker also spent time at Colquitt County, serving as defensive coordinator and safeties coach while continuing to build a reputation for fielding aggressive, disciplined defenses.
His coaching résumé is impressive, but those who have spent time around Rodemaker will tell you that statistics and championships only tell part of the story. What truly stands out is his energy.
All you have to do is listen to Rodemaker following a practice or a game to understand how deeply he cares about football and the young men he coaches. If you’ve ever heard his voice, you won’t forget it.
Years ago, I remember hearing Coach Rodemaker call in to a radio show focused on Valdosta football. You could tell just how demanding his practice had been simply by listening to his voice. The intensity was unmistakable. You could literally hear the passion.
That same passion is now making its way into the Camden County football program.
I saw a recent social media post where he was asked why he coaches, and Rodemaker’s answer reveals exactly what motivates him.
“I coach to compete in the greatest team sport ever created since I can’t play anymore. I love to help raise young men and help them achieve more than they ever dreamed of and I get the biggest thrill of seeing a young freshman grow into a senior ready to take on life.”
That perspective aligns perfectly with the culture Pruitt has emphasized since arriving at Camden. Winning football games matters but developing young men remains the ultimate goal.
Competition has been a recurring theme throughout Pruitt’s first several months on the job.
Throughout spring practice and the Blue-White Game, Pruitt stressed eliminating mistakes, improving fundamentals, and creating a culture where players compete every day for improvement. Rodemaker appears to be a natural fit within that philosophy.
As Camden County continues navigating a unique transition following the coaching changes that occurred during the offseason, having experienced leaders on staff becomes even more valuable.
Rodemaker has coached in some of the biggest football environments in Georgia and understands the expectations that come with leading a high-profile program.
The Wildcats still have plenty of work ahead before the season kicks off this fall. New schemes are being installed. Players are learning new responsibilities. Coaches are continuing to evaluate personnel. But one thing already seems clear. The Camden County defense is being led by a coach whose passion for football is impossible to miss and whose championship experience speaks for itself.
For Tucker Pruitt, and all of us with Camden-blue blood, that makes Alan Rodemaker exactly the kind of coach you want helping build the next chapter of Wildcat football.
The New GHSA Playoff Formula
By: Ron Reagin
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Starting in 2026, GHSA football playoffs will use the Post-Season Ranking Formula (PSRF): 35% team winning percentage, 35% opponents’ winning percentage, and 30% opponents’ opponents’ winning percentage.
Just statewide, data-driven seeding.
The formula is straightforward: PSRF = (Your Winning Percentage × 0.35) + (Opponents’ Winning Percentage × 0.35) + (Opponents’ Opponents’ Winning Percentage × 0.30)
This system replaces the old region-only qualification model, ending the era of weak-region champions advancing easily while statistically stronger teams from stacked regions were left out.
Now, a 7–3 team with elite opponents can outrank a 10–0 team that plays lower ranked and lower classification teams. Region champions still earn automatic bids and favorable top-16 seeds, preserving motivation for region play.
PSRF shines in its fairness and predictive power. Simulations suggest it offers 15–20% better playoff forecasting than the previous system.
For example, Colquitt County’s 2025 8–2 regular season with several national-level games would have earned a No. 1 seed under PSRF — something that was impossible before as they were not region champs, but they defeated the region champs.
The main fallacies with this method are easy to identify but harder to measure: ignoring margin of victory (a one-point win counts the same as a 50-point blowout and close losses to top teams earn no credit), assuming all games are played on a neutral field, inconsistent data from some programs, and the reality that high school teams rarely stay the same strength throughout an entire season.
Also, late season upsets could cause wild swings in rankings mainly due to a chain reaction of all aspects of the formula with few games to recover.
For 2027-2028 and beyond, GHSA should consider refinements: a capped margin of victory (up to 24 points), a simple home/away factor (road win = 1.1× credit), and a slight boost to OOWP weight.
