Four 4A football programs with upward trajectory in 2026

<p>The 4A classification is the third 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>Alcoa 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 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">Pearl-Cohn Firebirds (10-5)</h2>   <p>Pearl-Cohn made a deep run to the state championship game last season, playing competitively with one of the best teams in the state with Alcoa. They lose some key pieces but return a lot of productivity and talent with the versatility to plug needs on the team.</p>   <p>It starts with quarterback LJ Funk, who returns after a promising junior season, throwing for nearly 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns as a junior. While the backfield will lose standout tailback [player_tooltip player_id='1587357' first='Omarion' last='Starnes'] to graduation, a pair of other options saw extended run last season with Starnes hampered by injury. Landen Left will step into a bigger role, with the dynamic playmaking ability offering home-run potential with each touch. Pearl also returns a pair of receivers that were in the rotation last season, led by position leader [player_tooltip player_id='1608413' first='Stephen' last='Saulter'].</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/joe_spears7/status/1994587299300974942?s=20 </div></figure>   <p>The defense will start up front with defensive tackle [player_tooltip player_id='1030665' first='Cheyenne' last='Harris'], a rising junior that has made plays along the defensive line from the moment he entered high school. The Firebirds complement Harris with a handful of options up front, including defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='1847720' first='Mikhai' last='Moshay'] who recorded 17 tackles for loss and six sacks last season.</p>   <p>The linebacker group will be the biggest question for this team with the dynamic [player_tooltip player_id='1432204' first='Karmelo' last='League'] graduating from the program and Jaylen Parker transferring to Antioch.</p>   <p>However, the secondary will return a lot of experience and dynamic athletes, which should complement a good front well. Kendall Hoskins Jr should continue to develop at corner and take another step forward. Left has utilized his ball skills on the back end of the defense as well and the pair will be joined by several other returnees.</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/h56lywood/status/1984322138409758859?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Springfield Yellow Jackets (11-2)</h2>   <p>Springfield returns their core for yet another season and the top playmakers will now be built around veteran playmakers that have a lot of experience under their belt.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1588080' first='Kason' last='Woodson'] returns at quarterback after throwing for 2,009 yards and rushing for 777 yards last season, offering a dynamic leader of the offense that can punish defenses in a variety of ways.</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/joe_spears7/status/1984053336988099026?s=20 </div></figure>   <p>The team will need to figure out the running back position after losing both backs from their platoon, but Woodson will have three attractive options to target in the passing game. Rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1193376' first='Jermaine' last='Cobbins'] is one of the best football players in the entire state and returns after recording 852 receiving yards as a sophomore last season. 2027 tight end [player_tooltip player_id='2047637' first='Bryce' last='Baldwin'] returns after accounting for over 500 yards as a reliable weapon. Rising senior JJ Adams sat last season after transferring in, but watch for him to have one of the top breakout seasons in the entire 4A classification.</p>   <p>The defense returns Barrett Reynolds and [player_tooltip player_id='1898598' first='Cameron' last='Wilson'] as the veteran linebackers in the middle of the defense, both coming off productive seasons as they combined for 157 tackles and 26 tackles for loss.</p>   <p>The secondary will continue to be a strength, featuring a five-star talent in defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1193376' first='Jermaine' last='Cobbins'] as the leader of the group. The team returns four of their top five players in pass breakups and the unit should continue to be a strength of this 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/connersmith04/status/2002537565258428469?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Red Bank Lions (8-5)</h2>   <p>One might look at last season's record with five losses, but the strength of record tells a more accurate story on how last season went for a very talented Lions squad. The team lost to a 5A and 6A teams that combined for 17 wins last season, a Tyner team a couple plays away from making the 3A state championship, and finally eventual state champion Alcoa.</p>   <p>Safe to say last year's Red Bank squad played a tough schedule and with the returning talent, that could help catapult them to a successful 2026 season. That will especially be true for quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1590252' first='Austin' last='Jones'], a 2027 prospect with a lot of potential that was had to learn the offense immediately after transferring in last offseason. If he plays to his potential, this team could be a dangerous squad that nobody wants to face in the postseason bracket.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1590252' first='Austin' last='Jones'] will have his top two receiving options to target again this fall with [player_tooltip player_id='1654041' first='Marcus' last='Jones'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1287488' first='Cayden' last='Loveless'] back for their senior seasons. With both Jones on breakout watch to hit that next level, the Jones-to-Jones connection could become one of the best QB-WR duos in the entire 4A class.</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/Austin4Jones/status/1992803936068051391?s=20 </div></figure>   <p>While the defense loses some big-time playmakers, the unit will return nine of the top 14 tacklers from last season, hoping the collective experience can maintain the high level of play. [player_tooltip player_id='1654041' first='Marcus' last='Jones'] has a lot of defensive back experience and should add a premier playmaker to the back end of the defense next season as well.</p>   <p>Jackson Fowler returns at linebacker after being fifth on the team in tackles and second in tackles for loss last season. He will command the second level of the defense and step into an even larger role as a senior.</p>   <p>The strength will continue to be in the secondary with playmakers such as [player_tooltip player_id='1654041' first='Marcus' last='Jones'], Jeffrey Hall and Loveless patrolling the back end of the defensive unit.</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/marcusjones_j5/status/1969398185937236422?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Stone Memorial Panthers (10-2)</h2>   <p>Stone Memorial had a solid season last year as the team finished 10-2 with losses to Upperman and Anderson County, two top programs in the 4A class last season that lose the large majority of their production from last season, potentially opening a window for the program to make a deep run in the postseason in 2026.</p>   <p>They lose a productive quarterback, but already have their replacement on hand with rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1668404' first='Max' last='Warner'], who transferred in from run-heavy White County. He will look to feature his throwing ability in an offense more suited for him this 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/max_warner9/status/2007959214317314128?s=20 </div></figure>   <p>The Panthers featured three running backs in a rotation last season and they all return after rushing for a collective six yards per carry. Warner will have a strong supporting cast around him as four of the five receivers that rotated in last season return. [player_tooltip player_id='1608559' first='Kadyn' last='Page'] returns after averaging right over 100 yards per game last season. There will be a rotation of three veterans around him that contributed last season.</p>   <p>Warner was not the only addition the program made this season as standout two-way lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1566197' first='Parker' last='Cox'] transferred in. He will add a new level to the talent up front on both lines of scrimmage for the program and is beginning to see Divsion One offers come his way.</p>   <p>The defense returns a strong foundation with nine of the top 13 tacklers, including the top two, returning from last season. The addition of the 6-foot-4 and 285 pound [player_tooltip player_id='1566197' first='Parker' last='Cox'] to the interior of the defensive line should open even more tackle opportunities for second level defenders such as Lincoln Eldridge and Carson McCoy.</p>   <p>Page and rising junior Torrey McDowell combined for 11 pass breakups last season and will anchor a veteran secondary with a lot of experience under their belts.</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/Parkercox70/status/1971671955649843230?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />

The 4A classification is the third 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.