2026 Preview: Andrew Jackson Volunteers

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 through 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.   Andrew Jackson has high aspirations heading into 2026 with new region opponents on deck following last year's 7-5 campaign that ended with a loss to Fairfield Central in the playoffs.   The Volunteers' new region consists of Chester, Columbia, Kennan, Mid-Carolina and Newberry in region III-2A, and there's no shortage of optimism and excitement.    “We've always been saying, if this person's not in our way, then we'll go far. And if this person's not there, then we can do this. Now a lot of those people aren't there anymore and we're facing whole new people so hopefully, we won't keep thinking about the past and move forward and actually make a name for ourselves,” senior running back J'Von Kelly (pictured above) said at the Prep Redzone Media Day at Westwood on Monday.   [player_tooltip player_id='1822655' first='Brody' last='Broughton'] will get his opportunity to shine on Friday nights as the Volunteers' starting quarterback after playing JV football the last two years. Vols head coach Jeremy Smith is excited about what he brings to the table.   “He knows what he's doing. We don't have to question (him). He sees signals and what plays and things and schemes and (what) we want to get accomplished, Smith said. He does a good job of getting everybody online and getting everybody where they need to be and just be efficient. We're excited about it. He brings a lot mentally, (and) leadership so we're excited about that part of it.   A combined 11 returners are back for the Vols, with some guys that will play both ways including a trio up front with Ethan Bowers and Caden Bowers being counted on as leaders. [player_tooltip player_id='1823948' first='Harper' last='Pettit'] will hold down the left guard spot. Devrick Harden and [player_tooltip player_id='1823945' first='Dallas' last='Denkins'] are expected to start at receiver along with Zach White, who will also play at linebacker. [player_tooltip player_id='1820138' first='Drico' last='Curry'] will anchor the safety spot.   Smith wants his guys to understand the urgency of making every day count, with the start of preseason practice beginning next week along with scrimmages and the 2026 season opener looming in under a month.   “Don't waste time. Let's utilize every second we've got a football. I feel like if we can bring the contact physicality in those scrimmages, that's going to set us up for Cheraw (in) Week 0. We've just got to make sure that we take each, just focus on that day, win that day and then go from there,” Smith said.   STARS SET TO SHINE   J'Von Kelly RB, 2027 – Kelly is the unquestioned leader of the Vols offense in 2026 after having an outstanding 2025 season. He rushed the ball 107 times for 646 yards and six touchdowns and had two games over 100+ yards. He's also listed as a tentative starter at cornerback so that will be interesting to watch.   [player_tooltip player_id='1822643' first='Ethan' last='Horton'] OL, 2027 – Horton will be one of the anchors up front at left tackle. “We've been working hard at discipline, staying home, knowing what we've got to do and doing our jobs and making sure we do everything right,” Horton said. Becoming a better leader is also a focal point for the senior linemen as well.   Jayce Brown WR/DB, 2027 – Brown is the team's leading returning receiver with 55 receptions for 601 yards and five touchdowns and could flip over on defense at safety as he had 11 tackles.   [player_tooltip player_id='1817492' first='Isaiah' last='Cunningham'] DB/WR, 2028 – Cunningham found his way into the rotation on defense in 2025 as a sophomore, and did more than hold his own. In the nine games he played, he had 29 total tackles. The Vols expect him to play at receiver as well in 2026.   FILM REVIEW   Ja'Cayden Miller-Anthony LB, 2027 – Miller-Anthony is active from his linebacker position. Once he senses that a run is coming, he can get into the backfield quickly to make a play on the ball for a loss or limit the play to a short gain. On punt coverage, he moves quickly as one of the gunners to limit the return and make the tackle on the ball carrier. He finished 2025 with 46 tackles and 3 for a loss. Smith said that he could be a defensive end, but he'll probably get more playing time at linebacker but he's experienced as he's been playing on the varsity squad since he was a sophomore.    BIGGEST LOSSES   Demais Seegars ATH – Seegars made an impact on both sides of the ball, carrying it 97 times for 424 yards and 11 touchdowns. He recorded 25 receptions for 316 yards and three touchdowns. He had 45 tackles on defense.   Logan Neal QB – Neal threw for 1625 yards and 12 touchdowns in his senior campaign, averaging 134 yards passing per game.   UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL   Levi Wilson OL, 2029 – Wilson is expected to get the start at right guard and defensive tackle. He's a guy that has not seen play on Friday nights, but that will soon change and we'll be interested to see how the young linemen holds up.   [player_tooltip player_id='1312528' first='Braylen' last='Harley'] LB, 2028 – Harvey returns for his senior year after finishing as the team's third leading tackler in 2025. He had 93 total tackles and has good coverage skills on the outside to where he can force a quarterback to step up in the pocket, like we saw on his film and then he'll come and bring the pressure on the ball carrier.    Jeffers (pictured left) is a consistent target at the tight end position for the Volunteers. You can normally find him flexed out as an H-back and he has good hands to go out into the flat and knows how to get up field when he makes the catch.   He should be a viable outlet for Broughton heading into 2026. He also made an impact on defense at defensive end with 65 tackles and eight tackles for a loss.

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 through 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.