These tweaks would better reward dominance and the courage to play top tier teams without sacrificing simplicity and transparency as suggested by Loren Maxwell.
Whatever modifications GHSA makes, the loudest protests will come from programs most negatively affected.
The best way to judge PSRF’s real impact in its first season is to examine the schedules of the teams complaining the most and the teams they are complaining about.
Coaches and athletic directors will now need to incorporate statistical formulas into their scheduling strategies to avoid being penalized for weak non-region slates and avoiding upsets.
The 2026 PSRF is a bold, objective, and merit-based upgrade. No method is flawless, but with smart refinements, Georgia has a chance to lead the nation in the playoff ranking system ecosystem.
Glynn Academy Red Terrors Positional Breakdown
By: Joe Delaney
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
With one of the best overall sports programs around, the Glynn Academy Red Terrors are a force in spring sports.
Whether it’s Soccer, Baseball, Tennis, Golf, etc etc. The Red and White excel. And while we could spend hours on those accomplishments, today were going to look at Spring Football and preparations for the upcoming 2026 season.
The 2025 edition of Rocky Hidalgo’s Red Terrors is in the books. A winning season and a spot in the playoffs for the umpteenth time highlighted the 2025 team. They carried the Terror tradition well. The 2026 team looks to improve on that.
Back are a dozen or so starters from last year. Add in some solid up and comers and a couple of new players and the Terrors have a chance to be good. Let’s take an early look at what the Red and White might look like come the Fall.
At QB the Red Terrors return Junior Max Noonan. As a solid starter as a sophomore, Noonan proved he belonged. The next chapter for him is work and improvement. He has the ability and moxie to be great. A very good athlete with smarts…… the sky is the limit for Noonan.
The running backs look to be by committee instead of one or two. Caden Robinson, Ayden Wilson, Ian Pomiechowski, and Brock Wilson should all see totes for the Terrors this fall. And let’s add Cooper Reiss in here when they need someone to come in and run over people. The only thing missing here is a real game breaker. The Terrors will look to pound people in 2026.
And they may be able to do that with a great returning group of linemen. While the Terrors will miss 3-year starter Josh Baker, they return some very good football players.
Grant Ferrell is back along with Sam Ricks, Cam Cleghorn, and Aaden Ward. Andrew Gleaton has moved in nicely to the center position. Add in Grayson Forsyth, and Zach Cox at the tight end position and this should be a team strength.
The wide receivers are a position of need with the loss of DaSean Howard, Sean Wallace and T Y Chisholm. Look for someone to step up and take this. Whoever they are they will have a great chance to shine with Noonan in the backfield throwing darts.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Terrors should be stout. Especially in the front seven, with Baron Hayes Cobie Cutler, Zamir Bell, Amahry Moore, Zach Cox and Grant Ferrell all back.
The Red Terrors should be solid and this could be a team strength especially when adding in Cooper Reiss. Reiss is one of the better players in the region and was almost unstoppable in the spring from his linebacker position.
The defensive backs will be led by Ja’Kori Roman, Brock Wilson, and the Cox brothers Aaron and Charlie. There is room here for younger players to step up.
The kicking and punting will be handled by returning starter Patrick Coyle. With a great leg, Coyle will be instrumental in this team’s mode of operation and success. Long punts and kickoffs into the endzone will back teams up which fits the Glynn gameplan.
I don’t see the 2026 Red Terrors outfit as being a real flashy team. With returners all over they should be very solid.
More ground and pound than throw and go. Coach Hidalgo sees this team that way also. Physicality was the trademark of the spring and Rocky was very happy with the effort and results. Coach said, “we don’t just spend time here, we invest in ourselves and in the team”.
That seems to be the theme of this edition of the Red Terrors. I expect well start seeing the dividends this fall.
Glynn Academy Red Terrors Spring Questions
By: Garrison Ryfun
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Head coach Rocky Hidalgo is entering his 13th season as head coach of the Glynn Academy Red Terrors, and just wrapped up spring practice on Thursday, May 14, with the annual spring game.
