2026 Preview: Nation Ford Falcons

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>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. </em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/subscribe"><em>Simply head to our subscription page</em></a><em> and use the code "przscmediaday2026" at checkout to take advantage of the savings.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nation Ford has been working hard to build a standard of discipline between coaches and players as they look ahead to 2026 after last year's 4-7 finish to 2025 and losing to Greenville in the first round of the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a young group, as the 2026 season approaches, second-year Falcons head coach Jake Bentley wants his team to focus on competing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I tell them all the time, man, it may not be perfect, and you may not execute it perfectly, but let your effort and your competitiveness be what drives you and you usually end up pretty well,” Bentley said at the Prep Redzone Media Day at Westwood.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Falcons lost a ton of production offensively, and will be tasked with finding some new playmakers at the skill positions with four starters back offensively, mostly on the offensive line. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816782' first='Nicholas' last='Bigham'] </strong>is expected to start at left guard while <strong>Zay Williamson </strong>will get the start at center along with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1818096' first='Harrison' last='Dominick'] </strong>at right guard. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816791' first='Graham' last='Lee'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1818100' first='Jah' last='Carter'] </strong>will be at receiver and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1818105' first='Zach' last='Davis'] </strong>is expected to start at tight end. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824013' first='James' last='Thames'] </strong>is expected to get the start at running back, along with a rising star, which we'll get to in a moment.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bentley has been pleased with what he's seen with the development offensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I think we're gonna lean heavy on the experience up front. Being a little bit younger on the outside, but, man, we've got some guys that can go make some plays down the field. And (offensive coordinator/wide receivers) Coach Anthony Marple does a great job of instilling in those receivers when the ball's in the air, it's ours,” Bentley said.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defense is where the most experience is with six returners back on that side of the ball with a new defensive coordinator in Dennis Stokes, who comes to Nation Ford from Georgia, led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672904' first='Logan' last='Thames'] </strong>(pictured above) at defensive back, who likes what he's seen from the team this summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We're a growing team, and we're young so we're just going to keep growing,” Thames said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other starters back include linebacker <strong>Sam Cook </strong>who we've highlighted as one of our Unsung Players To Watch.<strong> Micah Gadsden</strong> will anchor the corner spot.<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1818098' first='Solomon' last='Brown']</strong> is expected to get the start at defensive end while <strong>Michael Dosseh</strong> and <strong>Marquel McCleod</strong> are expected to start at linebacker along with <strong>Branden Carter</strong> at defensive tackle. <strong>Rashan Agurs-Clark </strong>will be one of the starters at safety.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816800' first='Kaydin' last='Green'] </strong>DL, 2027 – Green saw limited time in 2025, but will be counted on as one of the leaders on the defensive front. He has good size on him and continuing to develop in preseason practice during scrimmages will be key for him to gain more experience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672904' first='Logan' last='Thames']</strong> DB, 2028 – Thames will be one of the leaders on the Falcons' defense on the back end. He had a strong 2025 as the team's leading tackler with 105 total tackles, something that he wants to take to another level this year.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821315' first='Bryan' last='Flippins']</strong> OL, 2027 – Flippins is expected to get the start at right guard. He plays with a confidence that helps him and the entire team where everyone can do their job and execute on Friday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816794' first='Tyler' last='Mack'] </strong>OL, 2028 – Mack held his own at right guard as a sophomore and can push people off the ball. He's physical in the run game and has a good first step off the ball. Another year of experience will benefit him as he becomes a more all-around player to protect the quarterback and prevent negative plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824012' first='Asher' last='Beck']</strong> QB, 2027 – Beck made plays at receiver last year and will now take the reins at quarterback in 2026. He has great speed and athleticism and when he gets out into the open field, it's normally for a big play. He made a few plays throwing the ball in 2025 on some trickeration to catch the defense off balance.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/21454218/691dfab13d192b2f293c5af8u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003ern","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a641e1e4f81e"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSSES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821733' first='Jayden' last='Scott'] </strong>WR – Scott was the team's leading receiver for the Falcons in 2025 with 79 receptions for 1356 yards and 15 touchdowns. He is now playing football at East Tennessee State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kason Canupp </strong>QB – Canupp had a fantastic senior season for the Falcons in 2025, throwing for 3136 yards and 29 touchdowns in the air. He was also a threat on the ground with 97 carries for 619 yards and three touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1818101' first='Banks' last='Demby']</strong> RB, 2028 – Bentley is excited about what Demby brings to the table. He saw time on the JV squad in 2025. He is a projected starter on the varsity squad in 2026, and we will be interested to see what things look like now that things will be more intense on Friday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hayden Lee </strong>LB, 2029 – Lee is another young guy that has Bentley excited about his future. He's still a young guy that has limited experience but another year to develop will be vital.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2254815' first='Ethan' last='Childs'] </strong>ATH, 2029 – Childs is a dynamic athlete who is listed who can play receiver and can make the plays when they present themselves. We had a chance to get our first chance to look at him at <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/10-more-high-upside-2030-prospects-at-the-football-city-clash/">the PRZ Football City USA 7-on-7 back in March</a>, where his athleticism was on display.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":2254815,"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2254814,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a641e1e4fd8d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Childs is a dynamic athlete who is listed who can play receiver and can make the plays when they present themselves. We had a chance to get our first chance to look at him at <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/10-more-high-upside-2030-prospects-at-the-football-city-clash/">the PRZ Football City USA 7-on-7 back in March</a>, where his athleticism was on display.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->