By: Joseph Stuckey

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Recently, I was able to get my first glimpse of the 2026 Bulloch Academy Gators football team.

They met up with the Jenkins County War Eagles in a thud-style practice. So, my observations do have to be taken with a grain of salt, as a thud practice is padded, but tackles don’t get taken to the ground.

The Gators return a lot of impact players, not just from last season but also several who made an impact during the 2024 GIAA 4-A State Championship run.

The Gators have made 3 straight trips to the Elite Eight and beyond (2023: Final Four; 2024: state title; 2025: Elite Eight).

The 2027 class of athletes at Bulloch Academy has the potential to be the best in school history when it comes to players advancing to the collegiate level.

On the Offensive side, for the 3rd straight year, #6 Sam Hubbard is set to lead Mark Lefebvre’s Wing-T attack. Over the summer, Sam committed to play baseball for Georgia Southern after graduation.

Bulloch Academy always has an impressive offensive line, and this year looks to be no different, as Griff Sumner and Slaton Roberts look to lead the big guys up front in the trenches.

Also, along the O-line is senior Colin Grooms, who is very versatile and may serve as a tight end at times and rush the quarterback on defense as an edge.

When naming offensive weapons, you have to start with the versatile athleticism of #17 Rocco Reiss, who you will see play numerous positions throughout the season.

Then the receiving corps includes the very athletic Nick Eason Jr. and Georgia Southern commit Billy Crider.

#20 B.J. Smart looks to be the one who will take the most handoffs at running back; you will also see Maddox Lee and Connor Perry get involved on the offensive side of the ball.

On the flip side of the ball, Chris Kearson’s defense is anchored right up front on the defensive line by Kennesaw State commit Braylon Cone.

You will also see several other players rotated around on the D-line, including Bo Crider and then the aforementioned Colin Grooms coming off the edge.

At linebacker, one guy that really caught my eye was #9 Tate Williams, who will look to clean up what little gets by Cone and company.

In the secondary, the 2 cornerstones are J.B. Roach and Nick Eason Jr., who will look to defend opposing teams’ passing attacks.

As far as kickoffs and punting, it looks like it will be #16 Case Woodrum handling kickoffs, field goals, extra points, and punts.

There are also a few younger players I am interested in seeing develop over this season.

Quarterback Landon Mitchell looks to be the future starter after this season and has shown potential.

A few other players I look to make an impact are Jame Lee, Hunter Chance, and Camden Mager.

The expectations are high for this team as they head into the 2026 campaign. Many around Statesboro have State Championship aspirations, and this team definitely has the talent to make another deep run into the playoffs.