Four 3A football programs with upward trajectory in 2026

<p>The 3A classification boasted 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>Westview is certainly the top team in the class for next season, but with a lot of unproven following the top team, there will be plenty of competition for the next groups of teams. Here are four 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">Tyner Rams (12-2)</h2>   <p>Tyner made a deep run last season and was just a couple of key plays away from reaching the state title game as they fell by three points to eventual state runner-up Gatlinburg-Pittman in the semifinals. However, the large majority of production returns from a team with narrow losses to G-P and Nashville Christian in games one could argue that the Rams should have won. They should immediately be viewed as one of the best team in the 3A classification.</p>   <p>Tyner had two quarterbacks receive significant action last season and Marcus Turner will step up into the full-time starter role with an impressive array of weapons surrounding him. Rising junior D'Aerion McNealy should take another step forward with the backfield all to himself and ascend into one of the best running backs in the classification. Turner and McNealy will have a strong offensive line unit up front to block for them, led by [player_tooltip player_id='1592127' first='Carmello' last='Peoples'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1332906' first='Jamarien' last='Crawl'].</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/Jd1hinton/status/2024682903943217376?s=20 </div></figure>   <p>The receiving options offer premier value as well with Dion Edwards leading the way after a strong sophomore season. [player_tooltip player_id='1881268' first='Jadarius' last='Hinton'] transfers in from Ridgeland (Ga.) to provide another intriguing option after recording 12 touchdowns in just five games last season.</p>   <p>Tyner is a team filled with high-level two way players and that will be evident on Friday nights again this year on the perimeter especially. Dion Edwards is a national 2028 recruit in the secondary and will be complemented by Hinton now as well. This was a dangerous team last season and they might be even better in 2026.</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/VolsOnSI/status/1974638617604903227?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Giles County Bobcats (9-4)</h2>   <p>Giles County had a significant amount of underclassmen last season and managed to leave a hard schedule with nine wins, generating excitement about the potential of the team in the 2026 season.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2089183' first='Xavier' last='Randolph'] returns to lead the offense from the quarterback position after accounting for nearly 2,650 yards last season. He will have a premier receiving threat to rely on each week with rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1662941' first='Damari' last='Allen'] offering an exciting frame with athleticism, attributes that earned him 868 receiving yards last season as a sophomore. Additionally, Jaz Bentley and Terea Cheatem return as starting wideouts.</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/DamariAll3n/status/1980044466749854170?s=20 </div></figure>   <p>Colt Ogle will anchor the defense from his linebacker position after recording 87 tackles last season as a junior. Braylon Davis will return along the interior of the defensive line after recording 49 tackles and three tackles for loss to provide some more ability in the middle of the defense.</p>   <p>Drew McClemore and Dereon London return in the secondary for the Bobcats and there are several players that rotated in last season that will complement the core on defense.</p>   <p>The team had a strong 2025 season facing a tough slate of games and return a strong core of production heading into next year.</p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Meigs County Tigers (11-2)</h2>   <p>Meigs County had a strong season last year, going 11-2 with the losses being by a combined 11 points to a 5A East Hamilton team that went 8-3 and 3A state runner-up Gatlinburg-Pittman.</p>   <p>The offense returns quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1565598' first='Kaiden' last='Brewster'], who was second team All-State last season in just his sophomore season. He offers a dual-threat skillset that the offense will be built around as they look to make a very deep postseason run this season. His top target, Bowen Combs, returns for his senior season and adds a dynamic element in the receiving game on the perimeter.</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/PMacCoon/status/1961577369233494160?s=20 </div></figure>   <p>Rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1708850' first='Peyton' last='Standridge'] will lead the trenches after an All-State season last year. The defensive line will be led by Ethan Talley after he recorded 50 tackles and four sacks last season. Kegan Lenker and Briar Roberts provide the team with an excellent veteran one-two punch at the linebacker position that will give opposing rushing attacks fits every week.</p>   <p>The secondary will return some very productive players with Corneilus Morgan and Quinton Bennett.</p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sequatchie County Indians (8-4)</h2>   <p>Sequatchie County was a young team that I liked last offseason, but it appeared that I was just one season too early in my evaluation as the Indians will return the majority of their talented core after a solid 8-4 season in 2025, with the four losses coming to 1A state champions South Pittsburg, 2A state runner up Marion County, Giles County and Meigs County in that order.</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/StephenHargis/status/1959066888429875455?s=20 </div></figure>   <p>The offense features plenty of exciting weapons and it all starts with dual-threat quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1136154' first='Hunter' last='Minton'], who accounted for nearly 2,400 yards last season. He will be joined in the backfield with bruising tailback [player_tooltip player_id='904934' first='Kason' last='Hicks'] who accounted for over 900 yards.</p>   <p>Brooks McIntyre and [player_tooltip player_id='1144213' first='Gowan' last='Brown'] return as the two focal points of the passing attack. In addition to Mason Campbell, all three returning receivers averaged over 16 yards per catch last season and have explosive playmaking ability. Sequatchie County can attack the middle of the field in the receiving game as well as Hicks had over 200 receiving yards and the team has a versatile tight end prospect in [player_tooltip player_id='454466' first='Jack' last='Evitts'] that has earned SEC offers.</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/JackEvitts9/status/1925707924384419928?s=20 </div></figure>   <p>Brian Santos will anchor the defensive line after racking up six tackles for loss last season. Evitts will rotate in along the defensive front as well with his length and physicality that he can provide to the unit.</p>   <p>The strength of the defense will be the linebacker core again even after losing star [player_tooltip player_id='2104485' first='Harrison' last='Smith']. The defense will start with middle linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='904934' first='Kason' last='Hicks'] after he broke through for an 85-tackle season as a junior last year. Surrounding him will be [player_tooltip player_id='1293172' first='Max' last='Newsome'] and James Williford who were prominent parts of the rotation and combined for 73 tackles.</p>   <p>McIntyre will anchor the unit as a strong tackler and playmaker from his safety position, earning 30 tackles last season. Brown will be a key piece of the secondary as will rising junior Braydon Lewis.</p>   <p>The trenches will be the largest question for this program during the offseason, but this team is talented and can win in a variety of ways next season, something that should excite the fanbase heading into 2026. </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/KasonHicks2/status/1982112988304708046?s=20 </div></figure>

The 3A classification boasted 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.