Five 5A football programs with upward trajectory in 2026

<p>The 5A classification is the second highest level of public school football in the state of Tennessee and there was several strong teams last season that fell under the radar with the potential to build on that success and have strong outputs in the 2026 season.</p>   <p>While Page and Sevier County remain the programs squarely in the top tier of the classification, the next tier of teams is wide open for other programs to step up into the contention picture. Here are five teams that could surprise and take another step forward into becoming a contender this season.</p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Beech Buccaneers (11-2)</h2>   <p>Beech has long been one of the better teams in the state among the classification, last appearing in the state championship game during the 2022 season. The team gave the eventual state champion Page team a competitive game, but ultimately fell in the end. </p>   <p>This team will lose the talented veteran backfield duo that anchored their offense in [player_tooltip player_id='866718' first='Kaden' last='Powell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='800803' first='Chelton' last='Swafford'], but have replacements on hand with rising seniors in quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1317766' first='Sawyer' last='Phillips'] and tailback [player_tooltip player_id='903534' first='DK' last='Williams']. After spending a year on varsity last season, rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1028041' first='Jeramy' last='Laster'] should take another step forward and give this offense an explosive option in the receiving game and add complexity to the offense.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/sports_bk/status/1966318595903816173?s=20 </div></figure>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1634767' first='London' last='Parks'] returns along the line of scrimmage and will be counted on to be the anchor of the trenches next season. </p>   <p>The top offensive playmakers will provide playmaking ability on the defensive side as well with Williams providing explosive tackling ability from the second level and Laster being a ballhawk on the backend.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BeechFootball/status/1997002636629889160?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Munford Cougars (10-2)</h2>   <p>Munford quickly became one of the top teams in West Tennessee last season picking up strong wins over Germantown, Whitehaven, Haywood and others.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/johnvarlas/status/1971747657514098881?s=20 </div></figure>   <p>The team was built on one of the best rushing attacks with 2028 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1585458' first='Tay' last='Starks'] leading the way, who accounted for over 2,000 all-purpose yards and 20 touchdowns during his sophomore season. Rising senior Qua Bell will provide a strong complement to Starks after averaging 11.5 yards per carry as part of the rotation last season. The offensive line led by 2027 tackle [player_tooltip player_id='1597028' first='Jaydien' last='Mullins'] was key to the success of the ground game.</p>   <p>The defense loses some pieces but returns several players that produced last season, bringing back six of the nine leading tacklers from the 2025 team. The unit returns linebacker Braxton Grant in addition to the defensive back Qua Bell, both of which will be tasked with leading the defense next season.</p>   <p>Munford was an underrated team to watch and nearly beat a strong Beech team in one of the most anticipated postseason matchups last season. The Cougars return a lot of production from that team and should be highly competitive yet again.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Qua_Bell3/status/1987034569535561796?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Powell Panthers (9-2)</h2>   <p>Powell has been a storied 5A program under head coach Matt Lowe and in year two with the current core of the team, the program could have a sneakily dangerous team this season with a plethora of playmakers.</p>   <p>The program loses do-it-all quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1111032' first='Deuce' last='Rodgers'], but have replaced him with Clinton transfer [player_tooltip player_id='904027' first='Jaylon' last='Benjamin']. He will have a plethora of veteran targets on the perimeter as the team returns five of the top six receiving threats led by productive playmaker [player_tooltip player_id='1708407' first='Zi' last='Jackson'].</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/PowellCoachLowe/status/1989490755724055010?s=20 </div></figure>   <p>On the defensive side of the ball, Powell will lose some of their top performers, but return a large chunk of the starting unit. William Taylor III and Joshua Kay return up front after productive seasons and give the team an inside-out duo to work with. Safety Cooper Wheeler returns to lead the secondary next season.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/PowellHighFB/status/1995596777714843691?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Kirkwood Cobras (9-3)</h2>   <p>Outside of Tennessee signee [player_tooltip player_id='944767' first='Kamari' last='Blair'], the season that Kirkwood had last season is truly still flying under the radar. However, the Cobras returns a large amount of the production from last season with dynamic playmakers that can change games.</p>   <p>The team returns quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1200717' first='Miles' last='Reding'] and he will have his top two pass catchers from last to throw to yet again, including dynamic tight end [player_tooltip player_id='1316743' first='Parker' last='Keenan'].</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/shaynep_media/status/1989509895729942958?s=20 </div></figure>   <p>While the backfield loses a productive running back 2028 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='2092232' first='Ryan' last='Daly'] had similar efficiency as the backup, rushing for 7.3 yards per carry. </p>   <p>A big part of that rushing efficiency was the offensive line that will now look to [player_tooltip player_id='1671547' first='Torriq' last='Brooks'] to anchor the unit. He had a strong season on both lines of scrimmage as a junior.</p>   <p>The defense returns a key player at each level of the defense which should keep a productive unit performing at a solid level. Brooks will fill rushing lanes from the interior with Keenan applying pressure off the edge up front. Lloyd Lisenbee returns at linebacker after a strong showing.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2058491' first='Jadon' last='Portis'] will be one of the biggest X-factors on this team as he was the leading pass catcher on the team last season and the top defensive back. He will be a crucial factor to the success of the team.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/KCobrasFootball/status/1992282080232009869?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Henry County Patriots (8-5)</h2>   <p>Henry County has long been one of the most reliable contending programs in the 5A classification and with another year of experience under their belt with this core could prove fruitful next season.</p>   <p>The Patriots return core pieces of an offensive unit that was one of the best in the state at the 5A level last season. [player_tooltip player_id='932897' first='Ayden' last='Spellings'] returns at quarterback as a true dual-threat weapon, rushing and passing for over 1,000 yards each.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/AydenSpellings/status/1999922591058866472?s=20 </div></figure>   <p>He will be complemented in the backfield by fellow rising senior Emmit Jones, who returns at running back. The offense returns top receiving threats such as [player_tooltip player_id='2112205' first='Ja'Kye' last='Beard'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2133954' first='Ryder' last='Harrison'] as well.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2112205' first='Ja'Kye' last='Beard'] will be a prospect to watch on defense as well as he could take another step forward into becoming one of the better prospects in the state for the 2028 recruiting class with his physicality, range and ball skills from the safety position.</p>   <p>Do not be surprised if Henry County becomes one of the top teams in the 5A classification next season.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/HCPatriotsFB/status/2014827588154257892?s=20 </div></figure>

The 5A classification is the second highest level of public school football in the state of Tennessee and there was several strong teams last season that fell under the radar with the potential to build on that success and have strong outputs in the 2026 season.