2026 Preview: American Leadership Patriots

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.   It's legacy-leaving time for American Leadership's football program.   It's year three in an era of firsts for the Patriots, who took the field for the first time in 2024 and picked up their first wins in program history in 2025.   In a few months we'll know what 2026 holds for ALA, but one thing we know regardless of results is that this year's senior class will be leaving behind a blueprint for the younger players to follow in the years to come.   "I'm looking forward to leading my offensive line to better plays this year as well as in games, and being able to teach the younger people what to do and what not to do," lineman Ayden Mitchum said at last month's Prep RedZone Media Days at Gilbert.   Mitchum is one of several returning starters for the Patriots, who bring back eight on each side of the ball. [player_tooltip player_id='1811040' first='Leonard' last='Pressley'] is the headliner, and with good reason - he's the young program's leader in touchdowns scored in rushing, receiving and passing. This year he'll have the chance to expand his leads in those categories while he leads his teammates, with one big personal goal in mind for later down the road.   "This might be a little confident to say, but I want to be the first to sign a scholarship for football," Pressley said. "I want to be the first to do that and set that tone that to do stuff at this school, and that if you really put your mind to it and work to it anything's possible."   The Patriots proved last year that winning is possible following a winless 2024. ALA started the season with victories over Thornwell and Camden Military and nearly picked up a third over Clear Dot Charter before finishing the season 2-8. Head coach Kemper Amick felt his team just didn't have the firepower to keep up in games down the stretch, particularly in the Region II-2A gauntlet.   "Of course, getting a win, that was a very exciting day. Got a couple of wins, which was big," he said. "Moving into the region, that region is so tough. It's an extremely tough 2A region. But we've got a lot of guys coming back on offense and defense, and that's a positive to look forward to."   Amick said the Patriots have definitely gotten athletic, with some help from incoming transfers, and have made significant strides in the weight room to make this without a doubt the strongest ALA football team yet. He admitted it's still not exactly where they want to be, but the improvements have been clear.   One key area to watch this season is on the offensive line, with Mitchum leading the way for a group with some younger talent that hit its growth spurt. Amick is hopeful that, combined with the increased production in the weight room, will make this a stronger group up front that will still be able to move the ball later in games.   The region slate is still brutal. Defending state champion Strom Thurmond, Saluda and Pelion are all still there, and Silver Bluff and Orangeburg-Wilkinson are joining the fray after moving down from Class 3A.   The Patriots know it won't be easy. But this year they feel they're better equipped to compete.   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1811040' first='Leonard' last='Pressley'] ATH, 2027 (pictured) - As mentioned above, Pressley can and has done it all for this football program. An All-Region selection in a loaded league, he can impact the game from any position the coaches choose for him. He turned heads this spring as a wide receiver during the Carolinas Coaches Combine at Woodland.   [player_tooltip player_id='1865303' first='Nico' last='Terry'] WR, 2028 - Offense, defense, special teams. Like with Pressley, pick a spot and Terry will give you as good a chance as any to be successful. He joined the program last year and proved he could be an impact player, and now it's time to build on that.   Jameson Nunnery RB/DB, 2028 - Nunnery showed signs last year of being a breakout player. He can run it well and is a weapon sneaking out of the backfield to catch passes.   Ayden Mitchum OL/DL, 2027 - Mitchum has grown into the leader up front his coaches thought he would be the first day he walked onto the practice field and said he'd be a linebacker. They had him pegged as a lineman, and since then he's worked hard to make that group his own.   FILM REVIEW   Christopher Parnell RB/LB, 2027 - Parnell shows plenty of patience on the defensive side of the ball, picking his spots and waiting for the gaps to open up rather than charging into the middle and getting caught in the clog. That patience also shows when the ball is in his hands, and he also shows a good understanding of where his linemen are moving the defenders. From his middle linebacker spot he diagnoses plays well to carve his way through the chaos to the ball carrier, and when it's needed he has the lateral speed to chase them when they get out wide. He wraps up well, and in most cases he's already got the runner on the ground by the time help arrives.    BIGGEST LOSSES   Owen Rowe WR/LB - One of the team's best tacklers, Rowe went on a hot streak last season where he was practically guaranteed a sack per game.   William Cook QB/DB - Another player with do-it-all capabilities that the Patriots lost due to graduation.   UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL   Weston Hill OL/DL, 2028 - Hill is one of those big youngsters up front Amick is excited to see, particularly if his gains in the weight room can continue to match the size he's added.   Kevon Scott RB/DB, 2028 - Scott has worked his way up through the program, including JV captaincy last year, and at 5-foot-8 and 150 pounds plays with strength and toughness to match his explosive acceleration.    Rowe is another one of those players who can do a little bit of everything asked of him by his coaches, which means he may line up at running back, defensive back, stay back to return kicks and also boot the ball himself.   He was named the top specialist during his session of the Carolinas Coaches Combine at Woodland, and we probably don't need to remind anyone how much of an impact special teams have in the smaller classifications. Rowe will probably be one of the smaller players on the field, but his effect on his team's games could be huge.

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.