2026 Preview: Ben Lippen Falcons

In honor of the five-site Prep RedZone Media Days series this June and July, we're giving everyone a 50% offer code on all subscriptions throughout July 31. Get access to more than 100 team previews and everything else we have in store for readers as we gear up for the 2026 football season. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/subscribe">Simply head to our subscription page</a> and use the code "przscmediaday2026" at checkout to take advantage of the savings.   When Jamari Carmichael got back to Ben Lippen after a year out of the program and got back into his rhythm, he still found himself in unfamiliar territory, so to speak.   The two-way lineman saw attitude from his Falcons' teammates, not to mention what it inspired.    “This summer is a summer to remember. I see something different in this team,” Carmichael said during the recent Prep RedZone Media Day at Gilbert. “The togetherness that we've got, the brotherhood here and being able to grow with these guys. Being able to grow with those guys every day in the weight room, being on the field with those guys, it's a process that I haven't seen at Ben Lippen.”   It's not a full picture, of course, as Carmichael (pictured) spent last fall at AC Flora. But it was a welcome site for the senior.   An influx of talent and the development of some key returners has had that effect.    From linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1821949' first='Stone' last='Porter'] to linemen [player_tooltip player_id='1819448' first='Shep' last='Barnes'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1821942' first='Sam' last='Catoe'] to slot receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1821935' first='Michael' last='Traynum'] and more, Ben Lippen isn't devoid of talent after last year's 3-8 campaign that ended with a first-round playoff loss as it was needing an injection of excitement.    Blending the old and new/old again has understandably done the trick. Are the Falcons world beaters?   Probably not.    But the current crop of players is starting to believe it can compete with some of the best SCISA ball has to offer.    “We use Hammond as a stepping stone to where we need to be. Comparing our team to them, they have bodies, but what we have is a stronger work ethic,” senior [player_tooltip player_id='1649347' first='Collin' last='Geiger'] said after also returning to the program after a season at Irmo. “We've built that upon the leadership that we have and we build upon that every day.”   Some days, the process if faster than others. Still, a winning record and a better playoff showing feels within reach.   Continuing to morph this roster into one capable of winning again over the next six weeks before the season opener at Spartanburg Christian on August 14 will is the priority.    “The best thing we can do is trust our coaching and trust the guys that we do have,” Carmichael said. “We can take that leadership from guys like linebackers (Drake Porter and Holden Parnell). We can use that to lead the younger guys that we're going to need crucially this year.”    STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1819448' first='Shep' last='Barnes'] OL/DL, 2027 - Barnes is going to start playing a lot more on the defensive line than he is in the past, and while he's going to have a nice impact there for the Falcons, his role as the leader of the offensive line is already established. He has some excellent experience as a guard but can also shift to tackle. And he's got the size to handle any position.    Jamari Carmichael OL/DL, 2027 - Carmichael is back in a Ben Lippen uniform after spending his junior year at AC Flora. There, he turned some heads on the offensive line despite playing with some high-level recruits. Now with the Falcons again, he'll immediately take on one of the team's anchor roles up front and should be more than acclimated to the work load.   [player_tooltip player_id='1649347' first='Collin' last='Geiger'] DB/RB, 2027 - Similar to Carmichael, Geiger returned to Ben Lippen after spending a season at Irmo. There, he put up 21 tackles as a reserve in the secondary. However, the Falcons' staff already knows he's capable of so much more for them. As a sophomore, he notched 59 stops from the secondary.   [player_tooltip player_id='1821942' first='Sam' last='Catoe'] DL/OL, 2027 - The interior of the defensive line will have a third-year starter who already showed some significant growth from his sophomore season to his junior one. After putting up 23 tackles and four tackles for loss in 2024, he came on strong last fall, finishing with 12 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles to go along with his 30 stops.    FILM REVIEW   [player_tooltip player_id='1821935' first='Michael' last='Traynum'] WR/DB, 2027 - One of the knocks on Ben Lippen last year was the lack of game-changing plays on offense. In Traynum, though, the Falcons have a skilled pass catcher who can move around a ton in pre-snap, find a seam and then exploit holes in the defense. He led the team in receiving yards (131), and he did that on just nine receptions. His more important role, though, is how he takes handoffs coming out of the slot or wing and then lets his feet and vision do the heavy lifting.     BIGGEST LOSSES   Drake Porter LB - One of the school's all-time great athletes, Porter finished his Ben Lippen career with 422 career tackles, including 140 as a senior.    Holden Parnell DL - While also chipping in on offense, Parnell put up 68 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, four sacks and a forced fumble from his spot at defensive end.   UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL   [player_tooltip player_id='1821947' first='Reece' last='Williams'] LB/WR, 2028 - We already know Williams and his 6-foot-5 frame can be effective as a hybrid or outside linebacker. After all, he recorded 61 tackles last fall. What Ben Lippen also hopes is that he can become an unguardable target in the passing game, too. He's got the length to make the necessary plays.    Thomas Yarborough OL/DL, 2029 - Yarborough got his feet wet last year as a freshman, and now he's going to bolster a rejuvenated offensive and defensive line for the Falcons.     It's difficult to label Porter as any type of new face after he put up 91 tackles last fall. At the same time, his star is about to rise in a big way. Following in the footsteps of his big brother Drake, Porter's got all the physical tools to replicate what Drake did over the course of his final two seasons.   Stone is going to be playing the mike, but he's got sideline-to-sideline ability and playing behind such a developed defensive line means he should be running free more often than not in pursuit. Porter hitting 150 tackles this fall isn't even that much of a stretch.

In honor of the five-site Prep RedZone Media Days series this June and July, we're giving everyone a 50% offer code on all subscriptions throughout July 31. Get access to more than 100 team previews and everything else we have in store for readers as we gear up for the 2026 football season. Simply head to our subscription page and use the code "przscmediaday2026" at checkout to take advantage of the savings.