For Hidalgo, the biggest takeaway from the spring was that the Terrors were able to get quality work in, stay healthy, and evaluate some of the younger players on the roster.
“You know, I thought we had a really good spring for the most part,” Hidalgo said.
“Got in there with no injuries, that’s the most important thing. It was very competitive. The spring game was very physical. Our line of scrimmage play, we have a lot of potential up there. We’ve got to get better on the offensive line from the spring game, which isn’t uncommon. I feel like working on some depth pieces is a big chunk of what we’re going to do. And we had a chance to really work on our young kids, which is why I like spring. You get a chance to coach your young kids when there’s no bullets flying. But all in all, I was pleased with the effort with our kids.”
Hidalgo pointed to several players who stood out during spring practice, beginning with Ayden Wilson, a dynamic player on both sides of the ball.
“I think Ayden Wilson had a really good spring,” Hidalgo said. “Max Noonan wasn’t here for the majority of it because he was playing baseball. But Ayden had a really good spring at quarterback. He got some time at fullback when Max came back, some linebacker. He’s a kid that could play a number of positions for us and go out there and do a good job. I think he was one that had a good spring. Zach Cox is another kid on the D-line and at tight end, he had a really good spring. Mikey Tyler also had a good spring at linebacker. He’s a young kid that’s really found a position and ran around well and did some really good things.”
Last season, the Terrors switched to a flexbone option offense. This new offense not only fit the personnel for Glynn Academy, but also led to them averaging 29.6 points per game which is eighth-best in school history and second best under Rocky Hidalgo.
Speaking about the flexbone offense going into year two, Hidalgo pointed to the returning experience Glynn has in the backfield as a reason for optimism.
“I think we’ve got our quarterback back, Caiden Robinson back, Cooper Reiss, Ayden Wilson to run the football. Ian Pomiechowski back and Brock Wilson who played a bunch for us at halfback.” Head Coach Rocky Hidalgo said.
“So we’ve got some pieces in there to go out there and hand the ball to. We’ve got to develop some kids at wide receiver a little bit to be able to block and catch the football, but other than that, I like our personnel. We’ve got a chance to be a pretty good offensive football team.”
One of those key returning pieces is Max Noonan, the Terrors starting quarterback, who led the offense with impressive poise as a sophomore last season. Although Noonan did not get much practice time this spring due to Glynn Academy baseball’s deep playoff run, Hidalgo said his performance in limited action was still encouraging.
“Yeah, he did some really good things in the scrimmage for only practicing two days,” Hidalgo said.
“I feel really good about the two quarterbacks that we have. We have two really, really good quarterbacks that I feel like we can go and compete with either one of them. That’s a good problem to have. Max is a tough kid. He’s got a lot of moxie. All those intangibles you want, on top of being a really talented player.”
While spring practice gave Hidalgo a chance to evaluate the physicality of his team, the focus now shifts to what Glynn needs to improve over the summer. For the Terrors, that starts with developing the passing game and improving conditioning.
“We’ve got to work on throwing the football,” Hidalgo said. “The spring for us is about running the ball, physicality, and run defense. The summer is about pass defense, working on our passing game, and all those perimeter aspects. I want to see us get better at those things. That’s a big part of it. Our conditioning’s got to get better. We’re going to have a lot of guys who are going to be playing on both sides of the football, so we’ve got to be prepared to play 80 snaps week one or two of the season,” Hidalgo said.
Glynn will also have several position battles to sort out before the season begins, with Hidalgo pointing first to the secondary.
“I think we’ve got to find a free safety. That’s the biggest thing,” Hidalgo said. “Trying to figure out who that guy is going to be in the secondary. We’ve got some guys competing at the other quarterback position. And then who’s going to go out there and do the things necessary to get on the field at halfback? We’ve got about six or seven kids that have a chance to go out there and play. See which of those guys are going to go out there and earn some playing time.”
Glynn Academy opens the season against the Calvary Day Cavaliers on August 20, 2026.
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